Payer

The Virginia Medicaid Innovation and Reform Commission held its last meeting yesterday and seems to be far from making a decision about expanding the program, according to a report from The Washington Post.

In 2013, more than 35 million Medicare beneficiaries were enrolled in Medicare drug plans, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation report.

Nashville, Tenn.-based Hospital Corporation of America has reached a new contract with Florida Blue.

Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, states have the option of expanding Medicaid to cover people earning up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level. Expanding Medicaid has become a subject of heated debate in some states.

Health insurer Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey has announced it won't renew any 2013 small group or individual health insurance plans after the end of this year.

Iowa has received federal approval to move forward with a Medicaid expansion plan that would subsidize private insurance coverage for residents earning up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level, according to a Des Moines Registerreport.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam has indicated in a letter to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius that the state and federal officials continue to work together to craft a Medicaid expansion plan, according to a report from The Hill.

Facing significant industry changes in 2014, health insurer WellPoint is turning to narrow provider networks.

David Critchlow, vice president of government relations for Brentwood, Tenn.-based LifePoint Hospitals, told congressional staff members yesterday that not renewing several Medicare reimbursement policies will make it harder for rural hospitals to provide essential care, according to an AHA News…

The Republican-led Wisconsin Assembly has passed legislation to delay a scheduled Medicaid reform plan that will transition more than 70,000 residents out of the program.