Payer

The American Society of Anesthesiologists issued a statement condemning BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina's alleged abuse of the No Surprises Act to "strongarm" clinicians and practices into network agreements. 

A report from valuepenguin.com anticipates that the 2022 national average for health insurance premiums will be up one percent to $541 monthly. 

Cigna subsidiary Express Scripts named Christine Gilroy, MD, its incoming CMO.

Stephen Tahta, MD, will serve as the new president and general manager of Cigna-owned Allegiance Benefit Plan Management, the Montana-based insurance agency said Nov. 19.

Aetna sued several radiology companies and clinicians Nov. 17, alleging they provided unlicensed services, billed for services they didn't perform and upcoded billing to inflate charges linked to COVID-19 testing.

A petition with over 1,500 physician signatures is calling on HHS to end the CMS Medicare direct contracting program. 

America's Health Insurance Plans elected David Holmberg, Highmark Health president and CEO, on Nov. 18 to chair its board.

A $2 million, three-year grant from the UnitedHealth Foundation is helping St. Louis-based Harris-Stowe University launch a bioinformatics program. 

A Nov. 18 agreement between Humana and Albertsons Cos. adds Safeway, Jewel-Osco and Albertsons pharmacies among others to the payer's preferred cost-sharing network.

Tufts-Harvard Pilgrim health insurance company Point32Health named Patricia Howard its chief operating officer Nov. 18.