Payer

Democratic lawmakers have been discussing how to provide coverage to 2.2 million low-income residents in the 12 states unwilling to expand Medicaid. 

Some countries and cruise lines, including Costa Rica, Aruba and Royal Caribbean International, are requiring tourists and passengers to purchase travel health insurance that will cover quarantine, evacuation and medical expenses related to COVID-19.

The New Mexico Human Services Department has eliminated a resource requirement that made it difficult for low-income seniors to receive financial assistance for Medicare, according to a July 11 Los Alamos Daily Post report.

A U.S. district judge ruled in favor of Cigna following an Employee Retirement Income Security Act lawsuit that accused the insurer of unjustly denying claims made by former NFL players. 

CVS Health released its 2021 Health Care Insights Study, which surveys providers and consumers about their thoughts on healthcare. 

Stronger healthcare data is the key to cutting down many of the health inequities exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, Humana CEO Bruce Broussard and America's Health Insurance Plans CEO Matt Eyles wrote in a July 9 column.

Aetna Health has signed a three-year contract with Dallas-based U.S. Dermatology Partners. The contract will provide in-network coverage to patients of the company's Dermatology and Skin Cancer Centers locations in Kansas and Missouri, a July 8 news release said.

Iowa Medicaid officials will begin accepting applications in December for a third managed care organization to join its Medicaid program, according to Iowa Public Radio.

Wall Street anticipates a decline in UnitedHealth's earnings in their upcoming second-quarter report, which ended in June, Zacks Equity Research reported. 

Pittsburghbased Highmark Health is looking to purchase the other half of Medicaid managed care insurer Gateway Health, pending state approval.