Payer

Researchers at Evanston, Ill.-based Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management found that hospitals with higher rates of privately insured patients consistently provided better-quality care than those with more publicly insured patients, according to an article published on the school's website.

Thirteen Tennessee Medicaid recipients filed a complaint in U.S. District Court claiming that HHS' approval of the program's block grant waiver violates federal rules, according to the Murfreesboro Post. Tennessee is the first state to receive a Medicaid block grant.

Wellesley, Mass.-based Harvard Pilgrim Health Care announced a collaboration with Worcester-based UMass Memorial Health and health innovation center Ariadne Labs on TeamBirth, an initiative to improve maternal healthcare throughout New England.

It's been five years since Iowa moved its Medicaid program from a state-run system to one led by private, out-of-state insurance companies, but criticism of the transition has continued, The Gazette reported.

Andrew Witty, the new CEO of UnitedHealth Group, said many negative effects felt by the insurer during the COVID-19 pandemic will fade in 2022, according to Bloomberg. 

President Joe Biden announced 1 million people have signed up for health coverage during the ACA marketplace's special enrollment period issued earlier this year, ABC News reported.

Health insurer Centene's stock jumped 8.1 percent and closed at $70.45 a share, according to a Nasdaq article published May 10. The payer's stock has increased 5.9 percent over the past four weeks.

Here are five recent lawsuits involving commercial payers:

The insurance arm of ProMedica in Toledo, Ohio, filed a lawsuit seeking documents from the state Medicaid department on its managed care contract awards, according to the Toledo Blade.

The IRS raised the annual limit people with high-deductible health plans can contribute to their health savings accounts.