Payer

Braven Health, a health insurance company launched by two providers and a payer in New Jersey, initially enrolled more than 13,000 people in its Medicare Advantage plans, according to a May 13 ROI-NJ.com report.

Biotheranostics, a subsidiary of San Diego-based Hologic, has received expanded Medicare coverage of its Breast Cancer Index test. The additional coverage became effective May 10, according to CMS.

Centene's acquisition of Phoenix-based behavioral health provider Magellan is nearing completion.

Hours before a midnight deadline, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma changed terms in its proposed contract agreement with Saint Francis Health System, according to the CEO of the Tulsa, Okla.-based health system.

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.