Payer

From readmission reduction programs to chronic care pilots and at-home COVID-19 testing, here are five health programs payers have recently launched: 

Low vaccination rates for human papillomavirus infection fell even more during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to claims data from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

Cigna asked a New Jersey federal court to end a lawsuit filed by a radiology lab that claims the health insurer wrongfully denied payment for COVID-19 services, according to court documents and Law 360.

Evernorth, Cigna's health services business, entered into a definitive agreement to acquire telehealth company MDLive, the companies said Feb. 26.

Here are eight recent contract agreements or conflicts between payers, providers and employers:

The following payer executive changes were announced in February:

White men occupied 89 percent of board seats in payer organizations in 2018, according to a study from the Leverage Network, an organization that promotes Black leadership.

Four commercial payers were among 135 companies identified as the "World's Most Ethical" for 2021 by the Ethisphere Institute, a company that defines and measures corporate ethical standards.

The New York State Department of Financial Services approved an affiliation between Pittsburgh-based Highmark Health and Buffalo-based HealthNow New York, according to a Feb. 24 news release.

Six health insurers were named to Forbes' annual list of "America's best large employers."