Payer

CMS approved Tennessee's request to use a modified block grant to finance its Medicaid program, the agency said Jan. 8.

UnitedHealth Group's planned merger of OptumInsight and Change Healthcare won't affect the insurer's strong rating from Fitch Ratings, the credit agency said Jan. 8. 

Health insurance startup Bright Health is picking up another California Medicare Advantage plan, according to a Jan. 6 news release.

Illinois is the first state where low-income, undocumented seniors can access public health insurance, according to Kaiser Health News.

UnitedHealthcare invested in an affordable housing project in Minnesota, further expanding the insurer's effort to improve health outcomes by addressing social determinants of health.

Here are four recent contract agreements or conflicts between payers and providers:

CMS issued a new guidance for state officials looking to roll out social determinants of health strategies for Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program members.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan chose OptumRx as its new pharmacy benefit provider, ending a relationship with Express Scripts, the insurer said Jan. 6.  

Surgical Care Affiliates, which is part of UnitedHealth Group's Optum division, is facing charges of collusion for allegedly agreeing with competitors to not poach senior-level employees, the Department of Justice said Jan. 7.  

Kaiser Permanente tops a list of insurers ranked by customer satisfaction in a recent survey from insure.com, which offers online insurance comparison.