Payer

The number of uninsured people in America is set to increase as COVID-19 leads to higher unemployment levels, according to an analysis from left-leaning think tank the Urban Institute.

Virginia health systems Sentara Healthcare in Norfolk and VCU Health System in Richmond finalized their joint ownership agreement of Virginia Premier health plan, a managed care plan, on April 8.

The behavioral health units of UnitedHealthcare and Cigna face four class-action lawsuits claiming the insurers conspired with a third-party company to underpay providers and balance bill patients hundreds of millions of dollars.

UnitedHealth Group will accelerate nearly $2 billion in payments and financial support to U.S. hospitals and healthcare providers to help address the significant financial pressure many are facing due to COVID-19.

CMS finalized updates to the methodologies it uses to pay Medicare Advantage organizations, Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly programs and Medicare Part D prescription drug plans.

Blue Shield of California is providing up to $200 million in direct financial support to hospitals and physicians who are facing new pressures from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Millions of Americans are grappling with unemployment as COVID-19 forces businesses to close. Many are turning to Medicaid as they lose employer-sponsored health coverage, according to Kaiser Health News.

Costs due to COVID-19 testing and treatment could cause health insurers to significantly raise premiums for 2021, according to an analysis from Covered California. 

After joining HCA Healthcare, Frisbie Memorial Hospital in Rochester, N.H., is no longer in network with Cigna, according to the New Hampshire Union Leader.

The Trump administration will use money earmarked for hospitals in the $2.2 trillion coronavirus rescue package to cover COVID-19 treatment for uninsured patients, President Donald Trump said during an April 3 White House briefing.