Payer

Cigna will administer Houston Methodist's health plan that covers 26,000 employees, in addition to signing an in-network contract with the facility, the organizations said March 2. 

Launched in 2019, UnitedHealth Group's Harmony health plan aims to steer patients to physician practices owned by Optum, according to Bloomberg.

Blue Shield of California is partnering with health benefits startup Accolade on a new offering for California employers, the organizations said Feb. 26.

Humana and Aledade, a company that partners with primary care practices to improve ACO processes, expanded their partnership for Humana's Medicare Advantage members in North Carolina.

A contract disagreement between Fort Wayne, Ind.-based Parkview Health and Anthem is holding up negotiations as an April 29 deadline approaches, according to a column published in the News-Sentinel. 

The following payer executives changed their positions in February.

Aetna is expanding its health insurance offerings in the Atlanta area by partnering with two Atlanta-based health systems, Emory Healthcare and Northside Hospital System. 

Seven more healthcare organizations agreed to share financial risk with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan under a value-based payment initiative.

UnitedHealthcare members should carefully review their health plan policy before following Houston Methodist's advice to access the facility with "out-of-network benefits," an economist wrote in an op-ed for the Houston Chronicle.

BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee will open eight primary care centers this fall through a joint venture with Sanitas, an international health organization with 50 health centers in the U.S.