Payer

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina saw its net income drop nearly 30 percent in fiscal year 2019 as medical expenses for its members climbed, the health insurer said March 4.

Humana has a new value-based care payment program that centers on social determinants of health — and New Orleans-based Ochsner Health System is the model's first participant, the insurer said March 4.

Alignment Healthcare raised another $135 million in funding, the seven-year-old Medicare Advantage company said March 4.

Commercial health insurers and industry trade groups are taking action to prepare members for the novel coronavirus.

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield will waive any out-of-pocket costs for eligible members needing insulin and diabetic medical supplies before their deductible is met.

Anthem completed its acquisition of the nation's largest independent behavioral health organization, Beacon Health Options, March 2. 

Priority Health, a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based insurer, partnered with Amazon to develop a branded storefront that beneficiaries can use to purchase eligible items with their health savings account and flexible spending accounts. 

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.