Payer

While negotiations advance between Atlanta-based Piedmont Healthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia, several headwinds persist nearly two weeks after their contract expired, WABE reports.

Humana added seven states to its bundled payment model for Medicare Advantage members undergoing total hip or knee joint replacement surgery.

Member satisfaction topped health insurers' priorities list while the shift to value-based care came in last, according to a recent HealthEdge survey commissioned by Survata.

Humana completed the acquisition of Orlando, Fla.-based Family Physicians Group April 10.

Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini earned $18.8 million in compensation last year when excluding a large sum of options and stock awards, according to an annual proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Optum Ventures, an independent venture capitalist fund of UnitedHealth Group's Optum, led a $12 million funding round for LetsGetChecked, an at-home lab test startup.

UnitedHealthcare opted to terminate its agreement with Nashville, Tenn.-based Envision Healthcare no later than Jan. 1, 2019, according to recent court documents.

CMS gave states more power to regulate their insurance markets under a final rule published April 9.

Georgia Republican Gov. Nathan Deal directed Atlanta-based Piedmont Healthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia to head back to the negotiating table for about 600,000 state employees affected by their contract lapse.

CMS will allow Medicare Advantage insurers to expand supplemental benefits, which could provide a greater opportunity for rideshare companies teaming up with insurers to bring beneficiaries to medical appointments, according to Forbes contributor Bruce Japsen.