Payer

Cigna's stock price dropped March 8 after the company announced a $67 billion deal to acquire pharmacy benefits manager Express Scripts.

HHS Secretary Alex Azar discussed the nation's transition to a value-based care system in a speech to America's Health Insurance Plans in Washington, D.C., March 8.

Two Democratic senators penned a letter to HHS Secretary Alex Azar and Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta requesting they review whether Anthem's emergency department policy violates law.

Cigna signed a definitive agreement to acquire Express Scripts for $67 billion in cash and stock, including assumption of $15 billion in Express Scripts debt.

UnitedHealth Group's insurance arm, UnitedHealthcare, changed its emergency department reimbursement policy for commercial and Medicare Advantage plans.

Atlanta-based Piedmont Healthcare still lacks a new contract with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia, the Newnan Times-Herald reports.

Aetna will support March For Our Lives, a rally against gun violence and mass shootings, with a $200,000 donation, the insurer's CEO Mark Bertolini wrote in a LinkedIn post.

Later this year, Blue Shield of California will mandate network providers participate in Manifest MedEx, the state's nonprofit health information network.

Cigna established its headquarters for Middle East and North Africa operations in the Dubai World Trade Center.

Yale New Haven (Conn.) Health will remain in Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield's network through 2020 under a new contract.