Payer

UnitedHealthcare and a Qualcomm subsidiary integrated Samsung and Garmin wearable devices into UnitedHealthcare's wellness program.

Hartford (Conn.) HealthCare ended its contract impasse with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield through a new three-year contract.

While American politicians such as Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., have called for the U.S. healthcare system to take cues from the Canadian system, Canadian healthcare experts have praised the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation, according to NPR.

A Kaiser Family Foundation analysis shows monthly premiums for individual insurance plans on the ACA exchanges increased the most in Charlottesville, Va., and the surrounding Albemarle County this year, according to The Washington Post.

The November Kaiser Health Tracking Poll surveyed Americans about the ACA enrollment period that began Nov. 1.  

The number of California residents who have enrolled for plans on the Covered California insurance exchange in the first two weeks of enrollment is up 23 percent compared to one year prior, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

CMS released its proposed rule for Medicare Advantage and Part D plans for the 2019 benefit year.

A Republican senator told reporters the ACA's cost-sharing reduction payments to insurers — which help subsidize the cost of coverage for low-income Americans — will likely be included in an end-of-year spending bill, according to The Hill.

Here are the 11 biggest payer stories this week, beginning with the most recent. 

West Des Moines, Iowa-based UnityPoint Health notified about 54,000 patients it may end its contract with Amerigroup of Iowa, one of two insurers managing Medicaid coverage in the state.