Payer

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.

The New York State Department of Financial Services fined Cigna $2 million, alleging the payer sold unauthorized plans in the state's small-group market.

The California Department of Managed Health Care fined Anthem subsidiary Blue Cross of California $5 million, accusing the insurer of "systemic" grievance resolution violations.

UnitedHealthcare is slated to hire 400 employees in Iowa, according to We Are Iowa.

Asheville, N.C.-based Mission Health System and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina resumed talks more than a month after their contract expired, a BCBS spokesperson told 13 WLOS.

While the national average of payments to primary care physicians under value-based agreements is 6 percent, PCPs in value-based agreements with Humana received 16.2 percent of payments, according to Humana's annual report.

In light of a contract impasse between Hartford (Conn.) HealthCare and Anthem, Connecticut's lead Democrat may reintroduce a bill aimed at governing payer-provider negotiations, the Hartford Courant reports.

CMS released risk corridors payment amounts and charges for the 2016 benefit year Monday.