Payer

As healthcare providers continue to build alternative payment models and transition to value-based care, government and commercial payers are more often requiring providers to assume greater levels of risk.

Cost reduction in healthcare has taken center stage as a national priority.

Hartford (Conn.) HealthCare is no longer in-network for Anthem members after failing to negotiate a new contract Sept. 30, according to a Hartford Courant report.

Dennis Matheis, a former Anthem executive, will succeed Michael Dudley as president and CEO of Optima Health in Virginia Beach, Va., and senior corporate vice president of Norfolk, Va.-based Sentara Healthcare.

Former CMS Acting Administrator Andy Slavitt accused President Donald Trump of "purposely" raising health insurance premiums for Americans after the Trump administration failed to meet a deadline to approve Oklahoma's waiver aimed at reducing residents' health insurance premiums. 

Oklahoma's health commissioner blamed President Donald Trump's administration for missing a final deadline to approve its section 1332 waiver to implement a reinsurance program in 2018.

A new Medical Group Management Association Stat poll surveyed medical groups regarding the percentage of their commercial contracts tied to Medicare Part B payments.

Congress has allowed funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program to expire, according to The Washington Post.

Independence Blue Cross members lost in-network access to five Pennsylvania hospitals purchased by Tower Health in West Reading, Pa., from Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems.

Indianapolis-based Anthem will no longer sell its individual health plans on Maine's ACA exchange in 2018, Forbes reports.