Payer

As Anthem surges forward with efforts to salvage its proposed $54 billion merger with Cigna, several obstacles may hinder the Indianapolis-based insurer from successfully completing the merger.

Dayton, Ohio-based CareSource saw enrollment in its ACA exchange plans increase by roughly 20 percent year-over-year across the four states in which it sells exchange-based insurance, according to a Dayton Daily News report. 

Memphis, Tenn.-based Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare and Louisville, Ky.-based Humana inked an agreement to allow the insurer's Medicare Advantage members to access the health system at in-network rates.

Pittsburgh-based UPMC's insurance division grew its membership from about 2.9 million to 3.1 million policyholders in the first half of fiscal year 2017, representing a year-over-year increase of nearly 7 percent.

Ontario, Calif.-based Prime Healthcare Services will remain in-network with Anthem Blue Cross after backtracking on plans to end its contract with the Indianapolis-based insurer hours after the decision was publicized, reports the Record Searchlight.

Greenville, S.C.-based Bon Secours St. Francis Health System and Minnetonka, Minn.-based UnitedHealthcare extended their previously terminated contract through June 30 to avoid a lapse in in-network coverage for approximately 10,000 patients, according to a WSPA.com report.

Payers and providers are continuously looking for ways to join forces in a healthcare ecosystem dependent on reaching patient-centric and value-based goals.

The following health insurers eliminated or expanded jobs this past month.

These three contract resolutions and dissolutions occurred between payers and providers over the past few weeks, beginning with the most recent.

UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Florida, a subsidiary of Minnetonka, Minn.-based UnitedHealth Group, disbursed more than $2.1 million in bonus payments to 263 physician practices across the state for improving quality measures at their facilities, Miami's Community Newspaper reports.