Payer

A study out Thursday tries to better understand the ACA's implementation and its effect on competition among health plans.

A U.S. Court of Federal Claims ruled the government must pay $214 million to Portland, Ore.-based health insurer Moda Health under the ACA's risk corridors program.

The Colorado Senate Finance Committee took the first step of shutting down the state's health insurance exchange by passing a bill that would eliminate Connect of Health Colorado, according to The Denver Post.

Minnetonka, Minn.-based UnitedHealth Group anticipates it will cover roughly 1 million fewer consumers through individual insurance plans this year due to its widespread ACA exchange withdrawal — resulting in a $4 billion loss in premium revenues, according to a filing with the…

The following payers made headlines this past week, beginning with the most recent.

Louisville, Ky.-based Humana will lay off about 500 workers by April 3, as it scales back its home health division's workforce, according to The Enquirer.

A U.S. District Court judge sided with the Justice Department and blocked Indianapolis-based Anthem's proposed $54 billion acquisition of Bloomfield, Conn.-based Cigna on grounds the combined insurer would harm consumers and impede innovation.

St. Louis-based Centene Corp. saw fourth quarter total revenues jump 89 percent in 2016 to $11.9 billion, compared to the same period last year. Centene said the jump primarily reflects the insurer's $6.3 billion acquisition of Woodland Hills, Calif.-based Health Net.

Chattanooga-based BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee is growing its Medicare Advantage membership quicker than other insurers in the state, according to a Times Free Press report. 

Health plans face a myriad of challenges this year, like waning market stability in ACA health exchanges, looming repeal and replacement of the health law and a surge toward care efficiency.