Payer

Hartford, Conn.-based Aetna and Allina Health in Minneapolis inked a partnership to establish a jointly owned health plan as an option for employers and consumers in the Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn., region.

Buffalo-based BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York and Roswell Park Caner Institute in Buffalo, N.Y., reached a three-year agreement to continue in-network access to the institute and its affiliated physicians for the insurer's policyholders, reports Clarence Bee. 

Indianapolis-based Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield renewed its managed care contracts with Indiana's Medicaid programs.

Minnetonka, Minn.-based Medica eliminated approximately 100 full-time jobs following the insurer's decision to drop a contract to manage Minnesota's public health insurance programs, reports Star Tribune.

Here are 48 insurers which sold health insurance on ACA exchanges for 2016 but exited exchanges in some states or markets for the 2017 coverage year. The payers are listed in alphabetical order.

Sen. Bill Cassidy, MD, R-La., plans to introduce an updated version of his healthcare plan in a bid to win over Democrats who opposed broader efforts by their Republican congressional peers to repeal and replace the ACA, Bloomberg reports.

CMS issued a final rule Tuesday preventing states from increasing or adding pass-through payments for hospitals, physicians or nursing homes contracted with Medicaid managed care organizations.

North Carolina and federal officials are looking to lift a court order blocking Gov. Roy Cooper's (D) Medicaid expansion plan, reports The News & Observer.

Peoria, Ill.-based Samaritan Ministries International, a Christian healthcare cost-sharing ministry, has more than 221,000 members partaking in cost-sharing initiatives to help individuals with healthcare expenses.

Montpelier-based Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont gained $3.5 million after a months-long reconciliation process to settle billing discrepancies through the state's exchange — Vermont Health Connect.