Blue Shield California proposed benefit changes for commercial plans next year that would force consumers to pay more to fill prescriptions at pharmacies outside of an established network, according to Kaiser Health News.
Payer
Hartford, Conn.-based Aetna has shouldered several costs following the insurer's decision to scrap its $37 billion merger agreement with Louisville, Ky.-based Humana after a court ruled the deal anticompetitive in January.
Hartford, Conn.-based Aetna said its Medicare and Medicaid businesses could be adversely affected if the GOP's ACA replacement bill is approved, according to the Hartford Courant.
Louisville, Ky.-based Humana and Fresenius Medical Care North America in Waltham, Mass., launched a program aimed at improving health outcomes for Humana policyholders with end-stage kidney disease.
Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare inked a multi-year contract with Richardson-based Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas ahead of the agreement's April 15 termination date.
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CMS' decision to fine UnitedHealthcare $2.5 million following an audit of its Medicare services struck a chord with Becker's Hospital Review readers this week.
Joseph Swedish, CEO of Indianapolis-based Anthem, said certain proposals outlined in Republicans' ACA replacement bill, the American Health Care Act, are "essential and must be finalized quickly" to address issues in the individual insurance market, according to a letter obtained by the Morning Consult.
The following payers made headlines this past week, beginning with the most recent.
Health insurers face a myriad of changes under the GOP's proposed plan to repeal and replace the ACA. However, the ways in which the American Health Care Act may affect payers vary across the industry.
Minneapolis-based Children's Minnesota terminated its contract with Eagan-based Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, a decision that could result in more than 70,000 patients losing in-network access to the hospital's services.