Payer

Blue Cross Blue Shield Association partnered with a group of academic medical centers to improve university researchers' access to commercial insurance claims data.

Aetna, Humana, Anthem and Cigna released their financial results for the third quarter of 2016.

Humana reported a 38 percent increase in profit for the third quarter of fiscal year 2016 to a total of $940 million, up from $681 million in the same period last year.

The following payers made headlines this week. They are listed below, beginning with the most recent.

A California-based consumer group filed a lawsuit against Anthem Blue Cross alleging the payer tried to automatically renew hundreds of thousands of policyholders' plans without informing them out-of-network coverage would cease, reports Los Angeles Times.

Louisville, Ky.-based Humana issued results of its value-based Medicare Advantage reimbursement model, presenting improved healthcare quality and lower costs for the third consecutive year.

Hartford, Conn.-based Aetna will offer two Medicare Advantage Part D plans in three central Florida counties for 2017 coverage, reports Orland Business Journal.

Profit in the third quarter of fiscal year 2016 for Cigna sank 16.6 percent from the same period last year to a total of $456 million, the payer reported.

Baltimore-based nonprofit payer Evergreen Health will not be listed on Maryland's ACA exchange until its acquisition and conversion to a for-profit entity concludes, The Baltimore Sun reports.

Open enrollment on Minnesota's ACA exchange — MNsure — began with technical problems and long waits at call centers, among other difficulties, reports Star Tribune.