Payer

Prime Healthcare Services and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama reached a network agreement regarding Gadsden, Ala.-based Riverview Regional Medical Center Monday, reports The Gadsden Times.

Privately billed insurance claims related to oral cancer diagnoses rose 61 percent from 2011 to 2015, according to data from FAIR Health.

Connect for Health Colorado — the state's marketplace for individual and small group coverage — launched a tool designed to help users estimate and compare the total (and future) costs of different ACA health plans, reports Denver Business Journal.

People who are healthier and younger are more likely to forego buying ACA health plans as they weigh rising premiums against other lifestyle expenses, Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini said at Bloomberg's The Year Ahead Summit in New York.

HHS said premiums for the second lowest cost individual ACA plan will jump by an average 25 percent in 39 states served by HealthCare.gov, according to federal data.

The number of health insurers selling individual plans on 2017 ACA marketplaces will total 228, a decrease of 73 from last year, according to recently released HHS data.

Monthly premiums will rise by an average 25 percent for 2017 individual plans sold on HealthCare.gov, HHS data revealed Oct. 24.

CMS has suspended the controversial "seamless conversion" policy in which those eligible for Medicare were automatically enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans, according to North Carolina Health News.

The Mississippi Insurance Department requested reports from North Mississippi Health Services and payer UnitedHealthcare showing efforts to resolve a payment dispute, reports Daily Journal.

Premium rates for individual health plans sold on Maryland's ACA exchange will jump between 18 percent and about 30 percent on average for 2017.