Payer

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama has downgraded UAB Hospital in Birmingham, Ala., from Tier 1 to Tier 2 status, citing new tier criteria focused on healthcare spending, reports Birmingham Business Journal.

Louisville, Ky.-based Humana is looking to hire 100 full-time and seasonal employees in Miramar, Fla., according to the Sun Sentinel.

Despite questions revolving around the future location of its headquarters, Hartford, Conn.-based Aetna has remained fairly quiet about plans to potentially move its home base, according to the Hartford Courant.

Missouri's insurance department has issued a preliminary order that would ban merged insurance giants Aetna and Humana from selling certain insurance products in the state.

Earlier this week, a series of letters reviewed by The Wall Street Journal unveiled the proposed merger between Anthem and Cigna could be delayed or derailed due to squabbles between the insurers. But Anthem's CEO begs to differ.

A Florida woman decided to fight her $53,274 medical bill, and ended up winning, according to a WZVN report.

Certain insurers — like UnitedHealth and Humana — are dropping from the Affordable Care Act exchanges due to financial losses, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina's CEO feels no differently, according to the Charlotte Business Journal.

Iowa insurance commissioner Nick Gerhart has filed suit against HHS and CMS, alleging federal health officials are withholding $20 million owed to a failed Iowa health insurance co-op, reports Insurance Journal.

Health insurers have been making it big in the news as of late. From premium hikes to departures from state Affordable Care Act exchanges, announcements from payers have been plentiful.

The Campaign for Consumer Choice vehemently opposes the health insurance industry's mega-mergers. But its funding comes from an unlikely source: the hospital industry, according to STAT.