The following health insurers made headlines this week. They are listed below, beginning with the most recent.
1. Fairview, BCBS of Minnesota settle contract dispute
Minneapolis-based Fairview Health Services and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota reached a contract agreement to maintain Fairview's hospitals and clinics in the insurer's provider network.
2. Humana CEO says he and Aetna CEO 'almost finished each other's sentences'
Humana's CEO used anecdotes about his first meeting with Aetna's head to argue for the insurers' $37 billion deal against the Justice Department's attempted block of the transaction.
3. Anthem BCBS adds Medicare plans in Indiana
Indianapolis-based Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield will add a plan to its Medicare Supplement options in Indiana to cover policyholders with varying healthcare needs.
4. WakeMed to decline participation in BCBS' exchange plan, leaving UNC Health Care as sole provider
Raleigh, N.C.-based WakeMed Health & Hospitals and Durham-based Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina reached a contract impasse that could leave some members unable to receive in-network care at WakeMed unless they enroll in a different plan by Dec. 15.
5. CareFirst awards $575k to social equity needs in Baltimore
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield awarded $575,000 to five nonprofit health organizations in West Baltimore to support continued service to the community.
6. UnitedHealthcare launches value-based payment for knee, hip, spine procedures
Minnetonka, Minn.-based UnitedHealthcare introduced a value-based bundled payment for certain knee, hip and spine procedures performed by surgeons and facilities that are UnitedHealthcare Centers of Excellence.
7. Cigna taps Ralph Holmes as president, general manager for Arizona operations
Bloomfield, Conn.-based Cigna named Ralph Holmes president and general manager for its Arizona commercial health plan.
8. Blue Cross of Idaho selects CFO
Meridian-based Blue Cross of Idaho named Ralph Woodard CFO effective Jan. 23.
9. FirstCare Health Plans appoints assistant VP of network management
Austin, Texas-based FirstCare Health Plans chose Hilary Greason as assistant vice president of network management.
10. Aetna executives testify in court, defend ACA withdrawal
U.S. Department of Justice lawyers questioned Aetna executives Dec. 12 about the payer's decision to exit the majority of ACA exchanges it operated in during an antitrust trial challenging Aetna's proposed $37 billion takeover of Humana.
11. Maryland co-op removed from ACA marketplace pending acquisition approval
Baltimore-based nonprofit payer Evergreen Health is not allowed to sell health plans on Maryland's federal exchange until its acquisition and conversion to a for-profit entity concludes, the Maryland Insurance Administration determined.