The following payers made headlines this past week, beginning with the most recent.
1. Children's Minnesota dumps contract with BCBS
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.
2. Anthem Blue Cross adds Medicare supplement plans in Missouri
Indianapolis-based Anthem Blue Cross began offering Medicare beneficiaries in Missouri a Plan G supplement option, effective March 1.
3. Aetna responds to CMS' proposed market stabilization regulations
Hartford, Conn.-based Aetna submitted feedback in response to the proposed changes CMS issued last month to stabilize the health insurance market.
4. CMS fines UnitedHealthcare $2.5M over improper Medicare denials, delays
CMS fined Minnetonka, Minn.-based UnitedHealthcare $2.5 million after an audit found systemic compliance problems with its Medicare health plans that led beneficiaries to experience delayed or denied access to prescription drug coverage.
5. 5 Humana leaders join stock sale, increasing total cashout to $83M
Thirteen executives and board members from Louisville, Ky.-based Humana have sold a combined 403,706 shares of company stock, raising the total value of stocks sold over the past few weeks to $83.1 million.
6. Cigna defers to Anthem in merger appeal
Bloomfield, Conn.-based Cigna will defer to Indianapolis-based Anthem in its appeal of a district court judge's decision to block the payers' proposed $54 billion merger.
7. Anthem opens Cincinnati office
Indianapolis-based Anthem opened an 80,000-square-foot office in Cincinnati March 2.
8. UCare absorbs 150k former Medica members, plans to hire 90 workers
Minneapolis-based UCare said it will hire 90 full-time employees in anticipation of a 150,000 member addition to its state public health insurance business in May.
9. Harvard Pilgrim Health Care's operating loss swells to $91.3M
Despite increased revenue, Wellesley, Mass.-based Harvard Pilgrim Health Care saw increasing medical use, pharmacy costs and ACA-established programs affect its 2016 financials.
10. How BCBS plans in NY, Massachusetts, Michigan and NC performed financially in 2016
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield and other Blue plans in Massachusetts, Michigan and North Carolina reported mixed financial results for fiscal year 2016.
11. Premier Health Plan selects Renee George as president
Premier Health Plan, the insurance business of Dayton, Ohio-based Premier Health, appointed Renee George president.
12. Molina Healthcare revises 2016 net income upward by $44M
Long Beach, Calif.-based Molina Healthcare amended its recent earnings report to show a greater net income than previously reported, decreasing its fourth quarter loss by $44 million.