The following insurers made headlines this week. They are listed below, beginning with the most recent.
1. Anthem, Aurora Health Care to launch insurance company
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Wisconsin and Milwaukee-based Aurora Health Care are partnering to co-own a new health insurance company.
2. Molina Healthcare acquires Universal American's Total Care Medicaid plan
As part of a joint agreement, Long Beach, Calif.-based Molina Healthcare has acquired White Plains, N.Y.-based Universal American's Total Care Medicaid plan.
3. Express Scripts denies claims, countersues Anthem
Express Scripts countersued health insurer Anthem and denied allegations that it overcharged Anthem for prescription medications.
4. UnitedHealth to exit most ACA exchanges in 2017, remain in only 'handful' of states
To limit its financial exposure in 2017, the UnitedHealth announced it will exit all but a "handful" of ACA marketplaces next year.
5. Medica, Altru Health team up on ACO in Minnesota, North Dakota
Medica and Grand Forks, N.D.-based Altru Health System plan to roll out an accountable care organization called Altru & You with Medica.
6. Integra, UnitedHealthcare launch Rhode Island's first Medicaid ACO
Integra Community Care Network, a Providence, R.I.-based, CMS-certified accountable care organization, is teaming up with UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Rhode Island to roll out a Medicaid accountable care entity.
7. Computer malfunction causes Covered California to switch coverage for pregnant women
A recent policy change caused approximately 1,900 pregnant Californian women to be transferred from Covered California to Medi-Cal without their knowledge.
8. Mountain States Health Alliance to shut down health plan
Johnson City, Tenn.-based Mountain States Health Alliance confirmed it will shut down CrestPoint Health, the health system's insurance plan operated by its subsidiary Integrated Solutions Health Network.
9. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas threatens to drop HCA facilities
A frustrated Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas said it will cut network ties with all medical facilities in Texas run by Nashville, Tenn.-based Hospital Corporation of America starting May 1, should the parties fail to successfully resolve contract negotiations.