The following insurers made headlines this week. They are listed below, beginning with the most recent.
1. Leading health insurers collectively add 4.3M members in Q2
Seven of the leading health insurers in the U.S. saw their membership grow 3 percent in the second quarter of fiscal year 2015, compared to the same period of last year.
2. United Healthcare to hire 200 employees in New Mexico
Minnetonka, Minn.-based UnitedHealthcare is creating 200 new jobs at its New Mexico offices, according to Albuquerque Business First.
3. UnityPoint Health, HealthPartners launch insurance partnership
West Des Moines, Iowa-based UnityPoint Health and Bloomington, Minn.-based HealthPartners plan to create a new insurance company that offers an integrated option to consumers.
4. Blue Shield of California accused of backing out of $140M pledge
California regulators and consumer groups accused Blue Shield of California of going back on its word to give $140 million to charitable organizations, according to the Los Angeles Times.
5. Why the Health Republic shutdown has NY hospitals, physicians worried
The closure of insurance co-op Health Republic of New York has hospitals and physicians concerned about the millions of dollars they're owed, according to Syracuse.com.
6. Outgoing Ky. governor discourages governor elect's attempts to dismantle ACA
Although Kentucky Governor-elect Matt Bevin (R) wants to change the state's Medicaid expansion policy, outgoing Governor Steve Beshear (D) is defending the program, according to The Hill.
7. Alabama governor is 'looking' at Medicaid expansion
Though Alabama is a traditionally conservative state, Governor Robert Bentley said during a Nov. 12 legal conference that he is considering expanding the Medicaid program, according to The Kansas City Star.
8. Molina Healthcare acquires Columbia United Providers' Medicaid assets
Long Beach, Calif.-based Molina Healthcare entered a definitive agreement to acquire assets of Vancouver, Wash.-based Columbia United Providers' Medicaid business.
9. Humana, UVA health facilities ink deal
The University of Virginia in Charlottesville agreed to a new contract with health insurer Humana for its health facilities, according to a Culpeper-Star Exponent report.
10. Humana awards $77M for quality to physicians for accountable care
Humana distributed $77.2 million in quality rewards to physician groups nationwide under its Provider Quality Rewards Program, part of its value-based Accountable Care Continuum.
11. Failed NY health insurer owes hospitals at least $142M
Health Republic of New York, the failed nonprofit health insurance co-op, owes New York hospitals at least $142 million, according to Crain's New York Business.
12. How Aetna, Anthem, Cigna, Humana and UnitedHealth performed in Q3
The five major U.S. health insurers posted strong results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2015, with each reporting revenue growth for the period.
13. AMA asks DOJ to block health insurer mega-mergers
The American Medical Association asked the Department of Justice to block Aetna's proposed acquisition of Humana and Anthem's proposed acquisition of Cigna.