The following payers made headlines this week, beginning with the most recent.
1. Anthem considers exiting more ACA exchanges
Indianapolis-based Anthem is contemplating its 2018 participation in some states' ACA marketplaces as filing deadlines approach later this month.
2. Centene to absorb Fidelis in $3.75B deal
Centene Corp., a managed care and commercial payer in St. Louis, will acquire Fidelis Care, a Rego Park, N.Y.-based nonprofit managed Medicaid and Medicare plan, for $3.75 billion.
3. Analysis: 63% of weekly social media mentions of health insurers are about Aetna
The five largest U.S. commercial health insurers — Aetna, Anthem, Cigna, Humana and UnitedHealth Group — were mentioned on social media and in publications 26,700 times during the last week of August.
4. Mayo Clinic joins Security Health Plan's provider network, partners for employer product
Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic Health System providers in Wisconsin and Minnesota are now considered in-network for Marshfield, Wis.-based Security Health Plan's policyholders.
5. Ochsner Health System, BCBS of Louisiana to offer joint health plan
New Orleans-based Ochsner Health System and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana partnered to provide a joint health plan.
6. UnitedHealth proposes buying Chilean healthcare company
Minnetonka, Minn.-based UnitedHealth Group signed a nonbinding agreement to purchase all shares of Banmedica SA, a health insurance and clinic operator in Chile.
7. Northwest Health, UnitedHealthcare rate negotiations stall
Between 100 and 200 Springdale, Ark.-based Northwest Health physicians went out-of-network with UnitedHealthcare Aug. 1 following a contract dispute that could affect the network status of the system's hospitals if unresolved.
8. BCBS of Alabama hit with $8M penalty for charging unapproved rates
Birmingham-based Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama faces an $8 million penalty from the Alabama Department of Insurance for selling policies at rates discrepant from those approved between 2005 and 2013.
9. CarePoint Health, Horizon BCBS resolve $76M billing dispute
Jersey City, N.J.-based CarePoint Health and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield resolved a more than 2-year-old contract dispute and $76 million lawsuit over billing in late August.