The following payers made headlines this past week, beginning with the most recent.
1. Medica names senior VP, manager of government business
Minnetonka, Minn.-based Medica selected Tom Lindquist as senior vice president and general manager of its combined Medicare and Medicaid business.
2. Independence Blue Cross, University of Pennsylvania Health System ink 5-year contract
Independence Blue Cross and Philadelphia-based University of Pennsylvania Health System contracted to share responsibility for quality and cost of care.
3. NY regulator fines Zenefits $1.2M for unlicensed insurance sales
Zenefits, a health benefits broker, agreed to pay a $1.2 million fine Tuesday following an investigation that found the company violated New York state insurance law.
4. BCBS of Oklahoma reaches transitional in-network agreement with recently acquired Saint Francis Muskogee
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma inked a transitional in-network agreement through May 31 with Muskogee, Okla.-based Eastar Health System's two acquired hospitals.
5. Upper Peninsula Health Plan promotes Leslie Luke to CFO
Marquette, Mich.-based Upper Peninsula Health Plan selected Leslie Luke to serve as CFO.
6. James Parker is insurer MDwise's permanent CEO
MDwise, an Indianapolis-based Medicaid insurance company, dropped the 'interim' from CEO James Parker's title.
7. Sanford Health Plan sues federal government for $9M in unpaid risk corridors payments
Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Sanford Health Plan filed a lawsuit against the federal government seeking $9 million in risk corridors payments.
8. Aetna to drop Iowa exchanges on heels of Wellmark's exit: Now 94 of state's 99 counties will have 1 insurer on Healthcare.gov
Aetna is the second major insurer this week to pull its individual products from the Iowa exchange for the 2018 enrollment year, citing concerns about the health law's uncertain future.
9. UnitedHealthcare taps Scott Flannery as North Texas, Oklahoma operations CEO
Minnetonka, Minn.-based UnitedHealthcare named Scott Flannery CEO of commercial operations in North Texas and Oklahoma.