The nation's first Medicaid work requirement in Arkansas was associated with a significantly lower insured rate in the state but not an increase in employment, according to a study cited by Politico and published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

America's Health Insurance Plans, a trade group for the health insurance industry, unveiled an initiative to address social determinants of health June 20.

Elevating public-private partnerships like Medicare Advantage and managed Medicaid is the best way to answer Americans' call to overhaul the healthcare system, according to Cigna CEO David Cordani.

The Federal Trade Commission approved UnitedHealth Group's $4.3 billion acquisition of Davita Medical Group, with the condition that UnitedHealth sell one of its newly purchased medical groups in Nevada.

The Institutional Shareholder Services, an influential shareholder adviser, gave Centene and WellCare Health Plans a vote of confidence on their $17 billion deal, according to Forbes contributor Bruce Japsen.  

Last month, Humana launched a radio station for its employees where each day, DJ Reggie Reg welcomes weekday listeners to a station "where wellness never sounded so good," he told NBC affiliate Wave 3 News.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts President and CEO Andrew Dreyfus published an opinion article in The Hill calling for all healthcare stakeholders to collaborate for universal coverage.

Dayton, Ohio-based Kettering Health Network and Cigna inked a new contract ahead of a June 14 deadline, according to the Dayton Daily News.

Humana appointed Betty Assapimonwait its regional president for the insurer's South Florida Medicare market.

New York City-based Fordham University is requiring all undergraduates to enroll in a health plan provided by the university or prove they have adequate health coverage to attend classes, according to The Observer.

UnitedHealth Group is fighting a request to retroactively review claim denials for mental health treatment in an ongoing legal case, according to MPR News.

Beacon Health Options, the nation's largest independently held behavioral health organization, faces accusations from mental health providers and state officials that its payments are sometimes late, according to Crain's New York Business.

The following payers announced executive moves in the last month, as reported by Becker's Hospital Review:

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield named Pam Stahl president, according to Georgia Health News.

Kaiser Permanente Colorado, a health insurer and provider, is leaving two of the state's counties due in part to its inability to strike contracts with hospitals, according to Summit Daily.

A Pennsylvania woman who was treated at a UPMC hospital for broken bones related to a horse-riding accident told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette she had to be her own care navigator due to a dispute between UPMC and Highmark.

The care some private health insurers deny, like emergency ambulance transports, is lost in much of the debate surrounding surprise medical bills, according to an op-ed published by The Hill.

Centene, the nation's largest provider of managed Medicaid services, led a $60 million funding round for behavioral health startup up Quartet.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona launched an initiative to address the state's low number of mental health providers.

The Trump administration expanded health reimbursement arrangements June 13 in a final rule that aims to help small businesses provide insurance coverage.