Providers in 12 Western states will no longer be mailed paper remittance advice, or proof that an invoice has been paid, for medical claims to network healthcare professionals and facilities, UnitedHealthcare said in a bulletin.

General Motors allowed 24,000 employees to opt in to a direct contracting agreement with Henry Ford Health System in 2019, and that experiment is showing cost savings promise for Michigan's second largest employer. 

The American Dental Association implored congressional leadership to support Rep. Nanette Barragán, D-Calif., and the Medicaid Dental Benefit Act, which would loop dental coverage into Medicaid. 

The employer-based health insurance landscape has seen constant readjustment over the past decade, putting firms at a decisive crossroads. 

One of the developing insurance battlefields are members who are forced to choose between paying for healthcare needs or basic needs, such as groceries, said Paul Hain, MD, CMO of GoHealth.

Texas health officials refused an offer by CMS to continue Medicaid funding for providers, according to an Aug. 16 letter obtained by Politico Pulse.

A bankrupt self-insured health plan for 2,500 physician practices and other small businesses says it doesn't have enough money to pay out medical claims, NJ.com reported Aug. 19. 

Seventy-two percent of the country's largest health plans are no longer waiving out-of-pocket costs for COVID-19 treatment, according to research released Aug. 19 by the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker.

As employees and contractors leave their homes to work, Humana is requiring them to get vaccinated. 

Nonprofit health insurer Medica and St. Louis-based system SSM Health formed a new relationship under which Medica will invest in an insurance subsidiary of SSM.

Reno, Nev.-based Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center, which is owned by Ontario, Calif.-based Prime Healthcare, will no longer be in network for Prominence HealthFirst, the provider announced Aug. 18.

A statement from the New York State Comptroller's office claimed that the state's Department of Health allowed $1.5 billion in erroneous Medicaid payments over the past few years.

The health insurance landscape has seen a slew of new executives move about the fold. 

A trio of health insurance startups announced significant moves that expand their reach or bolster their offerings.

New legislation from Reps. Brendan Boyle, D-Pa., Jimmy Gomez, D-Calif., and Don Beyer, D-Va., marks the latest effort to promote universal healthcare through Medicare.

Tapped in January to oversee the state's COVID-19 vaccine rollout, Blue Shield of California largely has stepped back from that role, according to the Los Angeles Times.  

Aparna Abburi, president of Medicare and CareAllies for Cigna, has been prioritizing keeping her "eyes and ears close to the ground" as she looks to keep up with trends and bolster member experiences.

Following national guidance encouraging some vaccinated individuals to receive a COVID-19 booster, some Blue Cross and Blue Shield affiliates are already offering to fully cover the shots. 

A collaborative effort between Danville, Pa.-based Geisinger Health Plan and technology solutions company Cognizant has led the insurer to be one of the first to comply with CMS' new interoperability mandate. 

Cigna is rolling out COVID-19 vaccination and testing requirements for its employees as they return to worksites.