Savannah, Ga.-based Memorial Health University Medical Center has renewed its network agreement with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia, according to the Savannah Morning News.  By Leo Vartorella - 10/4/18

Aetna will remain in Hartford, Conn., for at least a decade after it is acquired by CVS Health, the pharmacy benefits manager told Connecticut insurance regulators Oct. 3, according to the Hartford Courant.  By Morgan Haefner - 10/4/18

On average, annual family premiums for employer health plans totaled about $20,000 this year, according to new data from the Kaiser Family Foundation.  By Morgan Haefner - 10/4/18

1. For the first time, the costs of employer sponsored family healthcare coverage has reached approximately $20,000 per year. The year-over-year growth in this number exceeds average inflation. This does not match the horrendous increases over inflation of several years back. By Scott Becker - 10/4/18

A co-branded Medicare Advantage health plan launched by Cleveland Clinic and Humana last year will expand to four additional counties, the organizations said Oct. 1.  By Morgan Haefner - 10/3/18

A state-brokered consent decree between Pittsburgh rivals Highmark Health and UPMC expires June 30, 2019, after which Highmark's Medicare Advantage members will be unable to access UPMC at in-network rates. A recent report from Trib Live found the systems are clashing over a new rule concerning how some nonemergent care will be paid for by out-of-network Highmark members.  By Morgan Haefner - 10/3/18

CMS is upgrading the Medicare.gov website for plan selection ahead of the Medicare open enrollment period.  By Kelly Gooch - 10/2/18

Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare is no longer in Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia's network as of Oct. 1, according to WTOC11.  By Morgan Haefner - 10/2/18

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota named former Anthem executive Craig Samitt, MD, president and CEO, effective July 30. In an interview with the Star Tribune, Dr. Samitt discussed the for-profit competitive forces BCBSM faces in Minnesota.  By Morgan Haefner - 10/1/18

The Iowa Insurance Division issued a cease and desist order for two organizations selling fake health insurance products.  By Morgan Haefner - 10/1/18

As hospitals and health systems work to cut costs and keep patients out of hospitals during the transition to value-based care, payers and providers must continue to strengthen their relationship to tackle the numerous challenges care delivery presents today.  By Megan Knowles - 10/1/18

The transition and adoption of the value-based care model, and implementing and fully utilizing new technology are some of the biggest issues challenging payers this year.  By Alyssa Rege - 10/1/18

Cigna staffed the team who will lead a combined Cigna-Express Scripts company after the close of the firms' proposed $52 billion deal.  By Morgan Haefner - 9/28/18

Hospitals are closely watching UnitedHealth Group's health services arm Optum as it steadily expands its physician workforce to shield itself from competitors and hospitals.  By Morgan Haefner - 9/28/18

Alabama has the least competitive commercial health insurance market in the U.S., according to a 2017 update to the American Medical Association's Competition in Health Insurance research.  By Morgan Haefner - 9/28/18

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia's discretionary emergency room policy is landing hundreds of patients with denied claims after the insurer decided their care could be performed outside the ER, according to physicians who testified during a Sept. 27 hearing.  By Morgan Haefner - 9/28/18

In a deal valued at $2.5 billion, UnitedHealth Group purchased pharmacy company Genoa Healthcare from a private equity group, according to Bloomberg.  By Alia Paavola - 9/28/18

Reforms intended to integrate care and save money in the Oregon Health Plan, the state's $6 billion Medicaid program, have produced mixed results in the first five years, according to the Portland Tribune.  By Emily Rappleye - 9/28/18

Anthem will sell individual health plans in some Ohio counties after the health insurer exited several ACA exchanges last year, according to the Dayton Daily News.  By Morgan Haefner - 9/27/18

Aetna inked an agreement to sell its Medicare Part D drug business to WellCare Health Plans for an undisclosed sum, according to CNBC.  By Alyssa Rege - 9/27/18