Priority Health, an insurer in Grand Rapids, Mich., is merging with Detroit-based insurer Total Health Care, according to the Grand Rapids Business Journal.

The CMO of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is no longer with the association or the BCBS Institute, a company spokesperson confirmed with Becker's.

The California Medical Association is collaborating with value-based care company Aledade and Blue Shield of California subsidiary Altais in an effort to improve patient outcomes.

A new deal between Oscar Health and Berkshire Hathaway, a senator's criticism of the CEO of Centene Corp., and website satisfaction among health plan users were among the payer topics that piqued the interest of readers in August.

The following payer executives changed their positions in August.

Here are four recent articles posted by Becker's Hospital Review that concern payer-provider relationships:

Becker's recently asked one question to five physician executives who announced plans to take on new payer positions in August: What advice do you have for physicians who are seeking leadership roles at a health insurer?

Orange County, Calif.-based Alignment Healthcare, which entered the California payer market in 2014, has recorded 42 percent compounded annual growth each year since launching in 2013.

Grand Blanc, Mich.-based McLaren Physician Partners signed an agreement to join Humana's provider network for Medicare Advantage members who use McLaren Health Care hospitals and outpatient centers.

CMS launched a redesign of its online plan searcher amid growing use of mobile devices among Medicare beneficiaries, the agency said Aug. 27.

Aetna has apologized to Kansas lawmakers after the state threatened to terminate the Hartford, Conn.-based insurer's Medicaid contract for failing on the $1 billion annual agreement, according to the Leavenworth Times.

Karen Xie, PhD, is the chief technology officer and senior vice president at Blue Shield of California, where she executes the $20 billion payer's technology strategy.

Anthem adjusted its fee schedule for some autism treatment in Indiana, a move some behavioral health providers are characterizing as deep cuts that could lead to closures, according to local news station WTHR.

Aetna is changing up its Kansas leadership after the state threatened to terminate the insurer's Medicaid contract for failing on the agreement, according to public radio station KCUR.

Aetna and Centene subsidiary Louisiana Healthcare Connections, who lost bids to help manage Louisiana's Medicaid program, filed protests against the state's decision Aug. 19, according to The Advocate.

Total enrollment in the individual health insurance market fell in 2018 to 13.8 million, down from a high of 17.4 million in 2015, according to an analysis from the Kaiser Family Foundation. 

The CEO of America's Health Insurance Plans said a healthcare plan proposed by Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden is not much different than "Medicare for All," which the industry strongly opposes, according to The Hill.

Here are five payers who recently announced plans to expand their product offerings for 2020:

Oscar is extending its individual coverage footprint to six new states and 12 new markets for 2020, the health insurer said Aug. 22.

Cigna is considering selling its group benefits insurance arm, which may be valued as high as $6 billion, according to Reuters.