Several commercial health insurers will waive member cost-sharing — which includes copays, deductibles and coinsurance — for COVID-19 treatment further into this year.

When cost-sharing is waived for patients who use providers in bundled payment agreements, both payers and patients can see significant savings, according to a new study from the RAND Corp., a nonprofit think tank. The study was published March 1 in Health Affairs.

UnitedHealth Group temporarily opened an infusion center in its headquarters of Minnetonka, Minn., to provide eligible COVID-19 patients access to antibody treatments, according to the Star Tribune.

Blue Shield of California, which is overseeing COVID-19 vaccine distribution for the state, initially wanted "expansive" patient data from the University of California Health System in Oakland, according to the Los Angeles Times. 

CMS issued a guidance Feb. 26 that requires group health plans to waive cost-sharing for COVID-19 testing even if a person doesn't have symptoms or a suspected exposure, among other requirements. 

From readmission reduction programs to chronic care pilots and at-home COVID-19 testing, here are five health programs payers have recently launched: 

Low vaccination rates for human papillomavirus infection fell even more during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to claims data from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

Cigna asked a New Jersey federal court to end a lawsuit filed by a radiology lab that claims the health insurer wrongfully denied payment for COVID-19 services, according to court documents and Law 360.

Evernorth, Cigna's health services business, entered into a definitive agreement to acquire telehealth company MDLive, the companies said Feb. 26.

Here are eight recent contract agreements or conflicts between payers, providers and employers:

The following payer executive changes were announced in February:

White men occupied 89 percent of board seats in payer organizations in 2018, according to a study from the Leverage Network, an organization that promotes Black leadership.

Four commercial payers were among 135 companies identified as the "World's Most Ethical" for 2021 by the Ethisphere Institute, a company that defines and measures corporate ethical standards.

The New York State Department of Financial Services approved an affiliation between Pittsburgh-based Highmark Health and Buffalo-based HealthNow New York, according to a Feb. 24 news release.

Six health insurers were named to Forbes' annual list of "America's best large employers."

Aetna Better Health of Oklahoma is protesting the selection of four other private insurers to manage Oklahoma's Medicaid program, according to The Frontier.

Oscar Health launched its initial public offering Feb. 22. With an offer of 31 million shares at $32 to $34 each, Oscar could raise $1.05 billion at the top of that range.

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey is sending $48.2 million worth of rebates to members who had individual plans in 2019, according to the Asbury Park Press. 

OU Health Physicians, the physician group of Oklahoma City-based OU Health, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma haven't been able to finalize a new contract renewal ahead of an upcoming deadline.

Thomas Tran retired as CFO of Molina Healthcare Feb. 17, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.