Here are 10 recent articles posted by Becker's Hospital Review that concern payer-provider relationships:
1. WVU Medicine, Highmark strike long-term contract
Morgantown-based West Virginia University Health System and Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield West Virginia reached a multiyear contract, the organizations said June 5.
2. Anthem to cover some WellStar services, state order says
Anthem sent an agreement to the Georgia Department of Insurance to cover some services its ACA exchange members may receive at WellStar Health System in Marietta, Ga.
3. UPMC backpedals on controversial prepayment policy
UPMC no longer plans to require patients with Medicare Advantage coverage through Highmark to pay for services in advance once consent decrees between the Pittsburgh-based rivals expire July 1.
4. UnitedHealth CEO: Optum won't build hospitals
OptumCare, the healthcare delivery unit of UnitedHealth Group, won't own inpatient care or post-acute care services, the health insurer's CEO said during an annual strategy conference.
5. Rutgers partners with Horizon BCBS for medical research project
Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J., and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey will create a medical partnership.
6. UnitedHealth to SCOTUS: Back controversial billing method
UnitedHealth Group requested that the U.S. Supreme Court uphold its billing tactic of offsetting overpayments made to out-of-network providers from some of its health plans by withholding payments to the same provider from its different health plans.
7. NY hospital wants 'excessive' 30% rate hike, Empire BCBS says
A contract dispute between Empire BlueCross BlueShield and Westchester Medical Center Health in Valhalla, N.Y., is due to WMC's proposed 30 percent rate hike, the insurer claims.
8. Blue Cross Blue Shield Association calls for federal ban on balance billing
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association wants Congress to establish a payment benchmark for out-of-network clinicians, such as emergency room physicians, as part of a legislative solution to surprise medical bills.
9. Justices send UPMC-Highmark case back to lower court
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court sent a case involving UPMC and Highmark back to a lower court, stating more information is needed to make a decision on the deadline of an upcoming split between the Pittsburgh-based rivals.
10. Price variation leads to significant healthcare overspending, UnitedHealth says
Patients overspend on diagnostic tests when healthcare prices are high and vary significantly from provider to provider, according to a research brief from UnitedHealth Group.
More articles on payers:
UnitedHealth CEO: Optum won't build hospitals
CMO Dr. William Shrank on Humana's physician strategy, 'Medicare for All' and home care as the Netflix of healthcare
Rutgers partners with Horizon BCBS for medical research project