The following payers made headlines this week. They are listed below, beginning with the most recent.
1. Priority Health, McLaren partner to expand healthcare access in Michigan
Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Priority Health and Flint, Mich.-based McLaren Health Care agreed to add McLaren hospitals and physicians to the Priority Health network.
2. Grady, Aetna reach new contract after 6 months of talks
Atlanta-based Grady Health System and Hartford, Conn.-based Aetna agreed to a new contract to keep all Grady hospitals and physicians in Aetna's network.
3. Aetna gains 62% of Medicare Advantage market in some Pennsylvania counties
Following Cranbury-based AmeriHealth New Jersey's exit from the Medicare Advantage market in south Jersey, Aetna's market share increased to 62 percent in Burlington, Camden and Gloucester Counties this month.
4. BCBS of Michigan moves 380 employees, new hires to different office
Detroit-based Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is shifting 380 employees working for its Medicare Advantage consulting business to the Southfield (Mich.) Town Center.
5. Judge: Aetna ditched exchanges to 'avoid antitrust scrutiny': 5 things to know
U.S. District Judge John Bates determined Aetna's August decision to exit most of the ACA exchanges where it sold health plans was not solely a business strategy, but was "for the purpose of improving its litigation position."
6. University of Maryland physician group, Aetna ink 3-year partnership
Aetna and a physicians group at the University of Maryland in College Park agreed to coordinate patient care to enhance patient outcomes while reducing healthcare expenses.
7. Cigna settlement lifts coverage ban on psychiatric testing: 4 things to know
The office of New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman reached a settlement with Cigna to eliminate polices previously banning coverage for claims related to psychiatric testing following an investigation of the insurer's mental health benefits.
8. Audit: Highmark received $96k in overpayments from Pennsylvania county
Pennsylvania's Franklin County overpaid Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield by $96,000.
9. Judge blocks $37B Aetna-Humana deal: 5 things to know
U.S. District Judge John Bates blocked Aetna's proposed $37 billion takeover of Louisville, Ky.-based Humana.
10. BCBS of Texas to establish innovation lab in Dallas
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas will renovate two floors of a historic Dallas building to transform the area into a $2.5 million healthcare innovation lab.
11. Anthem drops preauthorization for opioid addiction treatment
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman negotiated a national settlement with Indianapolis-based Anthem to end preauthorization for medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder.