The following payers made headlines this week, beginning with the most recent.
1. UnitedHealthcare to lay off 381 in Phoenix
UnitedHealthcare in Phoenix, part of the insurance branch of UnitedHealth Group, will lay off 381 employees.
2. 'An Optum wannabe': Experts say UnitedHealth, more than Amazon, is fueling CVS-Aetna deal
While many analysts predicted CVS Health is in talks to buy Aetna to stay ahead of Amazon, industry experts are now attributing the proposed merger to another competitor — UnitedHealth Group.
3. Hartford HealthCare loses lawsuit claiming Anthem forced 'catastrophically' low rates
A district judge tossed a lawsuit filed by Hartford (Conn.) HealthCare against Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Connecticut Wednesday.
4. Carle COO to serve as Health Alliance chief administrative officer: 3 points
John Snyder stepped into the chief administrative officer role at Health Alliance, a for-profit health insurance company under Urbana, Ill.-based Carle Foundation.
5. 4 Oklahoma hospitals allege BCBS breached contract
Four rural Oklahoma hospitals sued Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma for allegedly breaching contract amid an ongoing rate dispute.
6. WellCare more than doubles net income in Q3
Shares of WellCare, a Florida-based Medicaid and Medicare managed care plan, hit a record high Tuesday as the payer more than doubled its net income in the third quarter of fiscal year 2017.
7. Aetna's profits rise 39% despite revenue shortfall
Aetna saw revenues dip 5 percent in the third quarter of fiscal year 2017 compared to the year prior, but cost containment allowed the insurer to boost net income.
8. Health Partners Plans names Geralynn Boone VP of Medicare clinical operations: 5 takeaways
Philadelphia-based Health Partners Plans selected Geralynn Boone, MSN, RN, to serve as vice president of clinical operations, Medicare.
9. Horizon BCBS increases value-based payments by 43% to $95M
Physicians in Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey's network achieved $94.9 million in value-based payments last year, up 43 percent from the year prior.
10. Kaiser, Piedmont contract for in-network services through 2021
Piedmont Healthcare in Atlanta will offer Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente health plan members in-network access to all facilities under a new contract.
More articles on payer issues:
CMS proposes ACA benefit changes for 2019: 7 things to know
What's looming behind the proposed CVS Health-Aetna deal
Health Partners Plans names Geralynn Boone VP of Medicare clinical operations: 5 takeaways