The following payers made headlines this week, beginning with the most recent.
1. Augusta Health to terminate in-network contract with Anthem
Fishersville, Va.-based Augusta Health notified Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield it will terminate its contract with the payer by 2018.
2. Sanford Health, HealthPartners team up for Medicare plans
Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Sanford Health and HealthPartners, a Minneapolis-based health plan managing government insurance, will launch Medicare plans in North Dakota and South Dakota effective Jan. 1.
3. Independence Blue Cross offers voluntary buyouts to 900 employees
Philadelphia-based Independence Blue Cross presented a voluntary severance program to approximately 900 employees Thursday.
4. Highmark, AmeriHealth Caritas win bid to manage Delaware's Medicaid program
The Delaware Department of Health and Social Services chose Pittsburgh-based Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield and Philadelphia-based AmeriHealth Caritas to operate its Medicaid managed care program.
5. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona's new CEO is Pam Kehaly: 4 notes
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona hired Pam Kehaly to serve as president and CEO, effective in November.
6. Cleveland Clinic, Humana unveil 2 joint Medicare Advantage plans
Cleveland Clinic and Louisville, Ky.-based Humana created two Medicare Advantage plans for patients in Ohio's Cuyahoga County.
7. Aetna offers reimbursement to members affected by inadvertent HIV status reveal
Hartford, Conn.-based Aetna will reimburse members claiming they incurred financial damages resulting from the payer's inadvertent reveal of members' HIV status through mailed envelope windows.
8. Hartford HealthCare, Anthem break leaves tens of thousands out-of-network
Hartford (Conn.) HealthCare is no longer in-network for Anthem members after failing to negotiate a new contract Sept. 30.
9. Anthem executive named president of Optima Health
Dennis Matheis, a former Anthem executive, will succeed Michael Dudley as president and CEO of Optima Health in Virginia Beach, Va., and senior corporate vice president of Norfolk, Va.-based Sentara Healthcare.
10. 5 CHS hospitals lose in-network status from Independence Blue Cross in Tower Health deal
Independence Blue Cross members lost in-network access to five Pennsylvania hospitals purchased by Tower Health in West Reading, Pa., from Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems.
More articles on payer issues:
Hartford HealthCare, Aetna reach in-network deal
Augusta Health to terminate in-network contract with Anthem
Sanford Health, HealthPartners team up for Medicare plans