The following insurers made headlines this week. They are listed below, beginning with the most recent.
1. Empire BCBS, HealthAlliance yet to resolve contract dispute
Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield and HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley based in Kingston, N.Y., are in negotiations to renew a contract agreement that expires May 31.
2. BCBS, Partners dig in heels in SEIU battle
A controversial healthcare ballot question in Massachusetts has industry stakeholders digging in their respective heels on either side of the debate to ensure their business interests are protected.
3. BCBS of New Mexico reenters ACA exchanges for 2017
Although Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico took a year off of the Affordable Care Act exchanges in 2016, it's looking to enter the marketplace again in 2017.
4. Integrated Health Partners, Molina Healthcare partner to expand coverage
Integrated Health Partners of Southern California launched its first contract with insurer Molina Healthcare.
5. Cigna, Integrated Independent Physicians Network roll out collaborative care agreement
Cigna and Orlando, Fla.-based Integrated Independent Physicians Network partnered April 1 to improve quality and access to care and lower costs for 7,000 Cigna beneficiaries.
6. UnitedHealth to exit Indiana, Maryland ACA exchanges in 2017
UnitedHealth will leave two more state's Affordable Care Act exchanges in 2017: Indiana and Maryland.
7. 4 Massachusetts insurers lose big in Q1
Four Massachusetts nonprofit health insurers lost money in the first quarter of 2016.
8. Ochsner, UnitedHealth repair agreement through January
UnitedHealthcare and New Orleans-based Ochsner Health System reached a contract agreement to continue providing in-network service rates to Louisiana residents through January 2017.
9. Highmark downgrades UPMC Jameson tier status
Patients with Highmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield's Community Blue Flex plan will pay more for care services at UPMC Jameson than they did before the single hospital health system merged with Pittsburgh-based UPMC.
10. Medica, Aetna plan to sell coverage in Kansas
Medica and Aetna will compete for consumers on Kansas' government-run insurance exchanges in 2017.
11. Wellmark, U of Iowa launch joint health plan
Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Iowa City-based University of Iowa Health System are introducing a joint venture to offer health insurance in four Iowa counties.
12. Highmark sues feds over $223M in ACA payments
Highmark, the insurance arm of Pittsburgh-based Highmark Health, is suing the federal government, claiming the U.S. failed to pay the insurer nearly $223 million in payments owed under the Affordable Care Act's risk corridor program.