1. BCBS of Minnesota invests in mental health organization
Eagan-based Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota has raised over $1 million for Minneapolis-based Learn to Live, according to the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal.
2. SC Medicaid director: State needs $129M more for Medicaid
Although South Carolina has not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, the increase in Medicaid enrollees has caused the state program to need additional funds, according to The Post and Courier.
3. Medicaid programs come up short in helping smokers quit, study finds
A recent study found only 10 percent of Medicaid members who smoke — or 830,000 people — received medication to help them quit in 2013, according to NPR.
4. Aetna to leave America’s Health Insurance Plans
Aetna, the third largest health insurer in the nation, is leaving the health insurance industry’s largest trade group, according to The Hill.
5. Community Health System, Anthem BCBS cut ties: 4 things to know
Munster, Ind.-based Community Healthcare System and Indianapolis-based Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield ended their agreement, according to an Inside Indiana Business report.
6. BlueCross, Carondelet reach last-minute deal to resolve contract dispute
BlueCross BlueShield of Arizona and Tucson, Ariz.-based Carondelet Health Network signed a new four-year contract, ending a dispute that could have caused the insurer’s customers to lose in-network access at Carondelet facilities, according to the Arizona Daily Star.
7. WellCare to transition pharmacy benefits management to CVS Health
Health insurer WellCare Health Plans transitioned its pharmacy benefit management to CVS Health Corp. effective Jan. 1, according to Reuters.
8. Health insurers now face steep fines for outdated physician directories
Beginning this year, insurers can incur costly fines for having Medicare physician directories that inaccurately include non-Medicare providers, according to The Wall Street Journal.
9. BCBS of Mass. to increase benefits for end-of-life care
As of Jan. 1, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts began offering its 2.8 million members some of the most comprehensive benefits for end-of-life care in the U.S., according to The Boston Globe.
10. WellCare fights for Iowa Medicaid contract in light of $137.5M false claims settlement
WellCare requested the Iowa Department of Human Services “maintain the status quo” while a district judge reviews a state arbiter’s decision to toss out WellCare’s contract bid for Medicaid patients, according to the Sioux City Journal.
11. Alegeus, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts partner for consumer directed health plans
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts will use Waltham, Mass.-based Alegeus’ platform to assist its members in consumer directed health plans.
12. Carteret, BCBS of North Carolina in contract dispute
Effective Feb. 1, Morehead, N.C.-based Carteret Health Care will be an out-of-network provider for Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina members, according to The Jackson Daily News.
13. Adventist Health, Community Medical Centers form plan for Medi-Cal patients
Winter Park, Fla.-based Adventist Health and Fresno-based CommunityMedicalCenters will form a joint venture healthcare network to provide services for more than 200,000 Central Valley Medi-Cal patients, according to the Fresno Business Journal.
14. AmeriHealth Caritas Iowa, University of Iowa Health Care ink Medicaid contract
Des Moines-based AmeriHealth Caritas Iowa and Iowa City-based University of Iowa Health Care signed a Medicaid agreement contract that will give AmeriHealth members access to care at University of Iowa Health Care.
15. Anthem adds SSM Health hospitals, Dean Clinic to network
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin and St. Louis-based SSM Health partnered with four hospitals to add to Anthem’s Blue Preferred and Blue Access insurance networks, according to the Journal Sentinel.
More articles on payer issues:
More choose critical illness plans when faced with out-of-pocket costs
Arkansas governor wants new boundaries for Medicaid expansion
6 family members, 1 other charged with Medicaid fraud in Minnesota
