1. Vanderbilt, BCBST in Medicare Advantage standoff
Nashville, Tenn.-based Vanderbilt University Medical Center and BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee are at a stalemate over negotiations for the 2016 Medicare Advantage network, according to The Tennessean.
2. Hillary Clinton has ‘serious concerns’ about health insurer mega-mergers
Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton raised objections to health insurer mega-mergers, saying she has “serious concerns” about the proposed mergers between Anthem and Cigna and between Aetna and Humana, according to The Hill.
3. Insurance startup Collective Health raises $81M
San Mateo, Calif.-based health insurance and software startup Collective Health closed an $81 million Series C funding round Oct. 20, including investors Google Ventures, NEA and Founders Fund.
4. Four dominant insurers return to Illinois exchange
Four insurance giants — Aetna, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Illinois, Humana and UnitedHealthcare — are returning to the Illinois health insurance exchange this year, according to Crain’s Chicago Business.
5. Cigna, PinnacleHealth team up for collaborative care model
Cigna and Harrisburg, Pa.-based PinnacleHealth are rolling out a new collaborative care initiative in central Pennsylvania.
6. Aetna-Humana merger receives approval from shareholders
Aetna’s proposed $37 billion acquisition of Humana was approved by shareholders of both companies Oct. 19, according to Reuters.
7. 8 things to know about insurance co-op closures
Only 15 of the 23 original insurance co-ops will offer coverage next year, according to The Hill. Many of the co-ops blamed low payouts from the risk corridor program for their collapse.
8. Cigna, Lahey partner for collaborative care in Boston
Cigna and Beverly, Mass.-based Lahey Clinical Performance Network launched a collaborative care initiative Oct. 1 in the Boston area for more than 7,000 Cigna beneficiaries.
9. Essentia Health, UCare form PPO
Duluth, Minn.-based Essentia Health and UCare partnered on a new health plan, called Essentia Care, for Minnesota residents.
10. 6 things to know about Oscar Health
New York-based Oscar Health, a young insurance company, provides a mobile app for clients fully equipped with unique “click and appointments” options, according to the L.A. Times.
11. Advocate, BCBS team up for new network
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, the state’s largest health insurer, and Downers Grove-based Advocate Health Care, the largest system in Illinois, created a new health plan.
12. Cigna withdraws from Fla. marketplace, blames fraud and abuse
Hartford, Conn.-based Cigna is pulling its Florida plans from the federal health insurance marketplace, according to Health News Florida.
13. Day 1 of Medicare open enrollment: 8 things to know
Medicare’s annual open enrollment period began Oct. 15 and runs through Dec. 7. During this time, all Medicare beneficiaries can shop around and select a new plan. However, many enrollees may face significantly higher premiums in 2016.
14. Mayo Clinic Health System, BCBS of Minn. enter agreement
A new contract between Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota and Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic Health System creates lower insurance rates for Minnesota state employees, according to the Mankato Free Press.
15. 6th insurance co-op closes: Tennessee to stop offering plans in 2016
A Knoxville, Tenn.-based insurer will stop offering plans in 2016, making it the sixth insurance co-op formed under the Affordable Care Act to shut its doors, according to The Hill.
16. UnitedHealthcare, Good Start Genetics ink deal
Cambridge, Mass.-based Good Start Genetics, a molecular diagnostics company, partnered with insurance giant UnitedHealthcare to provide millions of Americans with access to Good Start’s genetic screening tests.
17. Rush, Aetna roll out new ACO: Whole Health Chicago
Aetna and Chicago-based Rush Health plan to launch a first-of its-kind accountable care organization in Illinois.
More articles on payer issues:
Health insurers in the news: Week in review Oct. 9-15
Hospitals consider health plans amid potential insurer mega-mergers
BCBS of SC gives $1M to flood relief efforts
