Today's Top 20 Stories

  1. UnitedHealth details Change attack recovery timeline: 5 updates for payers

    Jakob Emerson -
    UnitedHealth Group detailed a timeline March 7 for restoring key Change Healthcare systems following the unprecedented cyberattack on the company in late February. 

  2. Louisiana lawmakers look to make a future BCBS sale more difficult 

    Jakob Emerson -
    Three weeks after a halted merger between BCBS Louisiana and Elevance Health, two Louisiana state lawmakers have filed bills that would make it more difficult for nonprofit insurers, (such as BCBS Louisiana) to reorganize into a for-profit organization that could then be sold, nola.com reported March 5.

  3. 3 BCBS companies reporting losses in 2023

    Jakob Emerson -
    Some Blue Cross Blue Shield plans are reporting year-end financial losses due to ongoing trends such as rising utilization in the Medicare Advantage space and growing demand for weight loss drugs. 

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  1. How 4 major payers have been affected by Change Healthcare attack

    Jakob Emerson -
    Payers are reporting significant reductions in the volume of claims they receive from providers following the ransomware attack on Optum's Change Healthcare in late February, but the effect on prior authorization processes has been limited.

  2. Elevance subsidiary taps president

    Andrew Cass -
    Wellpoint Washington, a wholly owned subsidiary of Elevance Health, has named Lisa Bogard president. 

  3. The states where most Medicare beneficiaries have Medicare Advantage plans

    Andrew Cass -
    Twenty-six states now have more than half of their Medicare enrollees in Medicare Advantage plans, according to a March 5 report from Chartis, a healthcare advisory services firm. 

  4. Former Walgreens chief legal officer takes UnitedHealth Group advisory role

    Andrew Cass -
    Walgreens Boots Alliance's former executive vice president and global chief legal officer has been named an executive in residence at UnitedHealth Group. 

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  1. UnitedHealth faces proposed class-action suit over Change Healthcare data breach

    Andrew Cass -
    UnitedHealth Group and its Change Healthcare business are facing a proposed class-action lawsuit in the wake of a cyberattack that downed Change's applications, complicating operations at hospitals, physician practices and pharmacies. 

  2. 3 former UnitedHealth executives becoming CEOs

    Andrew Cass -
    Three former UnitedHealth executives were recently named CEOs of healthcare companies:

  3. Humana: Change hack affecting payers' ability to gauge medical expenses

    Andrew Cass -
    Humana executives said the cyberattack on Change Healthcare is making it harder for payers to gauge their medical expenses, Bloomberg reported March 5. 

  4. Lifespan may no longer accept Cigna insurance

    Madeline Ashley -
    Providence, R.I.-based Lifespan, the state's biggest health system, might not accept Cigna Healthcare insurance moving forward if an agreement over contract negotiations cannot be met by March 31.

How one Midwest hospital is driving financial efficiency with interconnected systems

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  1. Centene's canceled East Coast HQ site attracting suitors

    Andrew Cass -
    Centene's canceled East Coast headquarters in Charlotte, N.C., is gaining interest from potential buyers, the Charlotte Business Journal reported March 4. 

  2. Excellus BCBS posts first loss in 15 years

    Andrew Cass -
    Excellus BlueCross BlueShield reported a net loss of $23 million in 2023, its first loss since 2008, NPR affiliate WXXI reported March 4. 

  3. Arkansas system splitting with UnitedHealthcare

    Andrew Cass -
    Starting May 1, Jonesboro, Ark.-based St. Bernards Medical Center and all its related inpatient and outpatient facilities will be out of network with UnitedHealthcare. 

  4. CMS ups 4 Elevance Medicare Advantage star ratings

    Andrew Cass -
    Four Elevance Health Medicare Advantage contracts will have higher 2024 star ratings because CMS updated the original ratings announced in October, according to a March 4 regulatory filing from the payer. 

  5. 4 payers among world's 'most ethical' companies

    Andrew Cass -
    Ethisphere Institute, a for-profit company that defines and measures corporate ethical standards, released its 2024 list of the "World's Most Ethical Companies," which includes health insurers. 

  6. Former UnitedHealthcare exec named Genuine Health Group CEO

    Andrew Cass -
    Genuine Health Group, a physician enablement platform that helps physicians transition to value-based care, has named former UnitedHealthcare executive Roger Rodriguez CEO. 

  7. Appellate court to hear arguments in Texas ruling tossing ACA preventive care provision

    Andrew Cass -
    A federal appellate court will hear arguments March 4 on the Biden administration's appeal of a judge's ruling that struck down an ACA provision that requires insurance companies to provide coverage for preventive services such as certain cancer screenings and HIV prevention drugs. 

  8. Aetna reports some disruptions from Change hack

    Rylee Wilson -
    The Change Healthcare hack is disrupting some of Aetna's business operations, including possible disruptions in payments to providers. 

  9. BCBS Michigan sees narrow net gain amid 'massive' medical costs

    Rylee Wilson -
    Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan reported a $3.2 billion increase in medical costs in 2023. 

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