Michigan insurer pays members to compare prices

Piority Health is banking on cash incentives to keep costs down.

By Heather Caspi • July 29, 2015

Centene may buy divested Medicare Advantage plans

Industry consolidations may lead to Medicare Advantage sales. 

By Julie Henry • July 29, 2015

Explore the Trendline➔

Payer/provider relationships

As M&A intensifies and companies embrace more holistic and value-based care models, partnerships have become more closely intertwined.

By Healthcare Dive staff

California's ACA insurance rates to rise an average of 4%

The state is one of few that negotiates prices.

By Julie Henry • July 29, 2015

How merger mania will impact the healthcare industry

There are both advantages and disadvantages to scale, experts note.

By Heather Caspi • July 29, 2015

Medicare cost experiment fails to save money

The price tag of the Department of Health and Human Services experiment was $57 million.

By Julie Henry • July 28, 2015

Athenahealth beats earnings estimates for Q2

The company is setting revenue highs, but expenses continue to grow at a similar pace.

By Julie Henry • July 28, 2015

State exchanges seek path to sustainability

States are discussing the possibility of joining forces, experts say.

By Heather Caspi • July 28, 2015

What's driving the big health insurance mergers?

The Big Five health insurers soon could become the Big Three. What are the chances two recently announced merger plans will move forward?

By Julie Henry • July 27, 2015

HSAs still perplex consumers, health professionals say

A new survey sheds light about the lack of understanding of the accounts and the best ways to use them. 

By Nina Flanagan • July 24, 2015

Anthem moves to buy Cigna in massive $54.2B deal

The offer would create an insurance giant that covers more than 53 million people.

By Randy Lilleston • July 24, 2015

BCBS subsidiary agrees to pay Maryland $45M for failed exchange

Maryland's health exchange crashed immediately after launching Oct. 1, 2013.

By Nina Flanagan • July 23, 2015

Molina acquisition expands Medicaid business in Chicago market

The insurer has purchased one of the 11 ACOs in Illinois, which is owned and operated by several Chicago hospitals and health centers.

By Nina Flanagan • July 23, 2015

The changing future of Medicare and Medicaid at 50

Both programs turn 50 this month. Perhaps the only constant through five decades has been that neither program is static. 

By Heather Caspi • July 22, 2015

7.5M paid penalty for lack of health insurance in 2014

The IRS has released preliminary findings in response to numerous requests from Congress.

By Heather Caspi • July 22, 2015

AHIP choice illustrates new position on ACA

"The ACA is now business, whereas during its passage, it was seen as a threat by AHIP," says one health policy professor.

By Heather Caspi • July 22, 2015

BCBSA report finds huge variation in angioplasty costs

This is the second such report Blue Cross has released this year, and it found a 532% variation in Los Angeles alone.

By Julie Henry • July 22, 2015

Is privatization the right route for Medicare?

With Medicare Advantage on the rise, some experts are questioning how far it should go.

By Heather Caspi • July 22, 2015

If CHIP is on its way out, what's next?

The CHIP program could cease to exist as early as 2017—in fact, some in Washington think it's a given. 

By Julie Henry • July 22, 2015

Aetna promotes Humana deal internally

The memo appeared to have been sent to reassure employees who may be nervous about analysts' comments suggesting that the deal will face antitrust scrutiny. 

By Heather Caspi • July 21, 2015

Utah, Alaska move forward with Medicaid expansion plans

The two states are inching closer to opening up coverage to 100,000 and 40,000 Americans, respectively. 

By Julie Henry • July 21, 2015

CMS testing new program that combines hospice and curative care

Medicare only pays for hospice benefits for teminally ill patients who are no longer receiving curative care—but 140 hospice providers will be participating in a new pilot that eases that restriction.

By Julie Henry • July 21, 2015

Humana, HCA reach agreement in Florida

Around 1.5 million Humana members had already received notice that the contract with HCA was expiring.

By Julie Henry • July 20, 2015

UnitedHealth shows 13% profit jump in second quarter

The company now projects revenue of $154 billion by the end of the year—an increase of $11 billion.

By Heather Caspi • July 17, 2015

Aetna ends relationship with agent who sold to homeless

The spate of enrollments sparked multiple tip-offs of suspected fraud—but agent Will Kennedy "makes no apology."

By Heather Caspi • July 17, 2015

Fake applicants trick HealthCare.gov for second time

In total, investigators were able to obtain $30,000 in fraudulent subsidies.

By Heather Caspi • July 17, 2015