Revenue Cycle and Payer News 6-27-2018

U.S. Women’s Health Alliance Takes Unprecedented Next Step to Transform Women’s Healthcare
At its national 12th semiannual conference in April 2018, the U.S. Women’s Health Alliance (USWHA) continued its revolutionary journey to transform women’s healthcare by collaborating with major health plans including Cigna, Horizon BC/BS and UnitedHealthcare on value-based initiatives. The conference theme, “Transforming Women’s Healthcare in a Transactional World,” set the stage for The Alliance physician groups and health plan leaders to collaborate and discuss the evolving healthcare landscape with the sole purpose of improving quality and affordability for women’s care across the country.

Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan Chase appoint Dr. Atul Gawande as Chief Executive Officer of Their Newly-formed Company to Address U.S. Employee Healthcare
Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan Chase announced the next step in their partnership on U.S. employee healthcare with the appointment of Dr. Atul Gawande as its Chief Executive Officer, effective July 9. The new company will be headquartered in Boston and will operate as an independent entity that is free from profit-making incentives and constraints..

AMA Says Regulators Should Block CVS-Aetna Deal
According to Fobes, after months of review, the American Medical Association (@AmerMedicalAssn) said state and federal regulators should block the acquisition of Aetna by CVS Health, saying the creation of a new healthcare giant would lead to higher prices and too much control of seniors’ Medicare drug plans. The AMA’s announcement, which came before a hearing Tuesday afternoon before state insurance regulators in California, is a surprising blow to drugstore chain CVS’ $69 billion effort to takeover Aetna, the nation’s third largest health insurer. The AMA’s announcement comes despite the lack of discussion of the CVS-Aetna deal earlier this month at the group’s annual policy-making House of Delegates meeting in Chicago.

AT&T-Time Warner Ruling Could Usher in More Healthcare Deals
The Street reports that he ruling on the merger of AT&T Inc. (T – Get Report) and Time Warner Inc. could pave the way for more deals in the healthcare sector. In a landmark decision, Judge Richard Leon of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on June 12 cleared the AT&T-Time Warner merger, and the deal closed two days later. The ruling was a significant defeat for the Department of Justice, whose November challenge of the transaction marked the first lawsuit against a vertical deal in more than 40 years.

Oscar Expands to Six New Markets
Oscar (@oscarhealthrecently announced that it has filed to offer its consumer-focused, technology-driven health insurance in nine states and 14 markets in 2019, nearly doubling our current footprint. Our six new markets will be spread across three new states — Florida, Arizona, and Michigan — and three additional large metro areas in Ohio, Tennessee, and Texas, subject to regulatory approval.

Chubb Introduces Insurance for Artisan Contractors through Its New Digital Platform Designed to Help Modernize the Placement and Service of Small Business Insurance
Chubb (@ChubbNAis now offering insurance solutions to cover the unique risks faced by artisan contractors. This coverage is available through Chubb’s new digital platform – the Chubb Small Commercial Marketplace®, which is designed to help modernize the placement and service of small business insurance, and features a complete and customizable suite of products for skilled trade professionals.

New Aetna Study Finds Consumers Want Easier Ways to Manage Their Health Goals
Aetna (@aetna) released the results of its inaugural Health Ambitions Study, which explores consumers’ health goals and the relationship between consumers and providers in the evolving health care system. The study finds that people, particularly women, are paying attention to their holistic health, as they seek resources that better support both health and wellbeing.

Medica Names Brigid Bonner to Board of Directors
Medica (@Medica4Meannounced that Brigid Bonner has been elected to its Board of Directors. Her Board tenure begins immediately. Bonner has more than 20 years of experience as a senior executive in many technology savvy, consumer-based businesses ranging from Fortune 100 companies to startups.

In State News:

Monida Healthcare Network and Humana Sign Network Agreement, Expanding Humana’s Medicare Advantage Provider Network in Montana
Monida Healthcare Network, a Montana-based regional association of health care providers, and Humana Inc. (@humana), a national  health and well-being company, have signed an agreement that expands in-network access for Humana Medicare members at Monida member hospitals and clinics in Montana.

Molina Healthcare Awarded Florida Medicaid Managed Care Contracts
Molina Healthcare, Inc. announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Molina Healthcare of Florida, Inc., has been awarded Medicaid Managed Care contracts by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration in Regions 8 and 11 of the Florida Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Invitation to Negotiate (ITN). The Company currently serves approximately 105,000 Medicaid members in those regions, which include Miami-Dade, Monroe, Sarasota, DeSoto, Charlotte, Glades, Hendry and Collier Counties, representing approximately $550 million in annual revenue. Services under the new contract are expected to begin on January 1, 2019.

Major Health Insurer Medica Brings New Competition to Individual and Family Health Insurance Market in Kansas City, Missouri
Medica announced a new health plan option for individuals and families in the Kansas City, Missouri, area. The plan, Select by MedicaSM, will be available for coverage starting on January 1, 2019. Select by Medica expands the partnership between Medica and Saint Luke’s Health System, which has been available in the Kansas City, Kansas, area beginning with the 2018 coverage year.