Revenue Cycle and Payer News – April 22, 2026

Ohio University, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield expand partnership to strengthen rural healthcare workforce
Ohio University and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Anthem) have further advanced their longstanding partnership and shared commitment to improving health outcomes for rural and underserved populations through expanded endowment funding, microgrants, and increased experiential learning opportunities for students.

CareFirst and Thatch Announce Strategic Partnership to Expand Access to Health Coverage Through ICHRA Across the DMV Region
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst), a not-for-profit healthcare organization serving the Mid-Atlantic region, announced a strategic partnership with Thatch to build a scalable Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA) model for brokers and their employer clients across the District of Columbia, Maryland and Northern Virginia (DMV).

Humana Goes Live with b.well to Deliver on Health Data Interoperability Commitments
CareSource and Community Care, Inc. (CCI) have received the necessary regulatory approvals to proceed with their affiliation, effective April 1, 2026. The two nonprofit managed care organizations announced plans to seek an affiliation in September 2024.

Jefferson Health sues Aetna over controversial Medicare Advantage hospital payment policy
Jefferson Health sued Aetna Monday over a controversial new policy that reduces payments for hospital stays for Medicare Advantage patients that Aetna decides aren’t sick enough to qualify for full payment.

UnitedHealthcare Eliminates Most Medical Prior Authorizations, Accelerates Payments for Key Rural Care Hospitals and Providers Nationwide
UnitedHealthcare announced a significant, national expansion of its rural health care initiatives to help lower costs and simplify processes for care providers and greatly enhance access to quality care for individuals in rural communities.

Independence Blue Cross turns national prior authorization commitment into tangible results
Independence Blue Cross (IBX) has put a prior authorization commitment into action – delivering faster, more direct access to appropriate treatments and medical services for members. Since joining the national effort to simplify prior authorization and improve the process last year, IBX has focused clinical reviews on more complex cases, streamlined work with doctors, and expanded digital platforms for many requests. These actions are producing measurable results. From 2024 to 2025, IBX reduced prior authorization by 14 percent. That eliminated the need for nearly 140,000 prior authorizations, easing access to care for IBX members and their providers.

Cigna Healthcare Once Again Recognized for Industry Leading Digital Experience by JD Power
Cigna Healthcare®, the health benefits division of The Cigna Group, ranked No. 1 for digital experience satisfaction among commercial health plan customers in the JD Power 2026 U.S. Healthcare Digital Experience Study, earning the top ranking for the second consecutive year. The recognition underscores Cigna Healthcare’s continued investment in a simple, reliable, and personalized digital experience that helps customers more confidently manage their health care.

UnitedHealthcare Introduces AI Companion Empowering People with Simpler Navigation, Personal Experience
UnitedHealthcare introduced Avery, a generative AI companion that creates a simpler, more coordinated health care experience for members while empowering customer advocates to more efficiently respond to members.

New insurer data shows parity gaps in mental vs physical health care
A new tool unveiled provides the first look at real-time commercial insurance data on mental health and substance use coverage metrics. The Mental Health Parity Index raises the potential of widespread issues for patient access and clinician pay, which can mean longer wait times, higher out-of-pocket costs, and increased reliance on out-of-network care for individuals seeking treatment. The Index was launched by The Kennedy Forum in collaboration with Third Horizon, the American Medical Association (AMA), the American Psychological Foundation, and Ballmer Group.

New AI companion Avery aims to help members navigate health journey by UnitedHealthcare – Making your health insurance work for you can be confusing. From deciphering your coverage options to finding in-network providers, it can feel overwhelming. Avery, UnitedHealthcare’s new generative AI companion, is working to change that with a simpler, more coordinated health care experience for members.

AHIP 26
When: June 9 – 10, 2026
Where: Las Vegas, NV
Register now.
LinkedIn: AHIP

AHIP 2026 is the premier forum for health plan leaders navigating the most high-impact strategic, regulatory, and operational decisions facing the industry today. Unlike broad innovation conferences or invitation-only retreats, AHIP 2026 is purpose-built for health plans—bringing together senior executives and the leaders responsible for strategy and execution to align on what’s next and advance solutions that improve affordability, access and patient experience nationwide.