Revenue Cycle and Payer News – January 28, 2026

Carda Health and Humana Partner to Bring Nationwide Access to At-Home Cardiac Rehabilitation Care
Carda Health, a provider of at-home virtual pulmonary and cardiac care, announced a first-of-its-kind partnership with Humana Inc., a health and well-being company. This strategic partnership aims to improve access to cardiac rehabilitation by offering a more effective solution for patients recovering from adverse heart conditions.

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and United Digestive Announce Multi-Year Agreement
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield announced a new, multi-year provider network agreement with United Digestive, a physician practice management company supporting gastrointestinal providers and partner practices throughout the Southeast. United Digestive has partner practices in Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina, many of whom have served their communities for more than 40 years.

IBX teams up with tango to build on strong network of skilled home health options
Independence Blue Cross (IBX) has teamed up with tango, a leader in providing post-acute benefit enablement services, to build on the strong network of skilled home health options it offers Medicare Advantage members. The work IBX and tango are doing together could enhance the experience that up to 118,000 IBX Medicare Advantage members have when they leave the hospital and continue their care at home.

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Riverside Health Announce Multi-Year Contract to Advance Affordability and Ensure Continued Access to Care
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia and Riverside Health, an integrated health network serving eastern Virginia, announce a new multi-year agreement that ensures Anthem members will continue to have uninterrupted, in-network access to Riverside’s hospitals, providers, and outpatient care services across the region.

IBX associates join effort to celebrate and share civic pride as Philly Phambassadors
Independence Blue Cross (IBX) associates are answering the call to share everything they love about Philadelphia with friends, neighbors, and visitors from around the world!

Medica Completes Acquisition of Certain UCare Contracts and Assets
Medica, a Minnesota-based nonprofit health company serving more than 1.4 million members across eight states, announced the successful completion of its acquisition of certain contracts and assets from UCare, effective January 1, 2026.

CVS Health® makes health insurance simpler and more affordable for Americans
CVS Health® announced key milestones in its ongoing effort to make health care simpler and more affordable for American consumers.

The Cigna Group Renews Support for Achilles International’s Freedom Team, Empowering Wounded Veterans and Adaptive Athletes
The Cigna Group, a global health company, committed nearly $1 million over the next three years to help wounded veterans and athletes with disabilities participate in premier endurance races across the country through a renewed, multiyear sponsorship of the Achilles Freedom Team. This expanded commitment builds on The Cigna Group’s longstanding collaboration with Achilles International and reinforces the company’s mission to improve health, vitality, and community connection.

IBX awards 2026 Clinical Care Innovation Grants to Jefferson Health, Penn Medicine, and Temple Health
Independence Blue Cross (IBX) has selected Jefferson Health, Penn Medicine, and Temple Health as 2026 Clinical Care Innovation Grant recipients. The grants help hospitals and doctors create new care approaches that improve health outcomes, remove barriers, and make health care more affordable.

Humana Launches $3 Million Scholarship Fund for Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine to Expand Physician Workforce in Louisiana
Humana Inc. has established a $3 million scholarship fund for incoming medical students at Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine (XOCOM) to help address physician workforce shortages and improve access to healthcare for communities across Louisiana.

Greater Washington Community Foundation and CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Award $2.2 Million in Grants to Combat Maternal Health Crisis
On Maternal Health Awareness Day, the Greater Washington Community Foundation and CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst) are proud to announce $2.2 million in grants from the Developing Families Maternal Health Fund. Eleven nonprofit organizations will receive funding to improve maternal health outcomes and reduce maternal and infant mortality rates across the Greater Washington region.

UnitedHealthcare to Support Rural Hospitals with Accelerated Medicare Advantage Payments, Providing Immediate Cash-Flow Relief
UnitedHealthcare announced the launch of its Rural Payment Acceleration Pilot, a targeted initiative designed to support independent rural hospitals facing financial challenges.

2026 Will Bring Progress on Simplifying Prior Authorization by AHIP – Prior authorization is an important safeguard used by both public and private payers to help ensure patients receive care that is safe, evidence-based and as affordable as possible – ultimately ensuring that every health care dollar is spent wisely. This safeguard helps hold down out-of-pocket costs for patients and premiums for everyone.

What They Are Saying: Lowering Premiums Means Addressing The True Drivers of Higher Health Care Costs by AHIP – Health plans are doing everything in their power to protect Americans from the full impact of higher costs driven by hospitals, drugmakers, and certain private equity-backed providers. Health insurance premiums directly reflect the cost of medical care and policymakers and experts are correctly pointing out that to make coverage more affordable requires addressing these rising costs:

2026 Medicare, Medicaid, Duals & Commercial Markets Forum (MMDC26)
When: March 23-25, 2025
Where: Washington, DC
Save the Date..
LinkedIn: AHIP

AHIP’s Medicare, Medicaid, and Commercial Markets Conference (MMDC26) is the leading even.t for health plan executives and policy leaders focused on driving better outcomes, ensuring coverage and care, and strengthening America’s health care system.