The following are the latest issues that occurred between hospitals, health systems and payors within the past month, starting with the most recent.
1. Aetna, Cullman Regional Medical Center in Alabama Strike Deal
Cullman (Ala.) Regional Medical Center and health insurer Aetna reached a deal in which CRMC is now in Aetna's patient network.
2. Highmark Faces Antitrust Allegations
Pittsburgh-based health insurer Highmark is facing an antitrust lawsuit, as three Pennsylvania residents and two businesses claim Highmark and three other payors have violated antitrust law by colluding to not compete against one another.
3. UnitedHealthcare, Memorial Hospital in Illinois Pitted in Reimbursement Battle
Memorial Hospital in Belleville, Ill., and UnitedHealthcare are embroiled in a contract dispute, and if the issue is not resolved by June 30, Memorial and its physicians will be out of network for UnitedHealthcare patients.
4. Central Maine HealthCare VP Calls MaineHealth, Anthem Agreement "Backdoor Deal"
A network agreement made between Portland, Maine-based MaineHealth and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Maine will limit access to care for tens of thousands of Mainers, said Lewiston, Maine-based Central Maine HealthCare Vice President of Public Affairs Chuck Gill.
5. 13 Prime Hospitals Re-Enter Aetna's Southern California Network
Health insurer Aetna reached an agreement to add 13 Southern California hospitals from Ontario, Calif.-based Prime Healthcare Services back into its coverage network since the two parted ways in 2007.
6. West Penn Bond Ratings Fluctuate Following Highmark Deal
Now that Pittsburgh-based West Penn Allegheny Health System is part of health insurer Highmark's new provider network, two rating agencies weighed in on the health system's financial standing — with different results.
7. Hospitals Rank WellPoint as "Worst Payor" for Second Straight Year
The award for least-favorable health insurer overall for the second consecutive year went to second-largest, for-profit insurer WellPoint, according to the 2013 National Payor Survey conducted by communications firm ReviveHealth.
8. New Allegheny Health Network Sees Surge of Interest From UPMC Physicians
The CMO from West Penn Allegheny Health System said a significant number of physicians from University of Pittsburgh Medical Center expressed interest in working for the newly formed Allegheny Health Network formed after area health insurer Highmark acquired West Penn earlier this year.
9. Portsmouth Regional Hospital Enters Anthem's Medicare Advantage Network
Portsmouth (N.H.) Regional Hospital joined Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in New Hampshire's Medicare Advantage network in Maine and New Hampshire.
Rhode Island Nixes "Confidential" Prices Between Payors, Providers
UnitedHealth, Aetna, Cigna to Sit Out of California's Health Insurance Exchange
1. Aetna, Cullman Regional Medical Center in Alabama Strike Deal
Cullman (Ala.) Regional Medical Center and health insurer Aetna reached a deal in which CRMC is now in Aetna's patient network.
2. Highmark Faces Antitrust Allegations
Pittsburgh-based health insurer Highmark is facing an antitrust lawsuit, as three Pennsylvania residents and two businesses claim Highmark and three other payors have violated antitrust law by colluding to not compete against one another.
3. UnitedHealthcare, Memorial Hospital in Illinois Pitted in Reimbursement Battle
Memorial Hospital in Belleville, Ill., and UnitedHealthcare are embroiled in a contract dispute, and if the issue is not resolved by June 30, Memorial and its physicians will be out of network for UnitedHealthcare patients.
4. Central Maine HealthCare VP Calls MaineHealth, Anthem Agreement "Backdoor Deal"
A network agreement made between Portland, Maine-based MaineHealth and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Maine will limit access to care for tens of thousands of Mainers, said Lewiston, Maine-based Central Maine HealthCare Vice President of Public Affairs Chuck Gill.
5. 13 Prime Hospitals Re-Enter Aetna's Southern California Network
Health insurer Aetna reached an agreement to add 13 Southern California hospitals from Ontario, Calif.-based Prime Healthcare Services back into its coverage network since the two parted ways in 2007.
6. West Penn Bond Ratings Fluctuate Following Highmark Deal
Now that Pittsburgh-based West Penn Allegheny Health System is part of health insurer Highmark's new provider network, two rating agencies weighed in on the health system's financial standing — with different results.
7. Hospitals Rank WellPoint as "Worst Payor" for Second Straight Year
The award for least-favorable health insurer overall for the second consecutive year went to second-largest, for-profit insurer WellPoint, according to the 2013 National Payor Survey conducted by communications firm ReviveHealth.
8. New Allegheny Health Network Sees Surge of Interest From UPMC Physicians
The CMO from West Penn Allegheny Health System said a significant number of physicians from University of Pittsburgh Medical Center expressed interest in working for the newly formed Allegheny Health Network formed after area health insurer Highmark acquired West Penn earlier this year.
9. Portsmouth Regional Hospital Enters Anthem's Medicare Advantage Network
Portsmouth (N.H.) Regional Hospital joined Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in New Hampshire's Medicare Advantage network in Maine and New Hampshire.
More Articles on Hospital-Payor Relationships:
What the U.S. Can Learn From Healthcare Delivery Overseas: Q&A With Harvard Business School's Regina E. HerzlingerRhode Island Nixes "Confidential" Prices Between Payors, Providers
UnitedHealth, Aetna, Cigna to Sit Out of California's Health Insurance Exchange