The over-arching theme of the healthcare marketplace in New England continues to be the regionalization of the well-established plans like Harvard Pilgrim, Tufts, MVP and others across the New England…
Humana Inc. is making a splash in both Ohio and Kentucky with provider relations issues. In Louisville, the insurer's introduction of a narrow network of providers for the Ford Motor Co. has raise…
Iowa lawmakers are considering major mandates for state-regulated health plans, including requirements that health plans cover autism, prosthetics, osteoporosis, and cancer treatment in approved clini…
With the economic downturn pushing more Minnesotans out of work, health plans are getting ready for a likely surge in people seeking individual health plans, but are also watching to see if the new fe…
The struggling economy in Florida, burdened by the bust of the real estate and construction boom, resulted in enrollment losses in 2008 and is all but sure to continue into 2009. Insurers are reacting…
Maryland lawmakers are considering ways to extend health insurance coverage despite a budget deficit and national efforts to extend health benefits. In Virginia, lawmakers turned back an attempt to le…
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield will have to change part of its formulary strategy as CMS prepares to ban the practice of reference-based drug pricing, used to boost generic utilization. Th…
Changes in Oregon's regulation of small-group health plans are causing major fluctuations in rates for some groups, and creating opportunities for companies willing to respond to the new realities…
Economic turmoil is nothing new in Michigan, where the auto industry's woes continue to get worse, and job losses and layoffs continue to shrink the healthcare market. Against that backdrop, Blue…
Managed Medicaid is the centerpiece of Louisiana's health reform initiative, Louisiana Health First, which has finally taken shape after years of planning. State officials are betting that a coord…
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is reacting to market conditions in a number of ways, through talks with Excellus BlueCross BlueShield of New York about a potential collaboration in the ancill…
Colorado Medicaid officials are asking for legislative approval to expand managed care into Medicaid in a much bigger way by 2010. They propose to phase in the movement to managed care through regions…
Health insurers in the Midwest are coping with the recession by laying off employees, holding the line on pricing and adjusting benefit design to allow employers to take advantage of additional cost-s…
The District of Columbia is targeting CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield in an effort to capture a portion of the large nonprofit's reserves for a new program serving the uninsured. The District has h…
Premium increases moderated in the Carolinas in 2008 with health plan costs per employee rising by 6 percent to 10 percent, but the increases are expected to accelerate in the coming months. Brokers a…