In Pittsburgh Wednesday afternoon, Pa. State Auditor General Eugene DePasquale has a warning to UPMC and Highmark. “The UPMC-Highmark battle must stop, and it must stop now. The 2014 deadline is fast approaching,” said DePasquale. At the end of next year, UPMC says...
Explore the Latest Resources from the Medbill Team
Stay informed with Medbill’s blog, where we share expert guidance, practical tips, and industry updates to help DME providers navigate the industry’s complexities.
Payor
5 Things the Oregon Medicaid Study Tells Us About American Health Care
Among all the criticisms of President Obama’s health care reform law, the most salient may be that the Affordable Care Act focuses on access to insurance at the expense of cost and quality care. A new set of results from a study on Oregon’s Medicaid program supports...
Blue Cross: Rates Will Rise Under New Federal Health Care Law
In a signpost pointing to health insurance changes under the nation’s new health care law, North Carolina’s largest insurer has warned of steep rate increases for customers who have typically paid below-average premiums. A third of Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s...
BCBS of Montana and Health Care Service Corp. Merger Gets OK from Examiner
A former state Supreme Court justice acting as a hearing examiner has recommended for approval the proposed merger of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana with Health Care Service Corp. of Chicago. Lee Newspapers of Montana reports that William Leaphart on Thursday...
Maine Medical Center and Anthem BCBS Prepare to Launch ACO
One of Maine's largest hospital systems has teamed up with the state's biggest private health insurer in an effort to improve patients' health while lowering costs. MaineHealth, parent organization of Portland's Maine Medical Center, has partnered with Anthem Blue...
Medical Societies Start Push Back on Medicaid Reform Proposal
The North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians will be airing the first of a series of video messages this weekend aimed at pushing back at Gov. Pat McCrory’s proposal to reform Medicaid. The governor’s proposal includes privatizing North Carolina Medicaid, the state...
Highmark Credit Rating Downgrade with West Penn Debt Risk
Highmark faces a challenging future as it gets to work turning around the finances of West Penn Allegheny Health System, which it acquired this week, according to a report from Moody's Investors Service. Moody's on Thursday downgraded Highmark's debt rating and...
BCBS of NC and Cornerstone Health Care Form ACO
Cornerstone Health Care and Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, the largest health insurer in the state, have partnered to form an accountable care organization that will tie reimbursement for care more closely to hitting quality measures. The partnership is a...
Cooper Health System Agrees to $7.5M for AmeriHealth Stake
Cooper Health System agreed to pay at least $7.5 million for a 20 percent stake in AmeriHealth New Jersey, according to the Camden system's consolidated financial statement for 2012, released Tuesday. Cooper and Amerihealth's parent, Independence Blue Cross, announced...
Almost 2,000 Participants in SC BlueCross Walk at Lunch Events
An estimated 1,950 people took steps toward improved health during three community events organized by BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina to mark the seventh annual National Walk@Lunch Day. The participants walked an estimated combined total of 2,550 miles —...
UPMC says Highmark Subscriber Access Will Continue
PITTSBURGH - At a hearing on Monday on UPMC's denial of access to subscribers of Highmark's Community Blue health plan, members of the House Democratic Policy Committee heard complaints that could foreshadow a broader denial of access - which potentially could touch...
Highmark Closes $604 Million Buyout of West Penn Bondholders
Insurer Highmark Inc on Monday completed a $604.2 million bondholder buyout of troubled West Penn Allegheny Health System at 87.5 cents on the dollar. The buyout, in which Highmark acquired just over 85 percent of the outstanding principal amount of West...