Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Conn. Insurance Dept. To Play Lead Role In Review Of Anthem-Cigna Merger
The Associated Press: Connecticut Agency To Play Key Role In Anthem/Cigna Merger
Connecticut’s Department of Insurance is playing a major role in a deal that could create the nation’s largest health insurer, leading a 26-state review of Anthem Inc.’s proposed merger with Bloomfield-based Cigna. (Haigh, 10/3)
The Connecticut Mirror: Hartford HealthCare, Day Kimball Suspend Talks, Citing State’s ‘Reckless’ Cuts
Hartford HealthCare and the parent company of Day Kimball Hospital say they have suspended plans to consider an affiliation because of “severe and unexpected” cuts in Medicaid payments, a reference to $192 million in funding reductions Gov. Dannel P. Malloy made to hospitals last month. (Levin Becker, 10/5)
The Associated Press: Hartford HealthCare Backs Off Merger Plan, Blames State Cuts
Hartford HealthCare has broken off merger talks with Day Kimball Healthcare, blaming Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's plan to cut Medicaid reimbursement payments. The groups had announced in July they were exploring an affiliation. The merger would have had the 122-bed Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam join the network that includes Hartford, Backus and Windham hospitals, MidState Medical Center and The Hospital of Central Connecticut. (10/5)
The Associated Press: New Hampshire Hospitals, Insurer Create New Company
Three New Hampshire health systems are partnering with an insurer to create a new company that will analyze clinical, financial and operational data to improve the quality and efficiency of patient care. Benevera Health brings together Dartmouth-Hitchcock, Elliot Health System, Frisbie Memorial Hospital and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care. The project builds on ElevateHealth, a limited insurance product and network they created in 2013. Like the earlier venture, the new project is focused on care coordination — helping patients navigate the health care system more efficiently — in hopes of both improving outcomes and lowering costs. Health advocates will connect with patients before and after appointments, serving as a link to providers, and the partners will share data so best practices can be spread to other providers. The data analysis also will allow providers to identify patients who might need extra care before their conditions become a crisis. (Ramer, 10/5)
Stat News: Brigham And Women’s Gears Up For A Contract Battle As Nurses Union Worries About Pay, Safety
Contentious labor negotiations are underway — again — between nurses and administrators at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. (Bailey, 10/5)
The Detroit Free Press: Financial Struggles Precipitated Health Insurer's Merger
For Flint-based insurance company HealthPlus of Michigan, its proposed merger into the much larger Health Alliance Plan (HAP) represents a shotgun marriage of financial necessity. HealthPlus has been hemorrhaging money for the past two years and was placed under state financial supervision this winter because reserves dipped below the required threshold. The insurer reported losing $23.5 million in 2014 on $502 million in revenue, following an $11.1-million loss the prior year, according to state regulatory filings. Its deficit stood at $4.8 million. (Reindl, 10/5)
Modern Healthcare: Harvard Pilgrim Forms Population Health Venture With New Hampshire Systems
Dartmouth-Hitchcock, Elliot Health System and Frisbie Memorial Hospital will jointly own a new company with Harvard Pilgrim Health Care that will share clinical information and financial risk for 80,000 New Hampshire residents. The joint venture, called Benevera Health, will bring together financial and clinical data to give the partner providers access to analytics that can help them manage care for all of the New Hampshire members in Harvard Pilgrim's fully insured plans. (Sandler, 10/5)
North Carolina Health News: Rural Communities Hope Help Is Coming For Their Hospitals
Since January 2013 more rural hospitals have closed than in the previous decade combined, according to the National Rural Health Association. Factors contributing to these closures are many and varied. Some pertain to demographics: Rural populations are, generally speaking, dwindling and aging, and the younger people who stay around are more apt to opt to drive to urban hospitals. (Sisk, 10/6)
