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Health insurance providers

April 23, 2018 - 3:57 pm

Georgia insurer and hospital group reach deal ending dispute

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia's largest health insurer and one of its largest hospital groups have signed a peace treaty. Piedmont Healthcare said Monday that it on Friday completed an agreement with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia. The agreement means people insured by Anthem Blue Cross can see...
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FILE - This Oct. 16, 2012, file photo, shows a portion of the UnitedHealth Group Inc.'s campus in Minnetonka, Minn. UnitedHealth Group reports earnings Tuesday, April 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Jim Mone, File)
April 17, 2018 - 6:21 am

UnitedHealth 1Q earns jump 30 percent

MINNETONKA, Minn. (AP) — UnitedHealth Group is reporting first-quarter earnings of $2.84 billion, a jump of more than 30 percent from last year, with broad growth for the nation's largest health insurer. Per-share net income reported Tuesday was $2.87, or $3.04 when adjusted for amortization costs...
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California Assemblyman Ash Kalra, D-San Jose, discusses his proposal to create government-imposed price controls for hospital stays, doctor visits and other health care services during a news conference on Monday, April 9, 2018 at the state Capitol in Sacramento, Calif. The proposal, which drew swift opposition from the health care industry, comes amid a fierce debate about health care prices in California and around the country. (AP Photo/Jonathan J. Cooper)
April 09, 2018 - 9:33 pm

California bill would create health care price controls

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California's government would set prices for hospital stays, doctor visits and other health care services under legislation introduced Monday, vastly remaking the industry in a bid to lower health care costs. The proposal, which drew swift opposition from the health care...
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April 01, 2018 - 1:33 pm

Blue Cross NC caps opioid prescriptions at 7 days for some

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina's largest health insurer is clamping down on coverage of opioid prescriptions. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina says starting Sunday it's no longer covering first-time prescription of short-acting opioids for more than a seven-day supply. Initial...
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FILE - In this Dec. 22, 2017, file photo, the U.S. Capitol in the early morning in Washington. Top-level Capitol Hill talks on a massive $1.3 trillion catchall spending bill are reaching a critical stage as negotiators confront immigration issues, abortion-related controversies, and a battle over a massive rail project that pits President Donald Trump against his most powerful Democratic adversary. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
March 19, 2018 - 9:08 pm

Democrats reject immigration deal as budget deadline nears

WASHINGTON (AP) — Capitol Hill Democrats have rejected a White House bid to extend protections for so-called Dreamer immigrants in exchange for $25 billion in funding for President Donald Trump's long-sought border wall as Washington talks on a $1.3 trillion catchall spending bill hit a critical...
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FILE - In this July 25, 2017, file photo, Express Scripts prescription medication bottles are arranged for a photo in Surfside, Fla. Health insurer Cigna will spend about $52 billion to acquire the pharmacy benefits manager Express Scripts, announced Thursday, March 8, 2018, the latest in a string of proposed buyouts and tie-ups in a rapidly shifting landscape for the health services industry. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)
March 08, 2018 - 7:56 am

Cigna to spend about $52 billion for Express Scripts

NEW YORK (AP) — The insurer Cigna will spend about $52 billion to acquire the nation's biggest pharmacy benefit manager, Express Scripts, the latest in a string of proposed tie-ups as health care's bill payers look to grow and gain better leverage to deal with rising costs. Including $15 billion in...
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FILE- In this Jan. 31, 2018, file photo, a Lyft logo is installed on a Lyft driver's car next to an Uber sticker in Pittsburgh. Lyft and Uber are expanding deeper into health care by offering to take more patients to and from non-emergency medical appointments in markets around the country. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)
March 05, 2018 - 4:38 pm

Can ride-hailing companies cure medical transportation woes?

Lyft and Uber are attempting to cure a major medical problem for poor people and the elderly: Getting a ride to the doctor. The ride-hailing services are expanding their offer to take patients around the country to and from non-emergency health care appointments, and they have a huge market to...
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FILE - In this July 27, 2016, file photo, Neera Tanden, president of the Center for American Progress, speaks at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. A major liberal policy group is raising the ante on the health care debate with a new plan that builds on Medicare to guarantee coverage for all. Called “Medicare Extra for All,” the proposal to be released Feb. 22, 2018, by the Center for American Progress gives politically energized Democrats more options to achieve a long-sought goal. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
February 22, 2018 - 3:16 pm

Leading liberal policy group unveils 'coverage for all' plan

WASHINGTON (AP) — A leading liberal policy group is raising the ante in the health care debate with a new plan that builds on Medicare to guarantee coverage for all. Called "Medicare Extra for All," the proposal Thursday from the Center for American Progress, or CAP, gives politically energized...
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FILE - In this July 27, 2016, file photo, Neera Tanden, president of the Center for American Progress, speaks at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. A major liberal policy group is raising the ante on the health care debate with a new plan that builds on Medicare to guarantee coverage for all. Called “Medicare Extra for All,” the proposal to be released Feb. 22, 2018, by the Center for American Progress gives politically energized Democrats more options to achieve a long-sought goal. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
February 22, 2018 - 12:17 am

Liberal group proposing plan for health coverage for all

WASHINGTON (AP) — A major liberal policy group is raising the ante on the health care debate with a new plan that builds on Medicare to guarantee coverage for all. Called "Medicare Extra for All," the proposal to be released Thursday by the Center for American Progress gives politically energized...
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February 20, 2018 - 9:04 am

Trump plan: Less-comprehensive health plans at lower cost

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is clearing the way for a lower-cost alternative to comprehensive medical insurance plans sold under former President Barack Obama's health care law. Proposed regulations out Tuesday from the Health and Human Services department allow health insurers to...
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