Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Montana Contracts With Blue Cross For $16M To Administer State's Medicaid Expansion
Montana health officials have signed a two-year contract worth more than $16 million making Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana the first commercial insurance provider to administer a state鈥檚 Medicaid expansion program under President Barack Obama鈥檚 Affordable Care Act. Department of Public Health and Human Services Director Richard Opper and Blue Cross President Mike Frank signed the contract Wednesday, and it was released to The Associated Press on Thursday. The contract can be renewed for up to seven years. (Volz, 12/17)
No matter who wins next year's presidential election, it's a sure bet that the new leader will want to tinker with the Affordable Care Act, says Independence Blue Cross CEO Daniel J. Hilferty. And when it happens, Hilferty wants to be at the table. "From a Blue insurers' perspective, we want it to work," said Hilferty, who, effective immediately, will become board chairman of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association of America. The job, while unpaid, comes with clout. (Bergen, 12/18)
