Independent Health Association ranked highest in member satisfaction with health plans in the New York-New Jersey region for a second consecutive year, according to an annual survey.

Empire BlueCross BlueShield, New York’s largest insurer by medical membership, “significantly expanded” its HMO and PPO/EPO and Indemnity Reference Laboratory networks, according to the company.

After months of negotiations on a new deal regarding reimbursement rates, New York-based Stellaris Health Network said it can “no longer subsidize the record profits” of Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield and will end its contract with the health plan.

While Anthem Blue Cross has announced it will delay a rate hike for California customers, the move is being called a “temporary relief” and another reason for the federal government to move forward with comprehensive health reform.

National health insurer WellPoint, parent company of Anthem, is cutting stock grants to employees to control costs as it prepares for lower earnings this year.

Angela F. Braly succeeded Larry C. Glasscock as president and chief executive officer at WellPoint and now she will follow him as chairman of the national health insurer’s board of directors.

Empire BlueCross BlueShield is making the Zagat Health Survey Tool available to its members to share their physician experiences with one another.

Empire BlueCross BlueShield has put into place a new management team, created to focus resources and expertise on specific market segments, according to its president and CEO, Mark Wagar.

Empire BlueCross BlueShield was awarded the accreditation status of “Excellent” for its HMO Commercial HMO/POS Combined and Medicare HMO products from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).

New York-based Empire’s …  Read →

A consumer group is accusing WellPoint and UnitedHealthcare of asking workers during business hours to lobby Congress to weaken health reform, actions they say would violate California labor laws.