News From Around the Web
> Aetna, the nation's third-largest insurer, plans to raise rates by 19.2 percent on average for about 16,000 individuals covered by small employers in California, reported the Los Angeles Times. The rate change took effect last month after state officials asked Aetna for a smaller increase. Article
> WellCare Health Plans reported a better-than-expected profit in the first quarter thanks to a 25.8 percent increase in its Medicaid membership, reported the Wall Street Journal. However, the insurer posted earnings of $17.5 million, down from $44.1 million a year ago. Article
> Health insurance coverage rate in Massachusetts came in at a strong 96.3 percent in 2014, according to a report from the Center for Health Information and Analysis. The national average was 87.8 percent. Report (.pdf)
Health IT News
> President Barack Obama late Wednesday announced his intent to nominate current National Coordinator for Health IT Karen DeSalvo for Assistant Secretary for Health at the Department of Health and Human Services. Article
> Since the launch in 2012 of President Barack Obama's White House Rural Council initiative, $1 billion has been invested across 13 states to help health systems with health IT goals, according to DeSalvo. Article
And finally … Robbing a bank? Skip the Instagram post. Article