News from Around the Web
> Fitch Ratings has maintained its negative rating watch for Cigna, which it says reflects its expectation that "Anthem's post-acquisition financial leverage metrics will be meaningfully higher and its interest-coverage ratios will be meaningfully lower than Cigna's have been in recent years." Announcement
> The Baltimore Sun examines the myriad challenges of reaching the remaining uninsured individuals in Maryland. Article
> In a letter to the editor published by the New York Times, America's Health Insurance Plans argues that "drug companies charging record-breaking prices and hospitals leveraging dominant market positions for higher rates" are the true drivers of increasing health insurance premiums. Letter
> The lawsuit against Anthem that arose as a result of its massive data breach appears to be headed for trial, Courthouse News Service reports. Article
Health Finance News
> Freestanding emergency rooms are touted as an alternative to more expensive forms of care. However, they may also drive up total healthcare costs. Article
Health IT News
> Value-based payment models aren't going away, making population health initiatives ever more critical, Tricia Nguyen, executive vice president for population health at Texas Health Resources, said during a webinar presenting results from the eHealth Initiative's latest population health survey. Article
And Finally… Sticking it to the man. Article