UnitedHealth tightens rules on hysterectomies; Aetna, Barnabas Health reach two-year agreement;

News From Around the Web

> UnitedHealth Group, the nation's largest insurer, plans to tighten rules regarding its coverage for hysterectomies starting in April, the insurer recently announced. The decision stems from a debate over a medical device that was found to spread hidden cancer in some women during the surgery. Bulletin (.pdf)

> Aetna and New Jersey-based Barnabas Health, the state's largest provider, reached a new agreement this week, according to NJ Biz. The two-year contract, effective March 1, impacts nearly 18,000 of Aetna's New Jersey members who use Barnabas as their provider. Article

> Highmark announced its board of director Chairman, J. Robert Baum, Ph.D., is stepping down and will be succeed by Joseph C. Guyaux, senior vice chairman of The PNC Financial Services Group. The change is effective as of Wednesday. Announcement

Health Finance News

> Providers holding their breath for a permanent fix to the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula should exhale. Article

> Academic medical centers and other hospitals that charge higher prices for their services received the lion's share of payments for providing care to patients in Massachusetts in 2012 and 2013. Article

And finally … #Llamadrama. Video