News From Around the Web
> Iowa's insurance commissioner hired an outside firm to review whether Wellmark Blue Cross & Blue Shield needs $1.3 billion in reserves, the Des Moine Register reported. In June, two Democratic state legislators urged Iowa officials to investigate, saying Wellmark had too much money set aside in its reserves. Article
> Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas is launching a statewide accountable care organization with Tenet Healthcare Corporation beginning Jan. 1, 2015, the companies announced Tuesday. The ACO will include BCBSTX PPO commercial patients at any of Tenet's Texas hospitals with an integrated care network. Announcement
> In response to UnitedHealth cutting about 19 percent of doctors from its Medicare Advantage network in Connecticut, the Fairfield County Medical Association and The Hartford County Medical Association jointly sued the insurer, the Hartford Courant reported. Article
Health IT News
> FierceHealthIT examined five overrated and overpriced healthcare technologies. From surgery to heart monitoring, editors explored what brings value for its price tag. Special Feature
> The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Tuesday announced a new data sharing tool to aid researchers access CMS data. Article
And Finally… Good news Cinderella, stepparents not always evil. Article