TriState | Winter | 2009 | Health Plan Analysis

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield will have to change part of its formulary strategy as CMS prepares to ban the practice of reference-based drug pricing, used to boost generic utilization.

The national recession is sending its shockwaves in all directions, but in urban New York, Aetna is targeting small businesses and ethnic businesses with a narrow-network plan whose cost is comparable to Healthy New York.

New York may be following New Jersey's lead in expanding the definition of "dependent children" to cover more young adults.

Health Net hopes to sell its non-California business and narrow its focus, and there are several likely suitors for its business in the Tri-State. Meanwhile, Excellus' talks with the Blues of Massachusetts have raised eyebrows as well