Dive Brief:

Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans have agreed to pay $2.8 billion to millions of hospitals, physicians and providers to settle allegations that they colluded for years to lower reimbursement.

The final settlement, which comes after more than 12 years of litigation and nine years of negotiations, was approved Tuesday by an Alabama district judge .

The settlement also includes structural reform meant to increase competition, including lifting the BCBSA’s rule preventing more than one Blues plan in a service area and changes to the Blues’ electronic claims network and technical systems that should make them more transparent and efficient. All told, the reforms bring the value of the settlement to an estimated $17.3 billion.

Dive Insight:

In 2012, providers sued the Blue Cros

See Full Page