Tag: Department of Defense

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UnitedHealth Sues Over Tricare Contract

The long battle between Louisville-based insurer Humana and Minnesota-based UnitedHealth over the awarding of the lucrative military Tricare contract is moving into a new venue.

Humana lost the $23 billion contract to provide insurance to military families the South to UnitedHealth two years ago, but quickly challenged the ruling and won the appeal the next year.

That victory was then challenged by UnitedHealth, but was upheld by the General Accounting Office.

UnitedHealth is now suing the Defense Department in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims over its decision to give the contract back to Humana.

The company has argued that Humana’s cost savings were built on low reimbursements to doctors; Reimbursements that were so low, they could deter healthcare providers from seeing Tricare patients.

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Local News Politics

Humana’s Department of Defense Contract Challenged

The dispute over a profitable Department of Defense insurance contract continues.

Last month, Humana won its appeal to retain the DoD’s TRICARE contract to provide health benefits to active and retired military personnel and their families in the south. Humana lost the contract to Minnesota-based UnitedHealth two years ago, but quickly filed the appeal, saying the DoD did not equally judge insurers.

Now UnitedHealth has challenged the decision in favor of Humana’s appeal. The company says it provides better quality and prices for the DoD and healthcare providers.

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Local News

Afghanistan Fighting Claims Another Kentuckian

For the third time in less than a week, a Kentucky native has died in the war in Afghanistan.

The Department of Defense says 23 year old Marine Sergeant Jason Calo of Lexington was killed Sunday while supporting combat operations in Afghanistan’s Helmand Province.

His death came three days after Army Specialist Christopher Wright, also 23, of Lewis County, was killed in an insurgent attack in the country’s Kunar Province.

On August 18, a combat incident in eastern Afghanistan claimed the life of Navy SEAL
Collin Thomas, a native of Morehead, Kentucky.

Governor Beshear has ordered that flags on all state office buildings be lowered half-staff
on the day of interment for the three Kentuckians.