White House Sees No Federal Mandate For COVID-19 Vaccine Verification

The White House said it expected the private sector to take the lead on verification of COVID-19 vaccines, or so-called vaccine passports, and would not issue a federal mandate requiring everyone to obtain a single vaccination credential. The Biden administration was reviewing the issue and would make recommendations, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said ...

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Malpractice Premiums Peak In 2020, AMA Survey Shows

Medical liability insurance premiums have started to tick up after holding relatively steady over the past decade, a new report found. More than a quarter of physician practices’ malpractice premiums increased in 2019 and 2020, up from around 13% to 15% from 2011 to 2018, according to the American Medical Association’s annual rate surveys that ...

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California Should Wake Up From Its Single-Payer Dreams

Single-payer health care has new life in California. State lawmakers just introduced AB1400, legislation that would launch a government takeover of the state’s health insurance system, effectively banning private coverage and enrolling every Californian in the same plan.

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All CA Adults Could Be Eligible For Vaccine In May, Newsom Says

A scarcity of coronavirus vaccine doses continues to plague the Golden State's efforts to battle the pandemic. But the state may be able to offer shots to all Californians by early May, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Friday.

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Drugmakers Prepare For The Unusual: A Defeat In Washington

The pharmaceutical industry is preparing to take a hit in Democrats’ next major legislative package — and the long-untouchable powerhouse is racing to contain the damage.

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4 Tips For Secretary Becerra From A Veteran HHS Partner

Secretary Xavier Beccera, Congratulations on your confirmation to lead the Health and Human Services Department! Your tenure in Congress and experience serving the large and diverse citizenry of California make you an ideal steward of America’s health care system. What I offer here is not a road map for navigating politics and bureaucracy, but some ...

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Chubb’s Offer to Acquire Rival Hartford: $23.2 Billion

Chubb Ltd., the global insurer led by Evan Greenberg, proposed an acquisition of Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. for about $23.2 billion in cash and stock in what could be one of the industry’s biggest deals in years. The New York-listed insurer’s offer — mostly in cash — values Hartford at $65 a share, Chubb ...

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Under New Cost-Cutting Medicare Rule, Same Surgery, Same Place, Different Bill

A cost-saving change in Medicare launched in the final days of the Trump administration will cut payments to hospitals for some surgical procedures while potentially raising costs and confusion for patients. For years, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services classified 1,740 surgeries and other services so risky for older adults that Medicare would pay ...

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House Votes to Avert Deep Medicare Cuts to Pay for $1.9 Trillion Stimulus Plan

The House voted on Friday to avert an estimated $36 billion in cuts to Medicare next year and tens of billions more from farm subsidies and other social safety net programs, moving to stave off deep spending reductions that would otherwise be made to pay for the $1.9 trillion stimulus bill enacted last week. The ...

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How Will The Biden Presidency Impact Employee Benefits?

The Biden Administration’s $1.9 trillion legislation, the American Rescue Plan, was recently signed into law by President Joe Biden. So when it comes to employee benefits and health care, what can employers expect from a Biden presidency with Democrats winning both House and Senate? 

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