OSHA’s Revised COVID-19 Guidance Highlights Employer Duties for Unvaccinated and At-Risk Workers

On June 10, 2021, shortly after issuing its Emergency Temporary Standard (“ETS”) for healthcare settings, OSHA updated its Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace (“Updated OSHA Guidance”), which is applicable to all employers not covered by the ETS.

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A Public Option Wouldn’t Just Compete With Private Insurance — It Would Destroy It

Congress is trying to chart a path forward on health reform. Some are pushing to expand Medicare’s benefits to include dental, vision, and hearing care. Others want to make generous subsidies for coverage sold through the Affordable Care Act’s exchanges permanent. And recently, several congressional Democrats announced plans to draft a bill that would create ...

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The ACA’s Future Hangs In The Balance

The Supreme Court case in which the Justices consider whether the Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional without the Individual Mandate will see a judicial decision any day now. If the court decides to strike down the law, nearly 30 million Americans will lose healthcare coverage and nearly 1.2 million would lose their jobs, according to data from ...

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Doctor on Call? Lawmakers Debate How Much to Pay for Phone Appointments

It took covid-19 to give millions of Americans the option of telling their doctor about their aches and pains by phone. But now that more doctors and patients are returning to in-person appointments, policymakers across the country are divided over how much taxpayer money to keep spending on phone appointments. Although they were a lifeline ...

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Can 1.4 Million Californian Lost Jobs Come Back?

The pandemic shackles on California’s economy will have officially lasted 452 days — from a full lockdown starting in March 2020 to an all-but-reopened business world after June 15. The economic toll of strict mandates to slow the spread of COVID-19 was high. For years to come, there will be grand debates over the government’s ...

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Most Hospitals Aren’t Complying With Price Transparency Rule

Most hospitals aren’t fully complying with a new federal rule requiring them to make their prices available, according to a new study in JAMA Internal Medicine. Why it matters: The goal of the regulation is to allow price shopping and, thus lower costs, although it’s unclear whether it’d have this effect. The big picture: Hospital prices can vary ...

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To Curb Drug Prices, Democrats Still Seeking A Balance

Democrats are committed to passing legislation this year to curb prescription drug prices, but they’re still disagreeing on how to cut costs for patients and taxpayers while preserving profits that lure investors to back potentially promising treatments. It boils down to finding a balance: How big a stick should Medicare have to negotiate prices with ...

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HHS Warns Providers, Insurers COVID-19 Testing Must Be Free For Patients

Dive Brief: * HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra on Wednesday sent a letter to healthcare providers and insurers reminding them that COVID-19 vaccines and testing must be free without charge for patients. * The agency said Becerra issued the warning following recent reports of Americans facing costs associated with coronavirus vaccinations and tests. Becerra’s letter forcefully states that group health plans and health insurers ...

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Sisolak Signs Public-Option Health Care Bill

Gov. Steve Sisolak signed several public health-related bills, including state Democrats’ signature legislation establishing Nevada as only the second state in the nation to offer a public health insurance option, during ceremony Wednesday in Las Vegas.

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Industry Awaits Supreme Court Decision On ACA Case

Once again, the healthcare industry will be closely watching the Supreme Court on Thursday to see whether the high court delivers an opinion in the controversial case that could overturn the Affordable Care Act, throwing coverage for millions into question.

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