Medical Credit Cards Targeted by U.S. for Piling Debt on Patients

(Bloomberg) — Three federal agencies are looking into potentially predatory practices in medical-payment products such as credit cards and installment loans patients use to pay for health care.   Yellen Says US-China Ties on ‘Surer Footing’ After Beijing Visit Jack Ma’s Clash With Beijing Costs Ant, Alibaba $850 Billion China’s Flood of Plastic, Yellen Departs: ...

Read More

DOJ Charges Nearly 80 People In $2.5 Billion Health Care Fraud Scheme

The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Wednesday it has charged 78 people relating to their alleged involvement in defrauding care programs for elderly and disabled people of more than $2.5 billion. Among the charges filed against the accused are allegations of telemedicine fraud, pharmaceutical fraud and accusations of opioid distribution. Many of the defendants obtained ...

Read More

Meet The People Deciding How To Spend $50 Billion In Opioid Settlement Cash

As more than $50 billion makes its way to state and local governments to compensate for the opioid epidemic, people with high hopes for the money are already fighting over a little-known bureaucratic arm of the process: state councils that wield immense power over how the cash is spent. In 14 states, these councils have ...

Read More

Expanded Hospital Seeks To Make Dent In Southern Nevada’s Mental Health Needs

In the bright blue and yellow gym at Desert Winds Hospital, a mental health facility in Las Vegas, children ages 12 to 17 are able to play basketball and other sports while receiving inpatient care as part of an individualized plan that can include music therapy, yoga and pet therapy, as well as having their ...

Read More

Biden Administration Targets Unexpected Health Costs

The Biden White House announced a trio of steps aimed at protecting patients from unexpected health care costs on Friday, with new actions surrounding short-term health plans, surprise medical bills and medical debt. The Department of Health and Human Services’ proposed rule to limit the scope of short-term health plans would unwind a key Trump ...

Read More

HCA Healthcare Patient Data Stolen And For Sale By Hackers

Personal information for potentially tens of millions of HCA Healthcare patients has been stolen and is now available for sale on a data breach forum as of earlier this week. HCA, one of the largest companies in the U.S., first acknowledged the breach earlier today. In a release, it warned patients that critical personal information had been compromised, including ...

Read More

How Much Water Should You Drink In A Day?

This article is based on reporting that features expert sources. Just like “an apple a day,” we’ve always been told to drink eight glasses of water a day. Yet, this age-old advice may not be accurate after all. Sure, water is important – it’s actually considered a nutrient. But now scientists are taking a closer look ...

Read More

Employers Not Responsible For COVID Spread To Workers’ Families

Employers in California are not legally responsible for preventing the spread of COVID-19 from their employees to the employees’ family members, the California Supreme Court ruled Thursday. Workers’ compensation laws in the state do not preclude such claims, the court found. But companies also cannot be held legally responsible for preventing such infections, it said, ...

Read More

Will The Doctor See You Now? The Health System’s Changing Landscape

Lucia Agajanian, a 25-year-old freelance film producer in Chicago, doesn’t have a specific primary care doctor, preferring the convenience of visiting a local clinic for flu shots or going online for video visits. “You say what you need, and there’s a 15-minute wait time,” she said, explaining how her appointments usually work. “I really liked ...

Read More

Health Systems Plagued By Spot Shortages Scramble For Essentials

Health systems that had to ration supplies during the pandemic are now facing disruptions of basic needs like syringes, surgical tourniquets, chest tubes and compounds for CT scans — and spending huge sums on workarounds. The big picture: Drug shortages aren’t the only supply problem plaguing U.S. health care as providers navigate an increasingly volatile environment characterized ...

Read More
arrowcaret-downclosefacebook-squarehamburgerinstagram-squarelinkedin-squarepauseplaytwitter-squareyoutube-square