How A Looming Government Shutdown Could Affect Healthcare

New NIH clinical trials, community health centers, pandemic preparedness and PEPFAR are among the health items that may be affected by the specter of a government shutdown.

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Mark Cuban, Universities Use ‘Secret Shoppers’ To Gauge Hospital Prices

Sixty U.S. hospitals were evaluated in the study: 20 top-ranked, 20 safety-net and 20 others. The researchers sent “secret shoppers” to call each hospital and request the lowest cash price for different services. They compared the prices given over the telephone to the prices reported on the hospitals’ websites.

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California Officials Seek ‘CARE’ Without Coercion as New Mental Health Courts Launch This Fall

Under the new system, family members and first responders can ask county judges to order people with psychotic illness into treatment, even if they are not unhoused or haven’t committed a crime. A judge will then determine if a person meets criteria for the program and may oversee a care agreement or compel a treatment plan.

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Costco Partners With Sesame To Offer Members $29 Virtual Health Visits

Costco members will be able to access health services for outpatient care like doctor's visits, labs, and mental health therapy at a "special discount," through a partnership with Sesame, a healthcare marketplace.

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Employers Are Getting More Creative On Benefits

Employers bracing for a major hike in health care costs are retooling their benefits, aiming to provide perks better targeted to workers’ needs as they closely mind the bottom line. Why it matters: Employer health costs are expected to see their largest jump in a decade, but many companies facing an ongoing workforce crunch are hesitant to pass ...

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Lawmakers, Payers And Providers All Air Grievances With Federal No Surprises Act Implementation

Amid a flurry of partisan roadblocks rolling out across Capitol Hill, representatives on both sides of the aisle came together Tuesday to critique federal agencies’ rollout of the No Surprises Act and throw their support behind court-ordered rewrites of independent dispute resolution (IDR) regulations. During a hearing exploring the “flawed implementation” of the law intended ...

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Biden Administration to Ban Medical Debt From Americans’ Credit Scores

The Biden administration announced a major initiative to protect Americans from medical debt on Thursday, outlining plans to develop federal rules barring unpaid medical bills from affecting patients’ credit scores. The regulations, if enacted, would potentially help tens of millions of people who have medical debt on their credit reports, eliminating information that can depress consumers’ scores ...

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As Biden Plans To Ban Medical Debt From Credit Scores, Advocates Press For More Change

The dramatic impact of medical debt on credit scores may soon be a thing of the past. On Thursday, the White House announced a plan outlined by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to eliminate medical debt from credit reports. The move — which follows an earlier decision from the three main credit bureaus to eliminate paid medical debt, medical ...

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COVID Vaccine Rollout Snarled By Insurance Denials, Canceled Appointments

Some consumers trying to get updated versions of the COVID-19 vaccine this week have encountered red tape, canceled appointments and delays getting private insurance to cover the shots. The major snarl comes amid a systemic shift, as the federal government no longer pays for or distributes all COVID-19 vaccinations. Public and private-sector health insurance providers must ...

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Short Naps Can Improve Memory, Increase Productivity, Reduce Stress, And Promote A Healthier Heart

Napping during the day is an ancient custom that is practiced worldwide. While some people view napping as a luxurious indulgence, others see it as a way to maintain alertness and well-being. But napping can come with drawbacks as well as benefits. As an orofacial pain specialist, I have extensive education in sleep medicine and ...

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