Author: Scott Welch
The Trump administration has tasked two top political appointees with monitoring the Department of Government Efficiency’s access to key systems inside the health agency responsible for managing Medicare and Medicaid, according to internal emails obtained by POLITICO. The appointees, Kim Brandt and John Brooks, are leading the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ “collaboration” with ...
A lawmaker has brought back a frequently introduced bill that could help workers use their health savings accounts to pay for direct primary care — and this time it might have a decent chance to become law. Rep. Lloyd Smucker, R-Pa., has introduced a version of the Primary Care Enhancement Act for the 119th Congress. Workers can ...
Here is an overview of updates from our California carrier, health plan, and administrator partners. For details, click on the related link (if any). Bonus Updates Health Net 2025 Large Group Incentive: Health Net brokers can earn 2% of paid premiums for 12 months for each new Large Group employer sold. Download the Health Net flyer ...
The fate of a Biden-era rule that would keep medical debt from consumers’ credit reports is up in the air amid reported stoppages within the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the new administration’s broader hold on recently finalized regulations. Jan. 7, the bureau issued a final rule on consumer protection, which also prohibits lenders from considering ...
One in four respondents selected health care access as their highest priority for public health.
Artificial intelligence (AI) could be used to prescribe medications to patients — if a new bill makes its way through Congress. The proposed legislationopens in a new tab or window, sponsored by Rep. David Schweikert (R-Ariz.), would amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to clarify that AI and machine learning technologies can qualify as ...
The past year was a step in the right direction for the hospital industry as outpatient revenue and below-inflation expense increases fueled a 9% year-over-year increase in 12-month operating margins. The new numbers from advisory firm Kaufman Hall run through December and reflect operating data from 1,300 hospitals nationwide as collected by Strata. Those hospitals ...
Insurers are working harder to sell dental plans and other benefits to small and midsize U.S. employers. Amy Friedrich, president of Principal Financial’s benefits and protection business, talked about the shift last week. Friedrich said competition intensified for all of the products Principal offers through its specialty benefits division, including group life, group vision and ...
As the Make America Healthy Again movement gains traction nationally, many parents and grandparents may be reminded to keep an eye on the kinds of candy their children and grandchildren may receive this Valentine’s Day. To avoid potentially harmful dyes and chemicals in some candies and baked treats, certified holistic nutritionist Robin DeCicco, whose business is in ...
Nevada ranks close to last in the nation when it comes to its ratio of physicians to residents. According to data published by the American Association of Medical Colleges in 2021, Nevada had only 218.5 physicians per 100,000 people, ranking it 45th for active physicians per capita. Additionally, Nevada ranked 48th for primary care physicians ...