A Nation Slowly Emerging From Pandemic Honors Memorial Day

A nation slowly emerging from social distancing measures imposed by the coronavirus pandemic honored generations of U.S. veterans killed in the line of duty on a Memorial Day observed without the severe pandemic restrictions that affected the day of tribute just a year ago. Memorial Day parades and events were held in localities large and ...

Read More

Northern California Counties Once Spared By COVID-19 Now Seeing Cases Surge

As the coronavirus pandemic wanes across California, a handful of counties along the northernmost edge of the state that were spared the worst of last year’s surge are now seeing an alarming rise in cases driven by the spread of variants and deep-rooted resistance to vaccines. With the states June 15 target for reopening in ...

Read More

First HRA Council Meeting May Hint At Future Of Individual Health Insurance

A new HRA Council held its first meeting Friday, and the founding member list could give hints about which insurers have the strongest interest in the commercial individual major medical insurance market. Organizers of the Washington-based group say it will be a non-partisan, nonprofit coalition that will promote awareness of health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs), help develop HRA standards, ...

Read More

Health Spending Would Increase by 23% Under Biden Budget

Health spending would increase by almost a quarter of its current funding level as the White House aims to build a new health research agency, eliminate racial and socioeconomic disparities, and beef up the nation’s public health preparedness. President Joe Biden’s budget request, released Friday, includes includes $133.7 billion for the Department of Health and Human ...

Read More

Senate Votes To Confirm Chiquita Brooks-Lasure As CMS Administrator

The Senate last week voted 55-44 to confirm the nomination of Chiquita Brooks-LaSure to be the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). All of the 50 Democrats who voted backed Brooks-LaSure. Brooks-LaSure also won support from five Republicans. The list of Republicans supporting her included three senators who are known for voting ...

Read More

Family Healthcare Costs Decreased Last Year For First Time In Milliman Report’s 16-Year History

Dive Brief: * Healthcare costs for a family of four decreased year over year from 2019 to 2020, a first in the 16-year history of the annual Milliman Medical Index report. The COVID-19 pandemic was responsible for the decline, as people deferred care. Milliman, an actuarial firm, relies on claims data from 2019 and a chunk of 2020 ...

Read More

What’s in Biden’s $6 Trillion Budget

What would you do with $6 trillion? President Joe Biden would give a lot more money to working-class parents and spend billions on roads and bridges, among other priorities. The question is whether he can get a closely divided—yet Democratic majority—Congress to go along. The president’s proposed budget outlines his ambitious plans for the country over the ...

Read More

Hope Builds That COVID Vaccine Boosters Won’t Be Needed For A Year – Or Much Longer

Scientists are increasingly confident that vaccines provide long-lasting protection against the coronavirus and that boosters will not be necessary for at least a year, perhaps much longer. The vaccines are holding up well against all coronavirus variants so far. That means boosters probably won’t be needed anytime soon to protect against variants. Even more promising, ...

Read More

Nevada’s Public Option Health Care Bill Advances

Nevada’s bid to enact the second state-based public option health benefit plan in the nation passed the state Senate Monday on a 12-9 party line vote and moved to the Assembly with one week remaining in the session.

Read More

New COVID-19 Cases Plummet In Nevada; Vaccination Rate Below National Average

Nevada reported far fewer coronavirus cases in the week ending Sunday, adding 1,813 new cases. That's down 29.2% from the previous week's tally of 2,559 new cases of the virus that causes COVID-19.

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