from our friends at: Specialty Pharmacy Continuum Concerns are growing about the increasing use of artificial intelligence to review—and in many cases deny—healthcare claims, sparking a congressional inquiry and lawsuits. Thirty-two legislators sent a letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on Nov. 3, 2023, urging increased oversight of the use of these tools in Medicare Advantage … Read More
CA Bill Introduces Food Additive Ban
from our friends at: CNBC A state legislator introduced a first-of-its-kind bill Tuesday that would ban seven additives from the foods that are served in California’s public schools. Assembly Bill 2316 would prohibit school cafeterias from offering foods containing six artificial food dyes that have been linked to hyperactivity and behavioral issues in some children. It would also outlaw titanium … Read More
More Than Half of Californians Skip or Delay Medical Care Due to Cost
February 13, 2024 | Source: Capital & Main, by Mark Kreidler For most California residents, and the vast majority of the state’s lower income workers, the cost of health insurance has been running away from them for years. That’s hardly news to anyone who has actually used their health policy in the recent past. But the health care squeeze is … Read More
New Eligibility Rules Are a Financial Salve for Nearly 2 Million on Medi-Cal
New Eligibility Rules Are a Financial Salve for Nearly 2 Million on Medi-Cal from our friends at: California Healthline Advocates who work with Medi-Cal enrollees and applicants say they often have to explain the difference between assets and income. “I think a lot of people are confused,” says Stephanie Fajuri, program director at the Center for Health Care Rights, an … Read More
International Health Insurance 101
Growing demands lead to trusted, top-notch international health insurance availability. You only have to scan social media or the news to see that globalization is at the epicenter of the new world order. As global lifestyles continue, the demand for comprehensive international health insurance has increased. In response to this demand, superior health plans are now available to serve expatriates … Read More
Important information for patients with Anthem Blue Cross health insurance plans
from our friends at: UCLA Health Feb. 5, 2024 – UPDATE Anthem Blue Cross and University of California Health have reached a preliminary agreement on a contract that will preserve access to UC health care for patients with Anthem health insurance, as Anthem and UC Health finalize the details in the coming weeks. This means UCLA Health will remain in-network … Read More
Social Security Changes In 2024
The saying “new year, new you” doesn’t always apply to a well-intentioned New Year’s resolution maker. January 1 is also the date that many new laws and regulations passed the previous year go into effect. For 2024, the first day of the year brought about a slew of new changes to Social Security, many of which will have a direct … Read More
More Part-Time Employees Will Soon Have Access To Retirement Benefits
Many employers find that providing supplemental benefits, such as retirement plan benefits, can help them recruit and retain an experienced workforce to serve in a variety of roles that include seasonal and part-time positions. While the number of part-time positions in the U.S. has declined over the past few years, in the second quarter of 2023, more than 26 million people worked part … Read More
Important Information For Patients With Anthem Blue Cross Health Insurance Plans
Anthem Blue Cross has terminated its agreement with UC Health, including UCLA Health, jeopardizing in-network access to care for millions of Californians. It is Anthem’s decision alone to terminate the agreement without cause. If a new agreement is not in place by February 29, 2024, UCLA Health will be considered out-of-network beginning March 1, 2024, for the following Anthem-covered patients:Patients … Read More
Changes to Medicare Part D Under New Law
For the first time in Medicare’s history, the amount of money that beneficiaries in drug plans will have to pay for their prescriptions each year will be capped, thanks to provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. The new law makes other changes to the program’s Part D drug benefits, including putting a limit on out-of-pocket payments for insulin and … Read More