Health/Employee Benefits News

Jan. 17— Some doula services are now covered for Washington residents on Apple Health, signifying a significant change in the way the state pays for pregnancy and labor care for almost half its annual births. As of Jan. 1, birth doulas are eligible for a $3,500 payment per delivery, the highest Medicaid reimbursement for doulas in the country, according to advocates…

AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A+ and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings of“ aa-” of the life/health insurance subsidiaries of Prudential Financial, Inc., collectively referred to as Prudential. Concurrently, AM Best has affirmed the Long-Term ICR of“ a-” of PFI and all Long- and Short-Term Issue Credit Ratings of the group.

Brad Briner inherits a daunting problem as he assumes the job of North Carolina state treasurer this month: the $507 million debt of the State Health Plan, which provides health insurance to 750,000 state employees. Folwell called on the General Assembly to step up and provide the funding needed to keep the plan solvent. “The expectation that the General…

The Federal Trade Commission published a second interim staff report this week on the prescription drug middleman industry, which focuses…

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and attorneys general in 13 other states have filed a motion to defend DACA recipients' access to health insurance. The effort is in response to a legal challenge led by Kansas and several other states against a Biden administration rule that allows Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, recipients to…

BENNINGTON- The Regional Governing Board of the Southwest Vermont Regional Technical School District has approved a $5,154,303 fiscal 2026 budget, up 6.99 percent. The meeting will take place at the meeting for the town of Bennington on Monday, March 3, at 6:30 p.m. at the Bennington Firehouse, 130 River St.. Article E will be to vote on the district budget, and…

Peggy Lee joined the Loomis Planning Commission this week, just in time for a raise. During the first Loomis meeting of the year Tuesday, the Town Council agreed on a Planning Commission stipend increase that's been discussed for years. A Loomis resident with her Del Oro family since 2016, Lee was president of the Allendale, New Jersey, Women's Club and elected to…

Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced today that Maryland, along with 13 other states, is taking legal action to safeguard health insurance access for Dreamers amid potential policy shifts by the incoming administration. The contested regulation, issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Center for Medicaid and Medicare…

The middlemen who comprise a growing share of America's convoluted health care system find themselves in a bind. The public is angry about the infl ated costs and opaque dealings that govern their access to medical care. Lawmakers are eager to respond.

Happy midday to you, Colorado, and thanks for joining us back here at The Temperature, where today we are covering snow coverage to insurance coverage to pollution coverage. But do not despair, for we at The Sun, as always, have got your back. TOMORROW evening, at 6 p.m., our crackerjack politics team of Jesse Paul and Brian Eason are hosting a virtual— and FREE— legislative…

The Connecticut Insurance Department held a public hearing on Molina Healthcare's intent to buy ConnectiCare, which Molina applied to do last summer. "We write to oppose the proposal to allow Molina Healthcare, one of the largest Medicaid managed care companies in the country, to purchase ConnectiCare in CT and thus enroll health consumers on the CT Health…

The middlemen who comprise a growing share of America's convoluted health care system find themselves in a bind. The public is angry about the inflated costs and opaque dealings that govern their access to medical care. Lawmakers are eager to respond.

The UnitedHealth Group leader whose murder in December unleashed a torrent of public frustration and dissatisfaction with the U.S. health care system was pushing for some of the very improvements that critics have been seeking. Andrew Witty, CEO of the Eden Prairie- based health care giant, made the comments Thursday during a conference call with investors…

Offering 24- Hour Home Care in San Diego, At Home Nursing Ensures Comprehensive Support for Clients and Families San Diego, CA- At Home Nursing, a leading provider of home care services, is proud to expand its offerings to include comprehensive support for families navigating long-term care insurance solutions. Committed to providing 24- hour home care in San…

2025 JAN 16– By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News– Investigators publish new report on Diabetes. The Ohio Department of Medicaid, Ohio Colleges of Medicine Government Resource Center, Ohio Medicaid managed care plans, and seven medical schools in Ohio formed the Diabetes QIP collaborative using the collective impact model to improve…

Talkspace, a leading online behavioral health company, is kicking off 2025 by launching National“ Check Your Coverage Day "on Tuesday, January 21, to help Americans navigate their health insurance benefits and coverage for in-network and affordable mental health services. Talkspace has established“ Check Your Coverage Day” to encourage individuals to…

UnitedHealth Group beat estimates for fourth quarter profit as the Eden Prairie- based health care giant released its first earnings report since the fatal ambush last month of top executive Brian Thompson in New York City. During the fourth quarter, the company posted a profit of $5.54 billion on $100.8 billion in revenue. Last week, a group representing…

UnitedHealth posted a better-than-expected profit in the final quarter of 2024, but a nagging rise in medical costs and care utilization surprised Wall Street. UnitedHealth leaders opened a call with analysts Thursday morning by offering thanks for condolences the company has received since the Dec. 4 death of Brian Thompson, CEO of the company's…

Treasurer Kevin M. Felt said they're looking at a 40.9% increase in United Healthcare's Prescription and Medicare Supplement Plan for employees, retirees, and/or spouses who are age 65 and over. He said that will increase the village's monthly cost from $318.41 in 2024 to $448.53 this year. The village has a separate plan with AARP, but that increase was not as…