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☆ Big corporations are quietly taking over your medical practice. Some doctors and experts say it's ruining healthcare.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +17 min

UnitedHealth Group struck a deal in March to buy the nine-state doctor group of the struggling hospital system Steward Health Care. AdvertisementDoctors are hot commoditiesIt's tough to lump the many buyers of medical practices together, as they're pursuing different strategies. Insurers like UnitedHealthcare and CVS' Aetna are required by federal law to spend most of the money they collect in premiums on medical care. Plus, running a modern medical practice is expensive, requiring investments in staffing, technology, and electronic health records. Advertisement"The corporate practice of medicine is the reason why healthcare costs are out of control," Li said.

Persons: —, UnitedHealth's Optum, That's, UnitedHealth, there's, They're, Farzad Mostashari, UnitedHealth's chokehold, Chas Roades, Yashaswini Singh, Singh, Roades, Nick Jones, they're, Optum, Jones, Mitch Li, Li, Michelle Cooke, Cooke, she's, Ben Bowman, Bowman Organizations: Service, UnitedHealth, Health Care, CVS Health, Walgreens, Physicians, Research, US Justice Department, CVS, Aetna, Brown University, Harvard Medical School, Oregon Medical Group, JAMA, Amazon, The Washington Post, Federal Trade Commission, US Department of Justice, Department of Health, Human Services, Oregon State, Corvallis Clinic Locations: Oregon, New York, UnitedHealth, Optum, California, The, Atlanta

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Extreme heat and wildfire smoke are independently harmful to the human body, but together their impact on cardiovascular and respiratory systems is more dangerous and affects some communities more than others. A study published Friday in the journal Science Advances said climate change is increasing the frequency of both hazards, particularly in California. The authors found that the combined harm of extreme heat and inhalation of wildfire smoke increased hospitalizations and disproportionately impacted low-income communities and Latino, Black, Asian and other racially marginalized residents. Homes and work places with air conditioning and neighborhoods with tree canopy cover are better protected from extreme heat, and some buildings filter smoke from wildfires and insulate heat more efficiently. “For a variety of reason, they tend to feel climate change much worse than other non-underserved communities, and I think it's really important to highlight this social injustice aspect of climate change,” said the emergency physician and fellow at the Harvard T.H.

Persons: ”, Tarik Benmarhnia, Benmarhnia, Christopher T, Minson, it’s, Catharina Giudice Organizations: ANGELES, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, UC San Diego, University of Oregon, Environmental Protection Agency, University of Southern, Harvard, of Public Health, National Weather Service, Associated Press, Walton Family Foundation, AP Locations: California, San Diego, United States, Oregon, Washington, Canada, British Columbia, Central Valley, Central, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, Chan

☆ Some states are loosening their Covid isolation guidelines, shifting away from CDC recommendations
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Deidre Mcphillips | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Oregon changed its isolation policy in May when the Covid-19 public health emergency lifted, and California followed suit earlier this month. The recent order from the California health department notes that the potential infectious period spans from two days before through 10 days after symptoms or a positive test. Less restrictive isolation policies could allow people to feel more comfortable with testing, which could prompt them to get treatment or feel more comfortable taking other protective measures. Dr. Dean Sidelinger, Oregon’s state health officer, said that equity was a key factor considered in the decision to change isolation policy in the state. Public health policy decisions are rarely black-and-white, experts say, and weighing tradeoffs can be more of an art than a perfect science.

Persons: Tomás Aragón, ”, Jennifer Nuzzo, we’re, Dan Barouch, Sarita Shah, Dean Sidelinger, ” Barouch, –, ” Nuzzo, Shah, Dr, Sanjay Gupta, you’re, ” Shah, “ Organizations: CNN —, US Centers for Disease Control, California Department of Public Health, CDC, Pandemic, Brown University School of Public Health, Center, Virology, Vaccine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical, Emory University, Get CNN, CNN Health Locations: California, Oregon, COVID, hospitalizations, Covid

☆ CVS will change the way it prices drugs
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Tami Luhby | Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —CVS is revamping the way it reimburses its pharmacies for prescription medications, a move that could make prescription drug pricing simpler and change how much consumers pay for their medicines. It’s a similar model to the one entrepreneur Mark Cuban is pushing with his Cost Plus Drugs company. This shift in payment models could change the cost of prescription drugs for some patients, although it will not necessarily make all medicine cost less. Some drugs may cost less, while others might rise in price, CVS executives said. Americans spend around $1,200 a year on average for prescription drugs — more than any other country — according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Persons: Mark Cuban, ”, Prem Shah, Nick Fabrizio, Fabrizio, they’ve Organizations: New, New York CNN, CVS, Plus, CVS Pharmacy, CVS Health, Cornell University, Organization for Economic Co, Kaiser Family Foundation, Amazon Pharmacy, Cuban, Plus Drug, Blue Locations: New York, California

☆ California healthcare provider's move shows pitfalls of Medicare Advantage
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Mark Miller | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

But Part D prescription drug or Medicare Advantage coverage should be reviewed. Medicare Advantage enrollment has grown quickly over the past decade, partly due to its all-in-one features and lower upfront costs. Medicare Advantage plans can drop healthcare providers from their networks - and that happens when providers and insurers cannot agree on contract terms. The Scripps decision marks a new twist: healthcare systems deciding to drop out of Medicare Advantage. During the annual enrollment period, it is possible to drop Medicare Advantage in favor of traditional, fee-for-service Medicare.

Persons: Scripps, Chris Van Gorder, ”, “, Sophie Exdell, Medigap, Exdell, Mark Miller, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Scripps Health, Diego, Medicare, Scripps, Health Insurance, Program, Reuters, Thomson Locations: San Diego , California, Southern California, San Diego, Connecticut, Maine , Massachusetts, New York, In California

☆ Gen Zalpha doesn't really care for sex on TV — they're here for 'nomance' and on-screen friendships
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Nidhi Pandurangi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Teens and young adults are over romance and sex in TV shows and movies, per a new survey. 51.5% of those surveyed want to see more "nomance," or content based on friendships and platonic relationships. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. AdvertisementAdvertisementTeens and young adults are over romance and sex in TV shows and movies — what they really want to see on screen is a lot more "nomance." And younger people are also having less sex than their parents did at their age, per UCLA's California health interview survey.

Persons: —, Zalpha, there's, Stephanie Rivas, Lara, Hiral Kotecha, Vivek Murthy, " Rivas, Kotecha, Z Organizations: Service, UCLA, Alpha Locations: America, California

Gavin Newsom signed two major pieces of legislation Thursday to transform the state's mental health system and address the state's worsening homelessness crisis, putting them both before voters in 2024. The Democratic governor needs voters' approval because he wants to borrow billions of dollars through a bond to pay for the proposals. It would mark the first major update to the state's mental health system in 20 years. “The days of looking away are gone.”Voters in 2004 approved a special tax on millionaires that has been used to fund mental health programs. It's one of several efforts by Newsom to reform California's mental health system.

Persons: Gavin Newsom, Newsom, ” Newsom, “, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, we're, ”, Democratic Sen, Susan Eggman, ” Dr, Mark Ghaly, We'll, Newsom's Organizations: —, Democratic, General, “, Los Angeles Mayor, ” Voters, California, Human Services Agency Locations: SACRAMENTO, Calif, — California, Los Angeles, California, L.A

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — An alternative mental health court program designed to fast-track people with untreated schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders into housing and medical care — potentially without their consent — kicked off in seven California counties, including San Francisco, on Monday. San Francisco officials said in a statement that about 10% of more than 2,500 beds are open for new people. The National Alliance on Mental Illness in California, a grassroots organization supporting people with a mental illness and their families, pushed for the new mental health program. San Francisco, Orange, San Diego, Riverside, Stanislaus, Tuolumne and Glenn counties launched the new program Monday. The rest of the state has until December 2024 to establish mental health courts.

Persons: —, Gavin Newsom, it's, ”, Michael Begert, Mark Ghaly, Tal Klement, Judge Begert, Veronica Kelley, Samuel Jain, Jessica Cruz Organizations: FRANCISCO, Democratic, CARE, Lawmakers, San Francisco, CARE ”, WHO, California, Human Services Agency, Disability Rights, National Alliance, Mental, Glenn, Los Locations: California, San Francisco, Orange County, Francisco , Orange, San Diego, Riverside, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, Los Angeles County, Los Angeles

Blue Shield of California will no longer use CVS Health’s Caremark as its pharmacy benefit manager and instead will partner with several companies, including Amazon Pharmacy and Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company. They have come under fire from other players in the health care industry and from Congress because of their opaque practices. Most adults take at least one prescription drug annually, while more than a third take at least three, Blue Shield said, citing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. CVS Caremark will continue to work with Blue Shield, providing specialty pharmacy services for members with complex conditions. The company bought online pharmacy PillPack in 2018, launched its own Amazon Pharmacy in 2020 and last year created a virtual health care clinic.

Persons: ” Paul Markovich, Mark Organizations: New, New York CNN, CVS, Amazon Pharmacy, Cuban, Plus Drug Company, Pharmacy, Blue, for Disease Control, ”, Mark Cuban, Plus, CVS Health, Amazon Locations: New York, California

☆ Her son said his stepdad was sexually abusive. A judge gave the stepdad custody anyway. Then she found the photographs.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Olivia Gentile | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +58 min

Robert confronted Winenger with the allegations that November, and within weeks Winenger denied the claims in family court. In a family court hearing in Vista, California, on October 28, 2021, Commissioner Patti Ratekin chastised Jill Montes for allegedly alienating her kids from her ex-husband. From a list provided by the Delaware Family Court, Kelly chose a psychologist, William Northey. Their father cited the report in asking a Delaware family court judge to order the boys to change schools. Family Court of the State of Delaware, New Castle CountyCiting the email and a subsequent report, Michael pressed Ostroski to order the transfer.

Persons: he'd, Robert, stepdad, Thomas Winenger, Winenger, Robert's, Jill Montes, Montes, Patti Ratekin, she'd, Ratekin, Richard Gardner, Gardner, Lynn Steinberg, she's, Maya, shrieks, Joan Meier, They'd, —, Meier, Tom Brenner, Paige, Maggie Shannon, Claire, Eden, Weeks, Hester Prynne, Mitra Sarkhosh, Sarkhosh, San Diego Robert, Tom Winenger, Tamatha Clemens, Miguel Alvarez, Alvarez, overreact, Alvarez didn't, Bridges, Janell Ostroski, Linda Gottlieb, Ostroski, Michael D, Ashton, Alfield Reeves, Michael, Kelly D, Kelly, who've, Randy Rand, Chris, Rand, he's, Rand isn't, Jane Shatz of, Joann Murphey, Murphey, Steinberg, Ally Toyos, Kit R, Toyos, Emily, Richard Warshak, Elizabeth Loftus, Harvey Weinstein's, Loftus, Hannah Rodriguez, Linda Gottlieb's, Gottlieb, Rodriguez, Yvonne Parnell, Brian Ludmer, Ludmer, Parnell, aren't, Daniel Barrozo, Mom, Jean Mercer, Mercer, who'd, Michael Saini, Saini, Hannah Yoon, — Ashton, Judge Ostroski, William Northey, Northey, O, Addie Asay, mistreating Ashton, Rachel Brandenburg, Brandenburg, I've, Michael's, Gardner's, Gardner dosed, Dr, Paul Fink, Fink, Warshak, William Bernet, Patrick Clancy, doesn't, She'd, Brian Fitzpatrick, Sen, Susan Rubio, Meier's, Rebecca Connolly, didn't, Connolly, Heidi Simonson, Rubio, Theresa Manzella Organizations: Investigations, San, Business, Child Welfare, of, American Psychiatric Association, World Health Organization, American Professional Society, George Washington University, Violence Law, George Washington University Law School, Columbia University, PAS, Sarkhosh, San Diego County Sheriff's Department, California Health, Welfare Agency, Psychology, Bridges, Texas, Roane, Stockton University, University of Toronto, Families, Delaware Family Court, Family, Delaware Family, Association of Family, Conciliation, Newsday, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, HarperCollins, Family Bridges, Vanderbilt University, Disorders, The Justice Department, WHO, of Social Welfare, Family Law, Winenger, Montes, Superior Locations: San Diego County, Vista , California, of California, Family Bridges, United States, Santa Cruz , California, Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Diego, toddlerhood, Ratekin, San, California, Eden, New Castle County , Delaware, New York, Ashton, Delaware, Jane Shatz of California, Seattle, Southern California, Texas, Kansas, Toyos, Bozeman , Montana, Family, Tampa , Florida, New, Hudson Valley, Chino , California, Wilmington , Delaware, of Delaware, New Castle County, Denver, Washington, Pennsylvania, Susan Rubio of Los Angeles County, statehouses, Watsonville , California, Santa Cruz, Michigan , Kansas, Utah, Colorado, Montana

☆ Devoted Health quietly blew past other insurance upstarts in the red-hot market for seniors
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

While last year was a bloodbath for some young health insurers, Devoted Health ended 2022 relatively unscathed. Several newly public health insurers have struggled with losses, and some have been forced to retrench to stay afloat. Devoted has won more Medicare Advantage members in 2023 than competitorsExecutives of Devoted Health's rivals. Clover Health; Bright Health; Oscar Health; Olivia Reaney/Business InsiderInsider's analysis of the latest federal enrollment data found that Devoted had 126,287 Medicare Advantage members as of March 1. Bright had 122,371 Medicare Advantage members at the two California health plans it owns, while Alignment Healthcare had about 109,221 Advantage members, according to Insider's analysis.

☆ Alignment Healthcare's CEO shared 3 reasons he thinks the upstart will win in health insurance — and why it won't unravel like Bright Health
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Young health insurers that went public in 2021 have bled money. Some health insurers that went public in 2021 at high valuations have struggled since then. Several young insurers have bled money as they've grown quickly. Bright Health, another Medicare Advantage insurer, came close to insolvency and had to shut down its health plans on the Affordable Care Act marketplace. Growing steadily with a narrow focusBefore the recent market slowdown, growing fast had been a common strategy for newly public health insurers and digital health broadly.

☆ Parental leave is the greatest benefit workers don't take
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( Rebecca Knight | Shana Lebowitz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The share of US workers who have access to family leave, including parental leave, is increasing. Like many women, Amanda Krupa took less parental leave than she was allowed in order to protect her career and income. The rate of women taking maternity leave hasn't changed since the '90sThe US is the only industrialized country that doesn't guarantee paid parental leave. Some employers offer short-term-disability insurance to help cover workers' parental leave, but it doesn't always replace all wages. Today, all employees there are eligible for 16 weeks of paid parental leave.

☆ California governor signs bill offering legal refuge to transgender youths
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-30 | by ( Jo Yurcaba | Jo Yurcaba Is A Reporter For Nbc Out. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

Gavin Newsom signed a bill Thursday that aims to legally protect transgender youths and their parents if they flee conservative states that have restricted access to gender-affirming care. The bill seeks to “offer refuge” to trans minors and their families “if they’re being criminalized in their home states,” state Sen. Scott Wiener, who introduced the bill, said on Twitter after Newsom signed it. Kay Ivey signed a bill that makes it a felony for medical professionals to provide gender-affirming medical care to people under 19. “We believe that no one should be prosecuted or persecuted for getting the care they need — including gender-affirming care,” Newsom said in a statement after signing the measure. It prohibits California health care providers from releasing medical information in relation to other states’ laws prohibiting gender-affirming care for minors.

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