‘In The News’ Archives
Medicare to Settle Hospital Reimbursement Dispute
Medicare settled a dispute with about 2,200 hospitals over an error in reimbursement rates, offering what could amount to a $3 billion infusion to hospitals that are already bracing for funding cuts under the federal healthcare law. More than 200 California hospitals are included in three similar agreements reached April 5 and they stand to [...]
Consumer Perspective: Healthcare More Than Politics?
Dale Berman doesn't just have a rooting interest in the Supreme Court upholding the health care reform law. You could say his life depends on it. He is a 54-year-old freelance photographer from Burbank, Calif. who has had Crohn's disease his entire life, causing intense pain and a variety of complications. He's watched as his insurance costs [...]
LA Life Agent Sentenced for Grand Theft
According to California Department of Insurance (CDI) investigators, during the period April 2008 through April 2009, Lori M. Charles, 41, of Culver City created fictional names and submitted 377 fraudulent insurance applications to a life insurer. Upon receipt of the insurance applications, the insurer issued Charles over $62,000 in advanced [...]
Healthcare Commentary
Enormous sums of taxpayer money are spent on the administration of health care programs, such as Medicaid. Those administrative costs could be sharply reduced and the savings put to what is really needed — providing health care. With the technology available today, public agencies should consider eliminating their role as government-run [...]
A Relaxed Look at Retirement
A new book on retirement planning is unique as it offers advice and guidance to future and current retirees based on their experiences, rather than on a more philosophical lecturing approach. It offers advice on budgeting, preventive health programs, preparing wills and living wills, attaining overall peace of mind, and winding down and preparing [...]
Choice Administrator’s CEO to Discuss Health Exchanges
Ron Goldstein, president and chief executive officer of CHOICEAdministrators will lead a discussion on the national movement toward health insurance exchanges at the Sacramento Association of Health Underwrtier's (SAHU) luncheon on April 18. He will discuss the state of exchanges nationwide based on his meetings with 48 out of the 50 states over [...]
Would Health Reform Raise the Deficit?
A conservative economist recently concluded that the new health care law would add $340 billion to our nation's deficit, but the Congressional Budget Office projects the law would decrease deficits. Charles Blahous, a public trustee who oversees Medicare and Social Security finances claims that accounting practices have obscured the true fiscal [...]
United Gives Grant to Telehealth Network
This is the second grant UnitedHealthcare has given California Telehealth Network, supporting it's goal of connecting telehealth devices across the state, therefore improving access to quality health care with a focus on rural and medically under-served communities. United stated that it shared California Telehealth Network's goal of providing [...]
Lung Cancer Screening Benefit Would Save Lives
Lung cancer causes more than 150,000 deaths each year, making it the most lethal cancer in the United States. Yet most insurance companies do not offer coverage for lung cancer screening for high-risk individuals, even though these tests can pick up early stage tumors. Lung cancer screening would save thousands of lives at a relatively low cost if [...]
Life Settlements Licenses in California Becoming Harder to Get
California insurance regulators have threatened to deny licenses to four life settlement providers based on their financial condition. Industry players say the California Department of Insurance's effort to require providers to prove financial stability would exceed its authority under state law. Ironically, at the same time the Department held [...]
