Judge temporarily blocks Major Adams from switching NYC retires to Medicare Advantage

A trial court judge has temporarily blocked Major Adams from switching retired city workers to a cost-cutting Medicare Advantage Plan.

Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Lyle Frank granted a temporary restraining order Thursday that, until he issues a final ruling, prevents roughly 250,000 city retirees and their dependents from losing their current health insurance.

The retirees who brought the lawsuit “have shown that numerous promises were made by the City to then New York City employees and future retirees” about their coverage, according to court documents.

The court found a likelihood of it ultimately ruling in their favour, and that any

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Biden to crack down on short-term health insurance plans, Politico reports

July 6 (Reuters) – US President Joe Biden’s administration on Friday is expected to propose a new regulation cracking down on short-term health insurance plans, Politico reported, citing five Democrats with knowledge of the matter.

Biden is due to deliver an announcement on healthcare cost savings on Friday. A White House official told Politico on Thursday that Biden plans to announce major actions to lower costs and crack down on junk fees.

The regulation will curtail a Trump-era expansion of skimpy health coverage, which critics said undermined the 2010 Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, and its broad protections

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Pritzker signs bills altering Illinois’ health insurance market

"Oh, I’m signed!”  exclaims Mon.  Laura Fine, D-Glenview, as she realized that her bill giving the Department of Insurance new oversight authority had been approved by Gov.  J.B. Pritzker.

“Oh, I’m signed!” exclaims Sen. Laura Fine, D-Glenview, as she realizes that her bill giving the Department of Insurance new oversight authority had been approved by Gov. JB Pritzker.

SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker signed legislation Tuesday that will dramatically alter the health insurance market in Illinois.

The measures establish a state-based exchange for policies sold under the Affordable Care Act and give the Illinois Department of Insurance the authority to modify or reject proposed rate increases.

“Since day one of my administration, I’ve been committed to making health care more equitable and holistic and accessible,” Pritzker said at a

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The Dangers of the EHR

Electronic Health Records can be an incredibly helpful tool. However, they are not without fault. A recent warning highlights that electronic health records (EHRs) are a top target of cybercriminals. They can also lead to inappropriate billing if they are not set up correctly.

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The Health Sector Cybersecurity Coordination Center (HC3) issued a warning to healthcare entities regarding EHR vulnerabilities and protections.

Protected health information (PHI) continues to hold its …

3 min read

Savvy Senior: Health insurance options after a spouse retires | News, Sports, Jobs



How Do I Update My Compliance Risk Assessment?

Compliance Risk Assessments are critically important in healthcare practices. When used correctly, they can save entities from fines, problems and consequences.

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While almost everyone is familiar with a HIPAA Risk Assessment, many practices have not completed a full Compliance Risk Assessment.

A Compliance Risk Assessment is a process for healthcare entities to determine what risks exist, evaluate potential risks and focus resources to address the most significant risks.

Compliance Risk

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Meaningful Healthcare Access Requires So Much More Than Insurance Coverage

Victor Agbafe, Matt Alexander, Jesper Ke, and David Velasquez are medical students.

*Patient name has been changed

Millions of Americans are expected to lose health insurance coverage with the end of the pandemic protections on health insurance enrollment, and hundreds of thousands already have. While much of the discussion has been rightfully centered around how to minimize losses in health insurance coverage, we must also consider last-mile challenges that affect access to healthcare.

Patients can struggle to obtain access to healthcare because of issues beyond insurance. The social, environmental, and economic factors that shape our lives, known as upstream drivers

5 min read

It’s Not Just You: Many People Confront Health Insurance Obstacles on Care and Bills

A majority of Americans with health insurance said they had encountered obstacles to coverage, including denied medical care, higher bills and a dearth of doctors in their plans, according to a new survey from KFF, a nonprofit health research group. As a result, some people are delayed or skipped treatment.

Those who were most likely to need medical care — people who described themselves as in fair or poor health — reported more trouble; three-fourths of those receiving mental health treatment experienced problems.

“The consequences of care are delayed and missed altogether because of the sheer complexity of the

3 min read