Medicare Crisis Uncovered: Historic Heist Threatens Healthcare System’s Future

Washington, D.C., Medicare, the largest health care program in the country, faces threats as insurance companies push to privatize it. A significant portion of Medicare beneficiaries are now enrolled in Medicare Advantage, controlled by powerful corporations. This shift could jeopardize Medicare’s ability to regulate prices and could result in draining the trust fund. The Medicare Payments Advisory Commission’s recent report highlighted that Medicare spends significantly more per beneficiary in Medicare Advantage plans compared to traditional …

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Severe Storm Systems Threaten Over 40 Million in Central and Eastern US

Houston, Texas – More than 40 million people in parts of the Central and Eastern US are facing a threat from a pair of storm systems on Monday. Capable of producing large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes, these storms are expected to impact a wide area from central Texas to southern South Dakota, including cities like Oklahoma City and Kansas City. Before the storms hit, strong winds gusting up to 55 mph are forecasted from …

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Reference-Based Pricing Trend Continues to Challenge Hospital Systems and Employers

Selah, Washington – Employers in various industries are implementing innovative strategies to tackle the rising costs of healthcare for their employees. One such approach gaining traction is reference-based pricing, where employers tie their employees’ health claims to Medicare rates to help curb escalating expenses. While this method has the potential to generate significant cost savings, it is not without challenges, as some hospital systems are pushing back by balance-billing plan participants. The concept of reference-based …

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Cybersecurity Threat Causes Change Healthcare Systems to Stay Offline for Fourth Day

MINNETONKA, Minnesota – Change Healthcare is currently facing disruptions in its systems for the fourth consecutive day following a cybersecurity breach disclosed by parent company UnitedHealth Group earlier this week. UnitedHealth Group, the largest healthcare company in the U.S. by market capitalization, owns Optum, a healthcare provider that merged with Change Healthcare in 2022. Optum serves over 100 million patients in the U.S., while Change Healthcare specializes in payment and revenue cycle management solutions. According …

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Comparative Analysis of Global Healthcare Systems Reveals Opportunities for Improvement in U.S. Care

Providence, Rhode Island-The debate over the best healthcare system in the United States continues as experts study the various models of care in different countries. Despite the desire for a straightforward answer, every system has its own set of tradeoffs, making it challenging to declare one as the best. Instead of oversimplifying the comparison between single-payer and private insurance systems, experts urge a deeper examination of the nearly 200 natural experiments taking place globally. It …

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