IntelliSoft Group Announces Annual User Group Meeting and Conference in Boston, MA

July 18, 2017, 12:04 am

≫ Next: UnitedHealth tops 2Q expectations, hikes 2017 forecast

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In addition to the opening General Session from motivation speaker and author, Kay Frances, topics for the event will highlight key functionality of the company’s IntelliCred and IntelliApp software products as well as a keynote address from Sorin Davis, Managing Director of Industry Relations at CAQH.

Nashua, NH (PRWEB) July 18, 2017

IntelliSoft Group, LLC, a leading provider of healthcare credentialing, provider enrollment and contract management software, will hold its Annual User Group Meeting and Conference on August 14-15, 2017 at The Westin Copley Place in Boston, MA.

In addition to the opening General Session from motivation speaker and author, Kay Frances, topics for the event will highlight key functionality of the company’s IntelliCred and IntelliApp software products including:· Application Mapping/iPop
· Reporting – Basic Design
· Tracking the Provider Enrollment Process
· Communication using IntelliCred/IntelliApp Software
· IntelliReport – Advanced Features & Techniques
· IntelliCred Re-credentialing
· CAHQ and Us
· Automation: Notifications and Scheduler
· IntelliExport
· WebView
· Centralized Credentialing
· IntelliCred Privileging Module
· New Features that May Surprise You
· Cleaning/Maintaining Your Database

This year’s featured Keynote Speaker is Sorin Davis, Managing Director of Industry Relations at CAQH. Sorin brings more than 35 years of experience in health insurance, healthcare management, and benefits administration.

“The annual User Group is an important step in fulfilling our commitment to exceptional customer service for our clients,” said David Aucoin, Executive Vice President of Operations of IntelliSoft Group. “Ultimately, the measure of our success is how we help our customers achieve measureable results and improve overall patient safety.”

More information on this year’s User Group can be found on the IntelliSoft Group website, http://www.intellisoftgroup.com/resources.

About IntelliSoft Group, LLC
Based in Nashua, NH, IntelliSoft Group, LLC is a leading provider of medical credentialing, provider enrollment, and contract management software in combination with CVO services. The company’s products, IntelliCred, IntelliApp and IntelliContract are used by hundreds of healthcare systems, hospitals, managed care organizations, credentials verification organizations, individual practice associations, and sub-acute healthcare organizations. IntelliSoft Group’s CVO Division, IntelliCVO, offers one of the most innovative credentials verification services available for customers that require a temporary or full-time outsourcing option. Learn more by visiting the IntelliSoft Group website at http://www.intellisoftgroup.com/. Reported by PRWeb 19 hours ago.

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UnitedHealth tops 2Q expectations, hikes 2017 forecast

July 18, 2017, 3:53 am

≫ Next: Important points to keep in mind before getting a top up insurance plan

≪ Previous: IntelliSoft Group Announces Annual User Group Meeting and Conference in Boston, MA

UnitedHealth Group's second-quarter earnings jumped 30 percent, pushed in part by growth in the company's Optum business, and the nation's largest insurer raised its 2017 forecast again. Health insurance is UnitedHealth's main business, but it has focused on growing its Optum segment, which provides pharmacy benefits management and technology services. Reported by SeattlePI.com 15 hours ago.

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Important points to keep in mind before getting a top up insurance plan

July 18, 2017, 3:55 am

≫ Next: United Benefit Advisors Announces New President, Peter Weber

≪ Previous: UnitedHealth tops 2Q expectations, hikes 2017 forecast

The additional cover that you get, apart from your normal health insurance plan is known as a top up plan. This plan helps you to get certain facilities, over and above the normal benefits at a low premium. In normal circumstances, the insurance company pays the claim for the amount for which the individual has been insured, but in case those expenses exceed the insurance amount, then in such cases the top up plan comes into action. But, before you choose a top up plan, it is very important, that you keep certain points in mind and in order to understand them in details, you can go through the discussion below: The most crucial thing that you need to understand here is the concept of... Reported by WorldNews 15 hours ago.

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United Benefit Advisors Announces New President, Peter Weber

July 18, 2017, 4:05 am

≫ Next: StuLo Selected as Student Loan Debt Relief Partner by OnCore HCM

≪ Previous: Important points to keep in mind before getting a top up insurance plan

Clear Vision of Innovation, Collaboration, and Motivation Will Drive the Future of UBA

Indianapolis, IN (PRWEB) July 18, 2017

United Benefit Advisors (UBA), the nation’s leading independent employee benefits advisory organization, announces new President, Peter Weber, a seasoned health insurance executive with more than 20 years of leadership experience. Weber will serve as President effective immediately and be based in the company’s Chicago office.

“Peter comes to UBA with immense experience in board governance, staff development, strategic planning and execution, plus process innovation,” says UBA Board Chairman, Scott Deru. “As UBA faces upcoming challenges, Peter has a proven track record of leading organizations such as ours, and is committed to assuring that UBA and its Partners not only survive, but thrive in our evolving markets.”

Prior to joining UBA, Weber served six years as President of the Health Insurance Trust for the Illinois Association of School Boards and concurrently as the staff liaison to the Workers Compensation and Property and Casualty Trust for the same association. He has held an executive director position for the past 20 years and has demonstrated his ability to help organizations reach their greatest potential. Weber also has extensive experience in training, writing, and public speaking, and has won numerous state and national awards for his efforts and expertise in a variety of areas. A Certified Association Executive, Weber received his Bachelor of Arts at Knox College, and his Master of Science in Education Administration and Political Science from the University of Illinois.

“I am very humbled, yet excited, to join the UBA staff,” says Peter Weber, President of UBA. “My goal is to help UBA continue to lead the benefits industry with a united vision, collaborative work ethic, and effective communications. While we must respect tradition, we will also strive for innovation. UBA is the only organization that can see through the fog and create a clear vision for the profession, create brand opportunity, and empower every UBA Partner to better serve their clients.”

As the newest employee of UBA, Weber joins a network of employee benefits advisory firms that serve employers of all sizes across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. As a combined group, UBA’s annual employee benefit revenues rank it among the top ten largest global employee benefits brokers.

ABOUT UNITED BENEFIT ADVISORS®
United Benefit Advisors® (UBA) is the nation’s leading independent employee benefits advisory organization with more than 200 offices throughout the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. UBA empowers more than 2,000 Partners to both maintain their individuality and pool their expertise, insight, and market presence to provide best-in-class services and solutions. Employers, advisors and industry-related organizations interested in obtaining powerful results from the shared wisdom of our Partners should visit http://www.UBAbenefits.com. Reported by PRWeb 15 hours ago.

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StuLo Selected as Student Loan Debt Relief Partner by OnCore HCM

July 18, 2017, 4:43 am

≫ Next: NextGen Leads and Jornaya Announce Partnership

≪ Previous: United Benefit Advisors Announces New President, Peter Weber

Partnership with Student Markets Group, Inc. d/b/a StuLo is set to expand access to student loan debt relief and financial wellness benefits for employers.

Phoenix, Arizona (PRWEB) July 18, 2017

Student Markets Group, Inc. d/b/a StuLo, an employee benefits company focused on financial wellness, student loan debt relief, and credit repair services, announced today that it has entered into a distribution partnership with OnCore, LLC dba OnCore HCM, a leading technology platform for employee benefits administration and human capital management.

"We are excited that StuLo will be an integrated employee benefit plan on OnCore HCM's platform," said Ben Rozum, President of StuLo. Rozum added, "OnCore offers an all automated web-based solution for benefit brokers and their clients. By including select vendor partners like StuLo, brokers and employers will have a hassle-free way to expand financial-related benefits offered to their employees."

Student loan debt relief is considered one of the fastest growing employee benefits due to 44 million Americans being saddled with over $1.4 Trillion in debt. While only 4% of employers offer a student loan related benefit today, a study by Willis Towers Watson indicates that adoption could increase to over 26% through 2018.

According to Troy Bagne, Co-Founder of OnCore HCM, "Our investment in technology and core capabilities has allowed OnCore to be recognized as a leading HR platform solution for our broker clients." Bagne added, "By partnering with an innovative benefit provider like StuLo, we can also give our clients single-source access to a relevant and meaningful benefit solution for student loan debt relief, which we know a lot of employers are looking for. We are excited about this new relationship and the value it will bring to our clients."

StuLo is expected to be available for OnCore' HCMs client enrollment starting in August of 2017.

For more information on how to offer StuLo to employees or association members, contact your employee benefits broker or call Student Markets Group Inc. at 602-888-8144 or visit https://www.StuLoWellness.com.

About Student Markets Group Inc. d/b/a StuLo
Student Markets Group, which is majority-owned by Coterie Advisory Group, is the national pro-gram manager for the StuLo benefit program. The companies provide consultative services and product solutions that are dedicated to helping consumers in the insurance and benefits industry—including the rising concerns of affordable health insurance and student loan debt relief.

StuLo is an employee benefit and association-member benefit program that is focused on: financial wellness, student loan debt relief, and credit repair services. The benefit program takes a wholistic approach to providing a financial wellness benefit for all employees and members—not just a benefit to help student loan holders only. The aggregation of financial related benefits include: general financial coaching and online tools, concierge services to help with federal student loan consolidation enrollment, private student loan refinancing marketplace, concierge services to help with credit repair, debt payment protection, identity theft security, and other financial related insurance benefits and non-insurance services. As an alternative to an employer-funded student loan repayment assistance benefit, StuLo provides significantly more benefit value at little to no cost to the employer.

Our packages of consumer-centric insurance and non-insurance programs solve real-world problems, make a meaningful difference in consumers' lives, and have a track-record of being market-leading and market-changing.

## Reported by PRWeb 14 hours ago.

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NextGen Leads and Jornaya Announce Partnership

July 18, 2017, 6:04 am

≫ Next: Poll: Consumer Awareness of Health Benefits Insurance Plans Greater than All Other Obamacare Alternatives Combined

≪ Previous: StuLo Selected as Student Loan Debt Relief Partner by OnCore HCM

Strengthen Compliance Across Lead Acquisition for the Health Insurance Industry

Philadelphia (PRWEB) July 18, 2017

Jornaya, the fast-growing consumer journey insights platform, today announced that NextGen Leads, a leading provider of high quality, cost effective health insurance, Medicare Supplement, and life insurance leads, has integrated TCPA Guardian from Jornaya to ensure compliance with the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).

Jornaya’s software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform delivers actionable intelligence to identify high-intent prospects and eliminate process inefficiencies like non-compliant calls. Jornaya’s TCPA solution supports publishers and marketers who directly dial consumers by precisely identifying lead-specific, non-compliant consumer data or behavior that can result in costly TCPA compliance violations and litigation.

Additionally, the Jornaya platform has unmatched visibility into the consumer journey and the consumer's insights. Its technology is a first-hand witness to everything the consumer does across devices, browsers, and web properties. Jornaya contributes data and insights to publishers and to marketers that cannot be found from any other source.

“We’re happy to make this announcement,” said NextGen Leads CEO Chris Kelly. “Jornaya helps us maintain the quality of our network while providing the best possible experience to both agents and consumers."

"Jornaya is committed to continuously drive value for our publishers and their network,” said Ross Shanken, CEO, Jornaya. “The Jornaya TCPA Guardian product enables our partners to ensure that their marketing programs are not only world-class, but compliant as well."

Jornaya TCPA Compliance
Jornaya’s TCPA Compliance with Visual Playback solution monitors and audits leads in real time, while ensuring compliance with evolving consumer privacy regulations. Key features include:

Real-time compliance validation: Marketing and sales teams can easily audit, track and verify TCPA compliance in real time at the lead level, enhancing integrity of first-party data collection and informing purchases of third-party leads.

Persuasive proof of consent: In the event of a complaint, comprehensive Compliance Reports and Visual Playbacks provide data witnessed during the original lead event. This confirms that the consumer was shown necessary and approved disclosures, that those disclosures were displayed in a clear and conspicuous manner, and that the consumer gave consent to be contacted.

Data security: Automatic encryption and safe discard of lead-specific personally identifiable information (PII). A data-matching process validates consumer-supplied information in a privacy-friendly manner.

About Jornaya
Jornaya is the consumer journey insight platform that provides publishers, marketers, data analysts, and compliance professionals with the highest-resolution view of the consumer buying journey. It is the only technology platform that witnesses both first- and third-party consumer interactions in real time and across devices. Meeting consumers at these moments of intent enables businesses to shorten the distance between data, decision, and action. Jornaya seamlessly integrates with any buyer journey decisioning process or toolkit. Please visit http://www.jornaya.com

About NextGen Leads
NextGen Leads provides extremely high quality insurance leads, using industry-leading technology to streamline lead acquisition from end to end. Founded in 2014 in San Diego, California, the Company is focused on providing a superior lead buying experience through a focus on technology and a modern approach to lead generation. For more information about NextGen Leads, please visit their website at http://www.nextgenleads.com

Media Contact:
Sebastian Pistritto
Chief Marketing Officer
Jornaya
(267) 460-7287 X1740
spistritto(at)jornaya(dot)com Reported by PRWeb 13 hours ago.

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Poll: Consumer Awareness of Health Benefits Insurance Plans Greater than All Other Obamacare Alternatives Combined

July 18, 2017, 6:15 am

≫ Next: House GOP Unveils 2018 Budget: Here Are The Highlights

≪ Previous: NextGen Leads and Jornaya Announce Partnership

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA--(Marketwired - Jul 18, 2017) - With the government's announcement that there are 38 percent fewer health plan rate filings for the 2018 Affordable Care Act (ACA) exchanges, many consumers across the nation will be faced with fewer or, in some counties, no ACA insurance choices this coming open enrollment period. Fewer exchange choices may worsen consumers' ability to find health insurance that combines an affordable monthly premium with a manageable deductible. Since this situation is expected to lead some private health insurance buyers to explore alternative health coverage that either replaces ACA as primary coverage or combines with an ACA plan to lower out-of-pocket costs, AgileHealthInsurance.com conducted a nationwide poll that asked, *"What private health insurance (or health coverage) options are you familiar with OTHER than Obamacare?"* Reported by Marketwired 13 hours ago.

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House GOP Unveils 2018 Budget: Here Are The Highlights

July 18, 2017, 6:20 am

≫ Next: UnitedHealth ups full-year earnings guidance but shares weak as healthcare bill scrapped

≪ Previous: Poll: Consumer Awareness of Health Benefits Insurance Plans Greater than All Other Obamacare Alternatives Combined

House GOP Unveils 2018 Budget: Here Are The Highlights

On Tuesday morning, House Republicans released a fiscal 2018 budget plan that will pose the next major political test for President Donald Trump's legislative agenda by combining tax reform with controversial spending cuts. While unlikely, the spending plan, which covers the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, aims to move the government from a $472 billion deficit in 2018 to a $9 billion budget surplus in 2027. As Reuters reports, the change is mostly due to the House Budget Committee forecast *of U.S. economic growth of 2.6% annually that assumes future changes in tax, healthcare and financial laws, *as well as deregulation. Meanwhile, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has forecast economic growth of 1.9 percent from 2017 to 2027, and does not anticipate a budget surplus over the next decade.

The proposed 10 year, $4 trillion budget ignores Trump's request for $54 billion in cuts to departments and agencies such as State and the National Institutes of Health. Instead, spending outside of defense would be reduced by $5 billion. Meanwhile, the GOP proposal would boost funding for the nation’s defense by $72 billion, $18 billion more than Trump sought. The $4 trillion blueprint also allows an overhaul of the U.S. tax code to pass Congress without support from Democrats, along with a partial repeal of the 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street reform law and $203 billion in savings from mandatory federal programs including food stamps over the next decade.

Here are the highlights, courtesy of Citi (the GOP's own 1-page summary can be found here):

· Total USD4tn proposal, calling for USD203bn in mandatory cuts.
· Promises to leave the US with an USD8bn surplus by 2027. This is versus a USD427bn deficit for 2018.
· Estimates assume GDP of 2.6% annually for the 10y period through 2027, including future changes in tax, healthcare, financial laws and deregulation. This compares to the Congressional Budget Office’s GDP assumption of 1.9%.
· The Washington Post explains that it looks to turn Medicare into a voucher-like program in which future retirees would receive a fixed benefit to purchase health insurance on the open market. The plan looks to cut near USD500bn from the Medicate program.
· It also looks for a 1.5tn cut from Medicaid and Obamacare.
· Includes USD621.5bn in defense spending and 511bn on non-defense discretionary spending in 2018.
· Target cuts in federal employee pensions, food stamps and tax credits for working poor.
· CNN notes that “as they did with their Obamacare repeal plan in the 2017 budget, GOP leaders are employing a budget tool called ‘reconciliation’ to move tax legislation through the Senate with a simple majority.”

Below is the infrgraophic supplied by the House GOP:

As its is based on "reconciliation", the final legislation would pass the Senate with a simple majority. Without reconciliation, tax reform would require 60 Senate votes, and would not pass.

The House Budget Committee is expected to approve the plan later this week and send it to the House floor for a full vote. However, CNN says that GOP leaders are still debating if they have enough votes to pass it.

As Reuters adds, "the plan is vital to Republican aims of overhauling the U.S. tax code while avoiding a Democratic filibuster in the Senate." The plan instructs 11 House committees to find savings from programs and policies they oversee, including taxes, financial regulation, food stamps and federal pensions.

The full blueprint can be found here. Reported by Zero Hedge 13 hours ago.

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UnitedHealth ups full-year earnings guidance but shares weak as healthcare bill scrapped

July 18, 2017, 7:50 am

≫ Next: UnitedHealth sees second quarter profits grow and ups full-year earnings guidance

≪ Previous: House GOP Unveils 2018 Budget: Here Are The Highlights

UnitedHealth Group Inc (NYSE:UNH) reported growth in second quarter profit, and raised its full-year earnings forecast today, but its shares fell after the Republicans scrapped a bill to overhaul President Obama's Affordable Care Act (ACA). The Minnesota-based company recorded a second quarter profit of US$2.28bn, or US$2.46 a share, up from US$1.75bn, or US$1.81 per share a year earlier, and above forecasts for US$2.23 a share. Excluding certain items, UnitedHealth earned US$2.32 a share, compared with US$1.96 a year ago. UnitedHealth also raised its full-year adjusted earnings-per-share guidance to between $9.75 and $9.90, up from between $9.65 and $9.85 previously. The group saw its second quarter revenue rise by 7.7% to US$50.05bn, beating expectations for US$50.06bn, with revenue from its Medicare business rising by 17% to US$16.7bn. The Optum unit, UnitedHealth's health-benefits platform, saw earnings grow 21% to US$1.5bn. OptumRx, the company's pharmacy benefit manager, saw revenue growth of 5.1% to US$15.8bn. The insurer's medical-loss ratio - the percentage of premiums paid in claims - rose by 20 basis points year-over-year to 82.2%.as a health-insurance tax deferral was offset by an improved business mix, product performance and favorable reserve development. But in early New York trading, UnitedHealth's shares shed 0.8% at US$185 after the collapse of the Republican party's push to repeal and replace Obamacare in the US Senate set up a possible repeal-only vote and clouded the path forward for President Donald Trump's other domestic policy goals. Reported by Proactive Investors 11 hours ago.

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UnitedHealth sees second quarter profits grow and ups full-year earnings guidance

July 18, 2017, 7:00 am

≫ Next: Top 10 Cities for Pet Insurance

≪ Previous: UnitedHealth ups full-year earnings guidance but shares weak as healthcare bill scrapped

UnitedHealth Group Inc (NYSE:UNH) saw its shares gain today as it reported growth in second quarter profit, and raised its full-year earnings forecast. The Minnesota-based company recorded a second quarter profit of US$2.28bn, or US$2.46 a share, up from US$1.75bn, or US$1.81 per share a year earlier, and above forecasts for US$2.23 a share. Excluding certain items, UnitedHealth earned US$2.32 a share, compared with US$1.96 a year ago. UnitedHealth also raised its full-year adjusted earnings-per-share guidance to between $9.75 and $9.90, up from between $9.65 and $9.85 previously. The group saw its second quarter revenue rise by 7.7% to US$50.05bn, beating expectations for US$50.06bn, with revenue from its Medicare business rising by 17% to US$16.7bn. The Optum unit, UnitedHealth's health-benefits platform, saw earnings grow 21% to US$1.5bn. OptumRx, the company's pharmacy benefit manager, saw revenue growth of 5.1% to US$15.8bn. The insurer's medical-loss ratio - the percentage of premiums paid in claims - rose by 20 basis points year-over-year to 82.2%.as a health-insurance tax deferral was offset by an improved business mix, product performance and favorable reserve development. In early New York trading, UnitedHealth's shares were up 3.3% to US$0.0802. Reported by Proactive Investors 12 hours ago.

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Top 10 Cities for Pet Insurance

July 18, 2017, 6:49 am

≫ Next: Sen. Lankford: Health Insurance Situation ‘Has to Be Fixed’

≪ Previous: UnitedHealth sees second quarter profits grow and ups full-year earnings guidance

PetInsuranceQuotes.com shares internal data and insights about the growing popularity of pet health insurance throughout the U.S.

Columbus, Ohio (PRWEB) July 18, 2017

Pet insurance, which is health insurance for companion animals, is growing rapidly throughout the U.S. Growth has been consistent across the country but appears to be gaining momentum faster in some areas.

Here are the top 10 cities in America for pet insurance quotes.

1. New York
2. Los Angeles
3. Chicago
4. Houston
5. Dallas
6. Washington D.C.
7. Atlanta
8. Boston
9. San Francisco
10. Columbus
New York City represents 2.6% of the total U.S. population but the Big Apple accounts for over 5.1% of all pet insurance quotes in the past 12 months.

"Pet insurance seems to be most popular in expensive, densely populated areas," explained Nick Braun, Founder of PetInsuranceQuotes.com. "Pet owners in these big cities see the value of pet insurance because the cost of veterinary care in those areas tends to be higher."

New York may be the most popular city for coverage but California is king when it comes to pet insurance.

In fact, The Golden State accounts for 12.7% of all pet insurance quotes in the U.S. Los Angeles (#2) accounted for the vast majority of policies within California followed by San Francisco (#9) and San Diego (#16), respectively.

There hasn't been any mass marketing for pet insurance yet, so the industry relies heavily on word-of-mouth. This partially explains why growth has been more rapid in big, densely populated cities.

About PetInsuranceQuotes.com
PetInsuranceQuotes.com is American's #1 pet insurance marketplace. The company represents all the leading pet insurance companies and is fully licensed in all 50 states. Reported by PRWeb 12 hours ago.

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Sen. Lankford: Health Insurance Situation ‘Has to Be Fixed’

July 18, 2017, 7:04 am

≫ Next: Paul Ryan’s Attempt to Be Cool on World Emoji Day Backfires

≪ Previous: Top 10 Cities for Pet Insurance

Speaking the day after the collapse of the Republican health care bill, Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) he’s still “optimistic” that some kind of repeal and replace legislation eventually will pass the Senate.

-- Reported by CNSNews.com 12 hours ago.

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Paul Ryan’s Attempt to Be Cool on World Emoji Day Backfires

July 18, 2017, 1:20 pm

≫ Next: UPDATE - Poll: Consumer Awareness of Health Benefits Insurance Plans Greater than All Other Obamacare Alternatives Combined

≪ Previous: Sen. Lankford: Health Insurance Situation ‘Has to Be Fixed’

Paul Ryan’s Attempt to Be Cool on World Emoji Day Backfires

House Speaker Paul Ryan is getting trolled with emojis on Twitter after trying to join in on #WorldEmojiDay Monday with a video explaining his emoji usage.

“Because my kids don’t think of me as an emoji guy, I go crazy on emojis whenever we text,” Ryan tweeted, followed by a string of emoji including the American Flag, thumbs up, laughing tears and “100” emoji and the #WorldEmojiDay hashtag.

*Also Read:* 'SNL': Baldwin's Trump Channels Nixon in Lester Holt Interview (Video)

Because my kids don’t think of me as an emoji guy, I go crazy on emojis whenever we text. ????????????????????❤????????????☘ #WorldEmojiDay pic.twitter.com/mohyz2Dt9e

— Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) July 17, 2017

But it looks like the American public doesn’t think of the Speaker as an emoji guy, either.

Twitter users got creative, using emojis to ask Ryan questions about the GOP healthcare bill, which has been crumbling because of lack of support.

One user responded: “A lot of people will die because of your healthcare plan,” using the skull emoji.

“Which emoji do you use for your healthcare plan?” another user asked, followed by the bomb emoji, skull and cross bones, nuclear sign, coffin and more.

*Also Read:* Paul Ryan Says Trump 'Was Very Apologetic' After Promoting Show That Slammed House Speaker

See below for a roundup of the funniest responses.

A lot of people will ???? because of your ???????? plan ????

— Jess Dweck (@TheDweck) July 17, 2017

Your ????⛑????‍⚕️????‍⚕️????plan will ⚰️⚰️⚰️????✖️????✖️????✖️????s.

— Stephen Falk (@stephenfalk) July 18, 2017

which emojis do you use to tell your kids you're trying to take away healthcare for millions of people?

— talia jane (@itsa_talia) July 17, 2017

Which emoji do you use for your health care plan? ????☠☢????????⚰????????????????????

— Nunca Trump (@EveryTrumpFan) July 17, 2017

You go crazy thinking about taking away health care & food from those in need & giving it to the rich. ????????????????????????????‍????????‍????‍????????♿️????but because u r ????????

— Ric (@rics2cents) July 17, 2017

Adorable! Do they know you don't think poor kids deserve healthcare? ????????????

— Dorothy T (@SpotTuma) July 17, 2017

Guess what these emojis represent: ????????????????????????????‍⚕️????‍⚕️????????????????????????#KillTheBill #ProtectOurCare

— Potato Bug (@grabback41) July 17, 2017

#Wealthcare In Emojis … ☠️????????????????????????????????????????????????????????️????????????⚰(x_x)☠️????????????????????????????????????????????????????????️????????????⚰(x_x)☠️????????????????????????????????????????????????????????️????????????⚰(x_x)☠️????????????????????????????????????????????????????????️????????????⚰(x_x)

— Liberally Blonde ????❄ (@ElGweebus) July 17, 2017

Here's some Emojis for your health Care bill ????????????????☠️☠️☠️☠️????????????????????????????????????????????????

— Snowflake_Guru (@A_Smart_Liberal) July 18, 2017

Millions off health insurance!? ????????????????????????‍♂️????????????????????????????????????????????????????⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️????

— Sam Dunn (@The_STD) July 17, 2017

How about you care about us and save Medicaid. ????????♿️

— Mark Herr (@markherr54) July 17, 2017

Your healthcare bill: ????????????‍♂️????????

— Seth Andrew ???? (@SethAndrewY) July 17, 2017

*Related stories from TheWrap:*

Jeanine Pirro Denies Conspiring With Trump to Bury Paul Ryan (Exclusive)

Paul Ryan Says Trump 'Was Very Apologetic' After Promoting Show That Slammed House Speaker

Trump Plugs 'Judge Jeanine'; Hours Later, She Calls for Paul Ryan's Ouster

Papa Roach Wins the Internet With Perfect Response to Paul Ryan 'Last Resort' Meme Reported by The Wrap 6 hours ago.

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UPDATE - Poll: Consumer Awareness of Health Benefits Insurance Plans Greater than All Other Obamacare Alternatives Combined

July 18, 2017, 8:46 am

≫ Next: What The Senate's Healthcare Fiasco Means For Trump Policies: Goldman Explains

≪ Previous: Paul Ryan’s Attempt to Be Cool on World Emoji Day Backfires

↧

What The Senate's Healthcare Fiasco Means For Trump Policies: Goldman Explains

July 18, 2017, 9:02 am

≫ Next: For the second time in less than 24 hours, Republicans' healthcare plans have gone down in flames

≪ Previous: UPDATE - Poll: Consumer Awareness of Health Benefits Insurance Plans Greater than All Other Obamacare Alternatives Combined

What The Senate's Healthcare Fiasco Means For Trump Policies: Goldman Explains

Now that Trump's hope to replace Obamacare is dead indefinitely following last night's mini rebellion in the Senate , and only the possibility of repeal remains although even that is not likely, pundits are asking what this means for Trump's overall agenda, and whether it will accelerate or further delay (or block outright) the implementation of any other Trump proposal, chief among which is budget resolution, increasing the government debt ceiling and passing tax reform. Regarding the latter, the stakes are especially great because as Bank of America explained earlier, "*there is a general consensus that without tax reform the GOP could lose their majority in the House."*

Still, for a market that has gotten used to ignoring everything out of Washington, if not virtually all newsflow, the reaction will likely be delayed because as BMO's Ian Lyngen writes, investors will likely “start looking at the issue more closely in the coming weeks, but don’t expect any visceral market response till the 11th hour from either Congress or the markets." Still, they warn that “the broader implications of this health-care failure may reverberate a bit more over time than markets may be currently assuming."

So while we wait for the market response, what happens next? Overnight Goldman's chief political analyst Alec Phillips writes that while Congress may still pass a health bill, it just won't be this one and notes that the "*enactment of much more narrowly-focused health legislation is still possible this year, in light of problems facing the individual insurance market for 2018*."

What is more interesting are Phillips' thoughts on the previously discussed GOP Budget which was released this morning, and about which he says that despite recent legislative setbacks, Goldman "continues to believe that a tax bill is more likely than not to become law in 2018, though there remain many unanswered questions."

Finally, the impact on debt ceiling negotiations, where as the CBO recently calculated the Treasury will run out of cash in mid-October. Here Goldman appears unduly optimistic, writing that "while there has been some discussion of a debt limit increase prior to the August congressional recess, we continue to believe an increase is much more likely to be approved in late September or very early October, potentially in combination with enactment of spending authority for FY2018, which will be necessary to avoid a partial shutdown of the federal government." On this topic, Bank of America released an interesting take on the upcoming negotiations, seen through the perspective of Game Theory, saying that "the risk is increasing that a Game of Chicken will be played out in Washington this September, with serious market consequences" and warns that only a crisis *"will bring about tax reform which in turn will be followed by a resumption of the Trump trades.*"

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Here is Goldman's full take, from Alec Phillips

*The Fiscal Policy Outlook: Still Waiting *

*Healthcare: Congress May Pass a Health Bill, Just Not This One*

Enactment of a broad health reform bill like the House-passed Affordable Health Care Act (AHCA) or the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA) pending in the Senate looks unlikely this year, but some type of health legislation still looks possible before year end. Senate Majority Leader McConnell has announced a delay of this week’s planned procedural vote on the BCRA, as a result of Sen. McCain’s (R-Ariz.) expected absence. The delay was a setback but the effort faces bigger challenges; as it currently stands the bill is short at least four votes—Senators Collins (R-Maine) and Paul (R-Ky.) announced their opposition last week, and Senators Lee (R-Utah) and Moran (R-Kan.) announced their opposition late on July 17. Additional opposition looked likely once the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a revised estimate of the effects of the bill: Senators Flake (R- Ariz.) and Heller (R-Nev.) are expected to face potentially competitive elections in 2018 and had not committed to support it, while Sens. Capito (R-W.V.), Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Portman (R-Ohio) are also publicly undecided and represent states that expanded Medicaid under the ACA, which the BCRA would repeal.

That said, passage of some type of health legislation within the next several months is still possible, for three reasons: First, while the BCRA looks unlikely to pass the Senate in its current form, it is still possible that Senate Republicans could agree to a different approach. For example, legislation that preserves more of the existing subsidies (to address concerns among centrist Republicans) in return for increased state regulatory flexibility (to address conservative Republicans) might be able to win broader support. However, with limited time to develop a new approach, the probability of such a strategy coming together is fairly low.

Second, a fallback bill that stabilizes the individual insurance market for 2018, among other changes, might pass if a broad bill does not. For example, it is possible that such legislation could be added to the legislation Congress is likely to consider over the next few months to extend various expiring health programs, such as the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP, which expires September 30), or as part of a broader fiscal deal around the deadlines this fall, discussed below.

Third, the political debate over ACA repeal is unlikely to end even if the current legislative effort fails. As discussed below, if the forthcoming budget resolution instructs congressional committees to cut spending and cut taxes, as looks likely, there may be an effort to revisit the cuts to Medicaid and repeal of some of the ACA taxes later this year or in early 2018 as part of the tax reform process. We are skeptical that such an effort would succeed, but it is at least possible.

*The Budget Resolution: Looking for Tax Reform Clues*

This week’s release of the House Republican budget resolution, expected Wednesday July 19, is likely to provide some clues regarding the shape of tax reform. The budget resolution is a non-binding outline of spending, revenue, and debt levels that guides congressional consideration of fiscal issues over the coming year. The budget resolution is typically of little interest to market participants, but it should be of greater interest this year because it sets the terms of the “reconciliation” process that Congress will use to consider tax reform. Specifically, tax legislation passed via reconciliation cannot increase the deficit by more than the amount the budget resolution calls for.

While no details have been released yet, we expect the House resolution to call for roughly “revenue neutral” reform, meaning no substantial effect on the budget deficit. However, “revenue neutrality” would be judged after accounting for two factors: dynamic scoring, which accounts for economic effects of fiscal legislation, and a “current policy” baseline, which excludes the cost of extending expiring tax provisions. Together these factors could make room for “revenue neutral” legislation that actually reduces revenues by several hundred billion dollars over ten years.

By contrast, we assume a net tax cut of $1 trillion over ten years. The White House has advocated reforms that would reduce revenues much more—the Tax Policy Center recently estimated the one-page proposal the White House released in April would reduce receipts by at least $3.5 trillion over ten years; some Senate Republicans in the Senate appear open to a smaller amount of deficit expansion.

Our expectation is that the eventual reconciliation instructions that Congress approves several weeks from now will be somewhat more generous than what House Republicans are likely to propose this week. Nevertheless, the fact that Republican leaders appear undecided on whether the tax bill should meaningfully reduce tax receipts suggests little chance that a multi-trillion dollar tax cut will be enacted and adds to our belief that the size of the eventual tax cut will be fairly modest, even if tax reform is not actually revenue neutral.

*Tax Reform: Still More Questions than Answers*

Despite the various legislative delays and setbacks, we continue to expect tax legislation to become law in early 2018. Over the next several weeks, the “big six” negotiators—House Speaker Ryan, Senate Majority Leader McConnell, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Brady, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Hatch, Treasury Secretary Mnuchin and National Economic Council Director Cohn—hope to reach an agreement on a basic shared framework for tax reform which can be turned into a formal legislative proposal by September. Our expectation is that this process is likely to take somewhat longer, and that the formal release of a detailed tax proposal is more likely to occur in October, after the deadlines noted above have passed.

However, at this point, a number of basic questions remain unanswered. The most basic two questions are whether tax legislation will be revenue-neutral and whether the changes will be permanent. These issues are linked, since under congressional budget rules tax cuts passed through the budget reconciliation process cannot last beyond the budget estimate window, which has traditionally been ten years. House Republican leaders have been the most insistent on revenue-neutrality, while the White House’s position appears to be most open to an expansion of the deficit. As noted above, our expectation is that the tax bill will ultimately result in a modest net tax reduction of around $1 trillion over ten years. If so, this might involve permanent corporate reforms combined with a corporate rate reduction and personal tax cuts that expire after ten years.

Other aspects of the debate have become somewhat clearer. With little apparent support in the Senate or the White House, the border-adjusted tax (BAT) appears very unlikely to be discussed much further and is unlikely to be included in tax legislation, in our view. An outright repeal of interest deductibility also appears too controversial, though it is possible in our view that an incremental limitation on interest deductibility might be included. Without the revenue from repealing interest deductibility, it will be difficult to finance full expensing of business investment, but we expect that partial expensing (i.e., bonus depreciation) for equipment is likely to be included. The corporate tax rate is the hardest to predict, but our expectation continues to be that a rate in the mid- to high 20s is the most likely outcome, if lawmakers hope to make their corporate reforms revenue neutral (and permanent).

*The Debt Limit: Probably a Late September Event*

Treasury has asked Congress to lift the debt limit before the August recess, but has also indicated that it could continue to meet its obligations through at least early September if the limit is not raised sooner. We continue to project that the Treasury is likely to have sufficient borrowing capacity until the first days of October (i.e., October 2 or 3), but agree with the Treasury’s assessment that the cash balance could decline to an uncomfortably low level in early September, prior to the influx of corporate tax receipts around the September 15 tax filing deadline.

While there has been some discussion of passing a debt limit increase prior to the August recess, this seems fairly unlikely to us. In theory, congressional Republicans could address the debt limit in one of three ways. First, the debt limit could be coupled with spending cuts and passed via the reconciliation process using only Republican votes. However, this would require the budget resolution (noted above) to be finalized, a process which will probably take several more weeks.

Second, a debt ceiling hike could be added to a popular or must-pass measure; Senate Majority Leader McConnell has raised the possibility of attaching it to an upcoming bill to fund a veterans’ benefit program, for example. While it is possible that the strategy could succeed, most such bills are nevertheless likely to come with their own political complications (the veterans’ measure, for example, has some Democratic support in concept but there are disagreements over certain aspects). Third, a “clean” debt limit increase would probably have adequate support to pass, in light of likely Democratic support, but Republican leaders are unlikely to allow a bill with significant Republican opposition to pass until the deadline is much closer, i.e., September.

The most likely scenario, in our view, continues to be that the debt limit will be raised around the end of September or early October, potentially in a broader fiscal agreement that extends federal spending authority past the end of the fiscal year on September 30, and raises the debt limit. Reported by Zero Hedge 10 hours ago.

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For the second time in less than 24 hours, Republicans' healthcare plans have gone down in flames

July 18, 2017, 10:41 am

≫ Next: U.S. Senate panel chair says will hold hearings on health insurance market

≪ Previous: What The Senate's Healthcare Fiasco Means For Trump Policies: Goldman Explains

For the second time in less than 24 hours, Republicans' healthcare plans have gone down in flames

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's back-up plan for his healthcare overhaul has already come apart less then 24 hours after he introduced it.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski became the third GOP senator to publicly announce an intent to vote "no" on a motion to proceed, a key procedural vote, for a bill that would only repeal Obamacare.

"I said in January that we should not repeal without a replacement," Murkowski told reporters on Tuesday. "And just an indefinite hold on this just creates more chaos and confusion."

Murkowski joined earlier defectors Sens. Susan Collins and Shelley Moore Capito from the repeal-only plan.

"I do not think that it's constructive to repeal a law that is so interwoven within our health care system without having a replacement plan in place," Collins said in a statement. "We can't just hope that we will pass a replacement within the next two years. Repealing without a replacement would create great uncertainty for individuals who rely on the ACA and cause further turmoil in the insurance markets."

Capito echoed similar concerns.

"My position on this issue is driven by its impact on West Virginians," Capito said. "With that in mind, I cannot vote to repeal Obamacare without a replacement plan that addresses my concerns and the needs of West Virginians."

Other members of the conference, including Sen. Rob Portman, said they were worried about the repeal-only method but did not explicitly state their intention to vote against a motion to proceed.

While the repeal would not go into effect for two years, theoretically giving Congress time to come up with a replacement, many experts predicted the uncertainty would cause chaos in the insurance markets.

Additionally, under a repeal-only bill, the Congressional Budget Office projected that 32 million more Americans would be without health insurance in 2026 compared to the current system.

The rejection of the repeal-only plan comes after Sens. Jerry Moran and Mike Lee announced they would vote against a motion to proceed on the Senate Republican leadership's repeal and replace bill, named the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA).

Some GOP lawmakers have suggested that the failure of the BCRA means they should work with Democrats to stabilize insurance markets and improve the healthcare system.

*SEE ALSO: The Senate Republican healthcare bill is dead, and it doesn't look like it'll come back*

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NOW WATCH: ABC calls out Kellyanne Conway over Trump Jr.'s meeting with a Russian lawyer after previously denying any contact with Russians Reported by Business Insider 8 hours ago.

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U.S. Senate panel chair says will hold hearings on health insurance market

July 18, 2017, 1:01 pm

≫ Next: US Senate to Hold Hearings on Individual Health Insurance Market

≪ Previous: For the second time in less than 24 hours, Republicans' healthcare plans have gone down in flames

Republican U. S. Senator Lamar Alexander, chairman of the health committee, said on Tuesday he will hold hearings in the next few weeks on how to stabilize the individual health insurance market. Reported by DNA 6 hours ago.

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US Senate to Hold Hearings on Individual Health Insurance Market

July 18, 2017, 1:18 pm

≫ Next: Senate Finance chair warns of insurance bailout without Obamacare repeal

≪ Previous: U.S. Senate panel chair says will hold hearings on health insurance market

Reported by RIA Nov. 6 hours ago.

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Senate Finance chair warns of insurance bailout without Obamacare repeal

July 18, 2017, 1:31 pm

≫ Next: Kentucky Residents Express Dissatisfaction With GOP Efforts To Dismantle Obamacare

≪ Previous: US Senate to Hold Hearings on Individual Health Insurance Market

U. S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch warned on Tuesday of dire consequences if Congress fails to repeal Obamacare, including the collapse of health insurance markets. Reported by DNA 6 hours ago.

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Kentucky Residents Express Dissatisfaction With GOP Efforts To Dismantle Obamacare

July 18, 2017, 1:40 pm

≫ Next: 'Repeal now, replace later' has immediate consumer impact

≪ Previous: Senate Finance chair warns of insurance bailout without Obamacare repeal

Hundreds of thousands of people in Kentucky got health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, but the state is also home to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell who's led efforts to kill the law. With the failure of the latest GOP attempt to replace the ACA, the state's voters weigh in. Reported by NPR 5 hours ago.

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