WASHINGTON (AP) — The government says about 500,000 fewer Americans had no health insurance the first three months of this year, but that slight dip was not statistically significant from the same period in 2016. Progress reducing the number of uninsured appears to have stalled in the last couple of years, and a separate private […]
Reported by Seattle Times 19 hours ago.
Gov’t report: 28.1M in US lack health coverage
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Gov't report: 28.1M in US lack health coverage
WASHINGTON (AP) — The government says about 500,000 fewer Americans had no health insurance the first three months of this year, but that slight dip was not statistically significant from the same period in 2016. Progress reducing the number of uninsured appears to have stalled in the last couple of years, and a separate private survey that measured through the first half of 2017 even registered an uptick. Tuesday's report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found 28.1 million uninsured from January-March, or 8.8 percent of the population. That compares to 48.6 million people — or 16 percent of Americans — when the Affordable Care Act passed in 2010 under former President Barack Obama.
Reported by SeattlePI.com 15 hours ago.
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United States: The Instance of the Revealing Envelope: HIPAA Confidentiality Obligations Extend Beyond Electronic Systems - Poyner Spruill LLP
Violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) generally involve computer breaches or procedural snafus. But a recent incident involving a mailing by insurer Aetna illustrates that HIPAA obligations are equally applicable to paper communication.
Reported by Mondaq 13 hours ago.
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Govt Report: 28.1M in US Lack Health Coverage
The government says about 500,000 fewer Americans had no health insurance the first three months of this year, but that slight dip was not statistically significant from the same period in 2016.
Reported by Newsmax 12 hours ago.
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Life Flight Network Announces In-Network Provider Agreement With Allegiance And Cigna For Montana Transports
Life Flight Network announced today it has entered into an agreement with Allegiance and Cigna to become an in-network air ambulance provider in Montana.
Bozeman, Montana (PRWEB) August 29, 2017
Bozeman, Mont.- Life Flight Network announced today it has entered into an agreement with Allegiance and Cigna to become an in-network air ambulance provider in Montana. The announcement is a major milestone just days before Life Flight Network opens a new helicopter base at the Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport. Life Flight Network is now in-network with all major Montana commercial health insurance companies, including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana, PacificSource, Allegiance, and Cigna.
Life Flight Network is the largest not-for-profit air ambulance company in the United States. Being in-network means patients covered by Allegiance, Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana, and PacificSource will not receive a balance bill for covered services when transported by Life Flight Network in Montana. While Senate Bill 44 addressed air ambulance billing, a patient may pay more if an out-of-network provider is used when an in-network provider is available.
“Montanans deserve timely and affordable access to critical health care resources. This agreement represents Life Flight Network’s commitment to the people and health care providers we serve in Montana,” said Michael Griffiths, CEO of Life Flight Network. “Patients with commercial healthcare insurance in Montana can rest easy knowing we are in-network with the major providers.”
“Air ambulances provide a vital service in Montana. Bringing Life Flight Network into our provider networks is a major step forward,” said Ron Dewsnup, President of Allegiance Benefit Plan Management, Inc. “Hospitals, EMS providers, and patients should be concerned who provides their air ambulance transport,” he adds.
Life Flight Network has four aircraft in Montana: a helicopter based in Missoula, a helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft based in Butte, and as of September 1st a helicopter based in Belgrade. All three locations are staffed with highly trained flight nurses, flight paramedics, and pilots who are available 24/7. The teams provide ICU-level care wherever needed, whether from the scene of an accident or while transporting patients from one hospital to another.
ABOUT LIFE FLIGHT NETWORK:
Life Flight Network, a not-for-profit air medical service, is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS) and the National Accreditation Alliance of Medical Transport Applications (NAAMTA). Life Flight Network has administrative offices in Aurora, Oregon and is owned by a consortium of Legacy Emanuel Medical Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, and Providence Health System. Life Flight Network operates under its own FAA Part 135 Air Carrier Certificate. Boise-based fixed-wing services are provided by Jackson Jet Center. For more information about Life Flight Network, visit http://www.lifeflight.org. Reported by PRWeb 12 hours ago.
Bozeman, Montana (PRWEB) August 29, 2017
Bozeman, Mont.- Life Flight Network announced today it has entered into an agreement with Allegiance and Cigna to become an in-network air ambulance provider in Montana. The announcement is a major milestone just days before Life Flight Network opens a new helicopter base at the Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport. Life Flight Network is now in-network with all major Montana commercial health insurance companies, including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana, PacificSource, Allegiance, and Cigna.
Life Flight Network is the largest not-for-profit air ambulance company in the United States. Being in-network means patients covered by Allegiance, Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana, and PacificSource will not receive a balance bill for covered services when transported by Life Flight Network in Montana. While Senate Bill 44 addressed air ambulance billing, a patient may pay more if an out-of-network provider is used when an in-network provider is available.
“Montanans deserve timely and affordable access to critical health care resources. This agreement represents Life Flight Network’s commitment to the people and health care providers we serve in Montana,” said Michael Griffiths, CEO of Life Flight Network. “Patients with commercial healthcare insurance in Montana can rest easy knowing we are in-network with the major providers.”
“Air ambulances provide a vital service in Montana. Bringing Life Flight Network into our provider networks is a major step forward,” said Ron Dewsnup, President of Allegiance Benefit Plan Management, Inc. “Hospitals, EMS providers, and patients should be concerned who provides their air ambulance transport,” he adds.
Life Flight Network has four aircraft in Montana: a helicopter based in Missoula, a helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft based in Butte, and as of September 1st a helicopter based in Belgrade. All three locations are staffed with highly trained flight nurses, flight paramedics, and pilots who are available 24/7. The teams provide ICU-level care wherever needed, whether from the scene of an accident or while transporting patients from one hospital to another.
ABOUT LIFE FLIGHT NETWORK:
Life Flight Network, a not-for-profit air medical service, is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS) and the National Accreditation Alliance of Medical Transport Applications (NAAMTA). Life Flight Network has administrative offices in Aurora, Oregon and is owned by a consortium of Legacy Emanuel Medical Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, and Providence Health System. Life Flight Network operates under its own FAA Part 135 Air Carrier Certificate. Boise-based fixed-wing services are provided by Jackson Jet Center. For more information about Life Flight Network, visit http://www.lifeflight.org. Reported by PRWeb 12 hours ago.
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United States: Improper HIPAA Disclosure Results in Termination and Legal Dispute - Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart
The Kentucky Court of Appeals recently held that a hospital acted lawfully in terminating the employment of a nurse for violating the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).
Reported by Mondaq 10 hours ago.
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Coveo Cloud Platform Successfully Passes HIPAA Compliance audit and SOC 2 Examination
AI-powered search technology company passes rigorous security examinations.
San Francisco, CA, and Quebec, QUEBEC (PRWEB) August 29, 2017
Coveo, a leader in AI-powered search, announced today that the Coveo Cloud Platform was successfully audited for Compliance to the requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and successfully passed the Service Organization Control Type 2 (SOC 2 Type 2) Examination. The audits conducted by the independent CPA firm Schellman & Company, LLC further authenticate Coveo’s commitment to protecting customer and partner data within its technology stack.
The HIPAA examination performed on June 30th, 2017, surveyed the Coveo Cloud Platform on the Security Rule, which establishes national standards to protect individuals’ electronic personal health information that is created, received, used, or maintained by a covered entity. The examination also assessed the company's procedures following the Breach Notification Rule, which requires HIPAA-covered entities and their business associates to provide notification following a breach of unsecured protected health information.
The Coveo Cloud SOC 2 Type 2 examination was performed from July 1, 2016, to June 30, 2017 by Schellman & Company, LLC and was evaluated on Security, Availability, and Confidentiality principles. The SOC 2 Type 2 examination was designed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and is a highly trusted industry standard that assesses the controls at a service organization. Coveo joins an elite group of companies to have passed this rigorous examination, specifically evaluating the Coveo Cloud Platform’s security and protection from unauthorized access, availability for operation, and confidentiality of client information.
“Ensuring the Coveo Cloud infrastructure is built securely in order to protect our clients’ information is a matter of utmost importance at Coveo,” said Jean Lavigueur, Coveo’s CFO, Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and Privacy Officer. “Coveo’s successful completion of HIPAA and SOC 2 Type 2 is an affirmation of the high standards the company places on its employees and technology to ensure the safety and security of our clients information, especially in matters of sensitive data surrounding health records.”
About Coveo
Make business personal.
Coveo personalizes every digital experience for customers, partners, dealers, and employees. Coveo combines unified search, analytics and machine learning to deliver relevant information and recommendations across every business interaction, making websites, ecommerce, contact centers and intranets effortless and efficient. A Salesforce Gold ISV Partner and a Sitecore Platinum Technology Partner, Coveo partners with the world’s largest enterprise technology players and has more than 1,500 activations in mid-to-large sized global organizations across multiple industries.
For more information, visit http://www.coveo.com and follow our blog, LinkedIn,Twitter,and YouTube accounts.
Coveo is a trademark of Coveo Solutions, Inc.
Media contact
Carla Bragagnolo
PR Manager, Coveo
cbragagnolo(at)coveo(dot)com
418-263-111 x.2679 Reported by PRWeb 10 hours ago.
San Francisco, CA, and Quebec, QUEBEC (PRWEB) August 29, 2017
Coveo, a leader in AI-powered search, announced today that the Coveo Cloud Platform was successfully audited for Compliance to the requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and successfully passed the Service Organization Control Type 2 (SOC 2 Type 2) Examination. The audits conducted by the independent CPA firm Schellman & Company, LLC further authenticate Coveo’s commitment to protecting customer and partner data within its technology stack.
The HIPAA examination performed on June 30th, 2017, surveyed the Coveo Cloud Platform on the Security Rule, which establishes national standards to protect individuals’ electronic personal health information that is created, received, used, or maintained by a covered entity. The examination also assessed the company's procedures following the Breach Notification Rule, which requires HIPAA-covered entities and their business associates to provide notification following a breach of unsecured protected health information.
The Coveo Cloud SOC 2 Type 2 examination was performed from July 1, 2016, to June 30, 2017 by Schellman & Company, LLC and was evaluated on Security, Availability, and Confidentiality principles. The SOC 2 Type 2 examination was designed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and is a highly trusted industry standard that assesses the controls at a service organization. Coveo joins an elite group of companies to have passed this rigorous examination, specifically evaluating the Coveo Cloud Platform’s security and protection from unauthorized access, availability for operation, and confidentiality of client information.
“Ensuring the Coveo Cloud infrastructure is built securely in order to protect our clients’ information is a matter of utmost importance at Coveo,” said Jean Lavigueur, Coveo’s CFO, Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and Privacy Officer. “Coveo’s successful completion of HIPAA and SOC 2 Type 2 is an affirmation of the high standards the company places on its employees and technology to ensure the safety and security of our clients information, especially in matters of sensitive data surrounding health records.”
About Coveo
Make business personal.
Coveo personalizes every digital experience for customers, partners, dealers, and employees. Coveo combines unified search, analytics and machine learning to deliver relevant information and recommendations across every business interaction, making websites, ecommerce, contact centers and intranets effortless and efficient. A Salesforce Gold ISV Partner and a Sitecore Platinum Technology Partner, Coveo partners with the world’s largest enterprise technology players and has more than 1,500 activations in mid-to-large sized global organizations across multiple industries.
For more information, visit http://www.coveo.com and follow our blog, LinkedIn,Twitter,and YouTube accounts.
Coveo is a trademark of Coveo Solutions, Inc.
Media contact
Carla Bragagnolo
PR Manager, Coveo
cbragagnolo(at)coveo(dot)com
418-263-111 x.2679 Reported by PRWeb 10 hours ago.
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Hurricane Harvey throws another wrinkle into Congress' wild 'budget brawl'
As the storm Harvey devastates Texas and aims for Louisiana, local, state, and federal officials have already begun warning that the clean up and recovery effort will require a massive amount of resources.That effort will require action by the federal government and Congress. And it comes at a time when Congress is already facing down a series of fiscal deadlines that must be addressed by the end of September.
Before the end of next month, Congress must pass a bill to fund the government, increase the debt ceiling to avoid a financial catastrophe, reauthorize the federal government's flood insurance program, and reauthorize the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
Morgan Stanley's US economics team said Tuesday that there is a possibility the demands of the storm could end up bringing forward the deadline to raise the debt ceiling, as FEMA will likely an immediate influx of funding to handle the disaster.
There is only $3.3 billion in FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund, and while the agency could pull from other sources of funding, any additional large-scale funding would need to be appropriated by Congress.
President Donald Trump told reporters Monday that the government would do whatever was needed to help fund the Harvey response, likely meaning a appropriation from Congress will be necessary.
Increased outlays, however, would draw on the Treasury Department's already low reserve of cash on hand.
"If additional funds are appropriated without raising the debt ceiling first, this risks bringing forward the timing of the debt ceiling deadline, but it is more likely that these issues would be dealt with together," said the Morgan Stanley team.
Moving up that timeline may actually result in a solution to the debt ceiling earlier than anticipated.
Any additional disaster relief could be attached to a debt ceiling increase, making the combined package nearly impossible to vote against, Greg Valliere, chief strategist at Horizon Investments, wrote in a note to clients about the impact of Harvey on the so-called "budget brawl."
"Sources of Capitol Hill report that a massive hurricane relief bill may be attached to the debt ceiling increase, *which would make its passage certain – and relatively quick, by Washington standards," *Valliere said. "Or it may be attached to an overall budget package, avoiding a shutdown threat. We'd guess the former scenario is most likely; a shutdown threat can be deferred until December, when the budget will be resolved, as usual."
Such a package could also win over more conservative members of the Republican Party who were likely to vote against any debt ceiling increase.
According to Politico, adding the relief package to either the debt ceiling or a continuing resolution is on the table.
Attaching the relief funding to a six-month continuing resolution to keep the government open would, however, introduce another degree of uncertainty, due to Trump's desire to fund a wall along the US-Mexico border in any funding bill.
If Trump were to drop that request, it would likely have broad support, though the details of the package could be a snag.
A final option could be to roll the entirety of the issues together, something for which a handful of GOP members have been pushing.
*SEE ALSO: MNUCHIN: I am '100% confident' the debt ceiling will be raised in time*
Join the conversation about this story »
NOW WATCH: Here's where the most hate crimes occur in the US — it’s not where you think Reported by Business Insider 8 hours ago.
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Healthcare Edition Program Announces Winners, MAP Recognized
MAP was selected as a winner and Best in Show in this year’s Fierce Innovation Awards for its population health and patient engagement solutions for behavioral health.
Austin, TX (PRWEB) August 29, 2017
MAP Health Management, LLC., announced today that is has been selected as a winner in this year’s Fierce Innovation Awards: Healthcare Edition 2017, an awards program from the publisher of FierceHealthcare. MAP was recognized as a winner in the category of Population Health Management/Patient Engagement Solutions, as well as Best in Show for “Fiercest Engagement Solution”.
MAP was selected as a winner for its innovative, industry leading population health and patient engagement solutions for Substance Use Disorder and behavioral health. Winners were selected by a distinguished panel of judges from renowned U.S. hospitals and healthcare systems. The panel included Terry Booker, VP Corporate and Business Development, Independence Blue Cross (IBC); Roy DeLaMar, Internal Business Communications Manager, Cigna; Neal Ganguly, VP and CIO, JFK Health System; Deborah Gordon, VP Marketing Sales and Product Strategy, Tufts Health Plan; Jessica Grosset, VC of IT, Infrastructure and Operation, Mayo Clinic; Kurt Cwak, CIO, Proliance Surgeons; Roger Neal, CIO and VP, Information Technology, Duncan Regional Hospital; Todd Richardson, Senior VP/CIO, Aspirus; Edward Ricks, VP and CIO, Information Services, Beaufort Memorial Hospital; and Julie Slezak, EVP, Clinical Analytics, GNS Healthcare.
All applications were evaluated based on the following criteria: Competitive Advantage, Financial Impact/Value, Market Need, and Overall Innovation. Applicants with the top 3 scores in each category were selected as finalists. “MAP is honored to be a winner for this award and takes great pride in our mission to improve outcomes for the millions of people and families struggling with addictions and co-occurring behavioral health disorders,” said Jacob Levenson, Founder and CEO of MAP Health Management. To learn more about MAP, visit https://www.thisismap.com.
About FierceMarkets
FierceMarkets, a division of Questex, LLC, is a leader in B2B e-media, providing information and marketing services in the telecommunications, life sciences, healthcare, IT, energy, government, finance, and retail industries through its portfolio of email newsletters, websites, webinars and live events. Every business day, FierceMarkets' wide array of digital publications reaches more than 2 million executives in more than 100 countries.
To view all 2017 Fierce Innovation Award results, visit: https://www.fierceinnovationawards.com/fierce-innovation-awards-healthcare-2017
About MAP Health Management, LLC
MAP develops technology-enabled solutions that improve clinical and financial outcomes for chronic behavioral health disorders such as Substance Use Disorder. MAP empowers treatment providers, health insurance companies, health systems, and patients with the right data at the right time to improve clinical and financial outcomes. For more information, visit https://www.thisismap.com. Reported by PRWeb 5 hours ago.
Austin, TX (PRWEB) August 29, 2017
MAP Health Management, LLC., announced today that is has been selected as a winner in this year’s Fierce Innovation Awards: Healthcare Edition 2017, an awards program from the publisher of FierceHealthcare. MAP was recognized as a winner in the category of Population Health Management/Patient Engagement Solutions, as well as Best in Show for “Fiercest Engagement Solution”.
MAP was selected as a winner for its innovative, industry leading population health and patient engagement solutions for Substance Use Disorder and behavioral health. Winners were selected by a distinguished panel of judges from renowned U.S. hospitals and healthcare systems. The panel included Terry Booker, VP Corporate and Business Development, Independence Blue Cross (IBC); Roy DeLaMar, Internal Business Communications Manager, Cigna; Neal Ganguly, VP and CIO, JFK Health System; Deborah Gordon, VP Marketing Sales and Product Strategy, Tufts Health Plan; Jessica Grosset, VC of IT, Infrastructure and Operation, Mayo Clinic; Kurt Cwak, CIO, Proliance Surgeons; Roger Neal, CIO and VP, Information Technology, Duncan Regional Hospital; Todd Richardson, Senior VP/CIO, Aspirus; Edward Ricks, VP and CIO, Information Services, Beaufort Memorial Hospital; and Julie Slezak, EVP, Clinical Analytics, GNS Healthcare.
All applications were evaluated based on the following criteria: Competitive Advantage, Financial Impact/Value, Market Need, and Overall Innovation. Applicants with the top 3 scores in each category were selected as finalists. “MAP is honored to be a winner for this award and takes great pride in our mission to improve outcomes for the millions of people and families struggling with addictions and co-occurring behavioral health disorders,” said Jacob Levenson, Founder and CEO of MAP Health Management. To learn more about MAP, visit https://www.thisismap.com.
About FierceMarkets
FierceMarkets, a division of Questex, LLC, is a leader in B2B e-media, providing information and marketing services in the telecommunications, life sciences, healthcare, IT, energy, government, finance, and retail industries through its portfolio of email newsletters, websites, webinars and live events. Every business day, FierceMarkets' wide array of digital publications reaches more than 2 million executives in more than 100 countries.
To view all 2017 Fierce Innovation Award results, visit: https://www.fierceinnovationawards.com/fierce-innovation-awards-healthcare-2017
About MAP Health Management, LLC
MAP develops technology-enabled solutions that improve clinical and financial outcomes for chronic behavioral health disorders such as Substance Use Disorder. MAP empowers treatment providers, health insurance companies, health systems, and patients with the right data at the right time to improve clinical and financial outcomes. For more information, visit https://www.thisismap.com. Reported by PRWeb 5 hours ago.
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Pressure Grows to Fund Children's Health Program
State officials are increasingly worried that this year’s turbulent health-care politics in Washington could threaten funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program, a popular that usually wins broad bipartisan support.
Reported by Wall Street Journal 3 hours ago.
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CareFirst, Kaiser to raise individual rates by 33% average in 2018
Maryland's individual market health insurance rates are set to increase by an average of 33 percent in 2018, lower than the 43 percent originally proposed. The Maryland Insurance Administration approved premium rate hikes for individual and group health plans amid local and national debates surrounding climbing insurance prices under the Affordable Care Act. CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, which has about 75 percent market share and 177,000 members in Maryland, will see average increases of 34.5…
Reported by bizjournals 1 hour ago.
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After Hours: Business Journal's health and benefits event
A panel of experts discussed trends in the health care industry during a Sacramento Business Journal event on Aug. 24. The panel discussion at Arden Hills Club & Spa focused on the uncertainty surrounding the Affordable Care Act, the future of health insurance and technology, and the challenges businesses face in their benefits programs. Panelists Phil Jackson of Sutter Health, Laurie Rood of Benefits Done Right, Dr. Lars Berglund of UC Davis School of Medicine and Congressman Tom McClintock participated…
Reported by bizjournals 54 minutes ago.
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Pressure Grows to Fund Children's Health Program
State officials are increasingly worried that this year’s turbulent health-care politics in Washington could threaten funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program, a popular that usually wins broad bipartisan support.
Reported by Wall Street Journal 19 hours ago.
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United States: Payment Of Hospital Liens And Health Insurance Subrogation Claims In Third-Party Claims In Texas And California - Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP
In Texas, if a person is admitted into a hospital within 72 hours of an injury for treatment of the injury, both the admitting hospital and hospitals to which the patient is transferred have liens
Reported by Mondaq 10 hours ago.
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BenefitPackages.com Reveals How Anthem Blue Cross Members in California Will Lose Coverage in 2018
About 153,000 policy-holders in California will be affected by this change. Anthem Blue Cross will no longer offer health plans for 16 of 19 of Covered California regions starting in 2018. Anthem policy-holders will need to make a proactive change to find a new carrier and plan. BenefitPackages.com reveals how members will need to find coverage in 2018.
Calabasas, California (PRWEB) August 30, 2017
BenefitPackages.com, a leading health insurance agency in California reveals how Anthem Blue Cross will no longer offer health plans for 16 of 19 of Covered California regions starting in 2018.
About 153,000 policy-holders will be affected in California. Los Angeles being one of the main regions.
“If you live in California and have an Anthem Individual Family plan, your coverage will most likely end this year,” said Larry Hurwitz, President of BenefitPackages. “Ensure you maintain your benefits by reaching out to an agent at BenefitPackages.com to go over your plan.”
Anthem members who are currently holding policies through Covered California and don’t proactively make a carrier and plan change will be automatically migrated into the cheapest plan through other carriers at the same metal tier. Whether a policy holder has a PPO or HMO, it will not be taken into consideration. For example, if a member has a Silver Anthem 70 EPO plan, they will be migrated into the Silver 70 HMO plan if that is the cheapest available Silver plan.
If a policy holder is enrolled directly in Anthem Blue Cross (Not Covered California), then they will be left without coverage altogether. Current Anthem members will need to find another carrier!
Anthem policy holders are encouraged to shop for coverage and use BenefitPackages as a resource to help determine the best action plan for 2018. BenefitPackages will also determine if policy holders doctors and prescriptions are covered amongst the various carrier choices. Open enrollment begins in November, but members are encouraged to get a head start on finding the best carrier options in their area.
Learn more now at: http://losinganthem.com
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Losing Anthem was created to help individuals make the switch to a new carrier and plan in 2018. Contact us at 1-800-356-3615 for more information. Don’t be left without coverage. Reported by PRWeb 17 hours ago.
Calabasas, California (PRWEB) August 30, 2017
BenefitPackages.com, a leading health insurance agency in California reveals how Anthem Blue Cross will no longer offer health plans for 16 of 19 of Covered California regions starting in 2018.
About 153,000 policy-holders will be affected in California. Los Angeles being one of the main regions.
“If you live in California and have an Anthem Individual Family plan, your coverage will most likely end this year,” said Larry Hurwitz, President of BenefitPackages. “Ensure you maintain your benefits by reaching out to an agent at BenefitPackages.com to go over your plan.”
Anthem members who are currently holding policies through Covered California and don’t proactively make a carrier and plan change will be automatically migrated into the cheapest plan through other carriers at the same metal tier. Whether a policy holder has a PPO or HMO, it will not be taken into consideration. For example, if a member has a Silver Anthem 70 EPO plan, they will be migrated into the Silver 70 HMO plan if that is the cheapest available Silver plan.
If a policy holder is enrolled directly in Anthem Blue Cross (Not Covered California), then they will be left without coverage altogether. Current Anthem members will need to find another carrier!
Anthem policy holders are encouraged to shop for coverage and use BenefitPackages as a resource to help determine the best action plan for 2018. BenefitPackages will also determine if policy holders doctors and prescriptions are covered amongst the various carrier choices. Open enrollment begins in November, but members are encouraged to get a head start on finding the best carrier options in their area.
Learn more now at: http://losinganthem.com
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Losing Anthem was created to help individuals make the switch to a new carrier and plan in 2018. Contact us at 1-800-356-3615 for more information. Don’t be left without coverage. Reported by PRWeb 17 hours ago.
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Kuwait- Expat ... importance of health insurance
(MENAFN - Arab Times) In a wealthy country that enjoys security, opulence and high individual income, it is natural for the people ? in this case Kuwait, to live in comfort and sec...
Reported by MENAFN.com 12 hours ago.
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Julie O’Brien, AliCare Medical Management President Named Chair, New Appeals Standards Committee by ClearHealth Quality Institute
Accrediting body seeks fix to long-standing problems in health insurance appeals system
White Plains, New York (PRWEB) August 30, 2017
Julie O’Brien, BSN, RN, MBA, President of Alicare Medical Management (AMM) has been appointed by ClearHealth Quality InstituteTM (CHQI), to lead an expert panel comprised of a diverse group of stakeholders including health insurance industry leaders, employers, health care providers, and consumer advocates charged with developing robust but workable standards for health plan internal and external appeals.
“Ms. O’Brien is uniquely qualified for this new role through her leadership of AMM, recognized as the country’s premier medical management company for over three decades, and having served as the Immediate Past President of the National Association of Independent Review Organizations,” said Garry Carneal, CHQI’s founder.
“I’m excited to be part of developing an accreditation program that will bring much needed improvement to the health insurance appeals system through development of national standards. By bringing together a variety of stakeholders including industry, consumer, provider and other representatives, we’ll identify key areas to improve how health plans handle insurance appeals in a way that everyone benefits,” states O’Brien. “My organization helps clients navigate and manage very complex external and internal review systems; there is no doubt an improved roadmap will help consumers and improve health plan efficiency.”
According to Carneal, “A primary policy goal is to transform the current fragmented appeals system into one that is standardized, transparent, and provides more due process for patients when insurance coverage is denied. A majority of consumers don’t even know they have the right to appeal; a reformed system will ensure they know their rights.” Carneal has brought to market over 20 health care accreditation programs with four different accreditation organizations.
The Appeals Standards Committee is expected to convene its first meeting by September and will develop new standards during the remainder of 2017. The standards will undergo multiple levels of rigorous vetting, with a public comment period, beta testing with health plans, and evaluation by CHQI’s Advisory Board of Directors.
To learn more about the extensive care management services offered by AMM and how our expertise can help your organization promote clinical and financial outcomes for the populations you serve either directly or through private label services, contact us at (800) 863-8688 or email at info@alicaremed.com.
Our seamless 24/7/365 care management solutions include:· Utilization Management Services
· Case Management
· 24-7 Nurse HelpLine Services
· Expert Physician Review
· Appeals Solutions
· Readmission Management and Patient Transition Coaching
· Maternity Management
· Medical Claims Review
· Disability Management
· 24-Hour Network Referral
To obtain more information about the CHQI Appeals Standards Committee, including serving as a volunteer member, or other CHQI accreditation programs, please contact Julie Irons, Manager of Accreditation, at (410) 696-7634 or via email at info@chqi.com.
About AliCare Medical Management
AliCare Medical Management (AMM), a member of the Amalgamated Family of Companies, is a national leader in developing care management solutions that promote cost savings and patient satisfaction. AMM’s call center is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to provide maximum access and assure optimum program effectiveness. The company’s services include: 24-hour Nurse HelpLine, Utilization Management, Maternity Management, Case Management, Disease Management, Health Coaching and Wellness, Independent Physician Review, Medical Claims Review and Hospital Bill Auditing. AMM holds four URAC accreditations for Utilization Management, Case Management, Health Call Center and Independent Review. For more information, visit: http://www.alicaremed.com Reported by PRWeb 15 hours ago.
White Plains, New York (PRWEB) August 30, 2017
Julie O’Brien, BSN, RN, MBA, President of Alicare Medical Management (AMM) has been appointed by ClearHealth Quality InstituteTM (CHQI), to lead an expert panel comprised of a diverse group of stakeholders including health insurance industry leaders, employers, health care providers, and consumer advocates charged with developing robust but workable standards for health plan internal and external appeals.
“Ms. O’Brien is uniquely qualified for this new role through her leadership of AMM, recognized as the country’s premier medical management company for over three decades, and having served as the Immediate Past President of the National Association of Independent Review Organizations,” said Garry Carneal, CHQI’s founder.
“I’m excited to be part of developing an accreditation program that will bring much needed improvement to the health insurance appeals system through development of national standards. By bringing together a variety of stakeholders including industry, consumer, provider and other representatives, we’ll identify key areas to improve how health plans handle insurance appeals in a way that everyone benefits,” states O’Brien. “My organization helps clients navigate and manage very complex external and internal review systems; there is no doubt an improved roadmap will help consumers and improve health plan efficiency.”
According to Carneal, “A primary policy goal is to transform the current fragmented appeals system into one that is standardized, transparent, and provides more due process for patients when insurance coverage is denied. A majority of consumers don’t even know they have the right to appeal; a reformed system will ensure they know their rights.” Carneal has brought to market over 20 health care accreditation programs with four different accreditation organizations.
The Appeals Standards Committee is expected to convene its first meeting by September and will develop new standards during the remainder of 2017. The standards will undergo multiple levels of rigorous vetting, with a public comment period, beta testing with health plans, and evaluation by CHQI’s Advisory Board of Directors.
To learn more about the extensive care management services offered by AMM and how our expertise can help your organization promote clinical and financial outcomes for the populations you serve either directly or through private label services, contact us at (800) 863-8688 or email at info@alicaremed.com.
Our seamless 24/7/365 care management solutions include:· Utilization Management Services
· Case Management
· 24-7 Nurse HelpLine Services
· Expert Physician Review
· Appeals Solutions
· Readmission Management and Patient Transition Coaching
· Maternity Management
· Medical Claims Review
· Disability Management
· 24-Hour Network Referral
To obtain more information about the CHQI Appeals Standards Committee, including serving as a volunteer member, or other CHQI accreditation programs, please contact Julie Irons, Manager of Accreditation, at (410) 696-7634 or via email at info@chqi.com.
About AliCare Medical Management
AliCare Medical Management (AMM), a member of the Amalgamated Family of Companies, is a national leader in developing care management solutions that promote cost savings and patient satisfaction. AMM’s call center is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to provide maximum access and assure optimum program effectiveness. The company’s services include: 24-hour Nurse HelpLine, Utilization Management, Maternity Management, Case Management, Disease Management, Health Coaching and Wellness, Independent Physician Review, Medical Claims Review and Hospital Bill Auditing. AMM holds four URAC accreditations for Utilization Management, Case Management, Health Call Center and Independent Review. For more information, visit: http://www.alicaremed.com Reported by PRWeb 15 hours ago.
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5 Controversial Ideas For Shoring Up Health Insurance Markets
Lawmakers looking to stabilize the health insurance exchanges may consider a number of proposals — including pushing young adults off a parent's plan, or letting people buy into Medicare and Medicaid.
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United States: Senate HELP Committee to Examine Ways to Stabilize Individual Health Insurance Markets - Reed Smith
The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions is holding a series of hearings in September 2017 to focus on "actions Congress should take to stabilize and strengthen the individual health insurance markets."
Reported by Mondaq 13 hours ago.
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Blue Cross of Idaho Improves Customer and Employee Experience with NICE Solutions
HOBOKEN, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--#CX--NICE (Nasdaq: NICE) today announced that Blue Cross of Idaho, providing health insurance for approximately one quarter of the state’s population, has streamlined its contact center processes, increased agent engagement, and improved customer experience with a suite of NICE Process Automation and Workforce Management (WFM) solutions. Blue Cross of Idaho’s customer service team handles 1.4 million calls annually at its headquarters in Meridian, ID. In order to prov
Reported by Business Wire 13 hours ago.
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