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Opinions | I’m a doctor. My decisions are overruled by health insurance denials

Elisabeth Rosenthal’s May 18 Thursday Opinion essay, “Denials of health-insurance claims are rising — and getting weirder,” hit the nail on the head. As a rheumatologist, I see many patients who struggle to keep up with their daily activities and depend on access to necessary treatments to manage their chronic pain. Insurers’ prior-authorization policies amplify my patients’ struggle by building ineffective hurdles and delaying access to medications I know are best for my patients. More than 54 million Americans live with a rheumatic disease, and delays in their care can mean irreversible disease progression and permanent loss of bodily functions.…
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As Sudan war rages, the country’s health system nears breaking point

LONDON — When electricity shortages closed the Ibrahim Malik Teaching Hospital where Dr. Mohamed Karrar worked, he packed a bag with any medical equipment and medicine he could carry. “I posted on Twitter that I am an emergency doctor in Al Mamoura available at any time for anyone who needs me for free, along with my phone number,” Karrar said. The doctor is one of many Sudanese medical professionals working in neighborhood primary health care centers amid the ongoing conflict in Sudan, where rival forces are battling for control of the country. Cease-fire talks that could end the bloody conflict…
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20 American Cities With the Highest Uninsured Rates

In this article, we discuss the 20 American cities with the highest uninsured rates. To skip the details about the causes of rising uninsured rates and analysis of healthcare in the US, go directly to 5 American Cities With the Highest Uninsured Rates. The US is one of the most medically advanced countries in the world. Yet the country is notorious for high healthcare costs. While a major chunk of the population in the US remains uninsured for healthcare, the trend is changing and more and more people are coming to the health insurance net. In September 2022, The US…
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Broker warns rise in claims could trigger further hikes by health insurer

Further financial pressure is being heaped on hard-pressed families with the news that another health insurer has hiked its prices. Irish Life Health announced yesterday it was upping its premiums by 5% from July this year, its second increase in the past six months, adding an extra €400 on average to bills. It is the latest insurer to add to the financial hardships households are experiencing as Laya and VHI both announced increases earlier this year. It comes at a time when families are being squeezed on all sides by rising mortgage interest rates, grocery inflation and soaring energy costs.…
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Are You Prepared for an Audit?

The Federal Government is constantly auditing healthcare entities. A recent Michigan settlement resulted in prison time and a hefty repayment for violations of the False Claims Act. We can help you stay on top of the latest news that affects your everyday life. Subscribe to stay up to date. (To subscribe to our blog click here). If your compliance plan needs to be updated, now is the time. You want to make sure that your practice is protected so that you are not faced with a similar situation as a vascular surgeon from Bay City, Michigan. A vascular surgeon was…
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How do Americans in France register for public health insurance?

Reader question: How does an American apply for health insurance when moving to France? As a resident of France, having health insurance, either private or public, is mandatory. If you are employed by a French company and pay social contributions, you will automatically be eligible for (public) health insurance even if your social security contributions are on the job, and your employer should deal with this. The same applies in the case of doing self-employed work. However, if you are moving as a retiree or early-retiree, then part of your visa requirements will show you have a private health insurance…
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Minden ER to close in 1 week, but residents say fight for ‘safe and accessible’ health care not over

An emergency department in Minden, Ont., is slated to close in one week but residents say they will keep up the pressure on the province to make sure the closure is not permanent. “We are not statistics,” Richard Bradley, a resident, told CBC Toronto on Thursday. “We are determined. The only statistic we want to be is the town that saves its ER. We pay the same taxes as everybody else does. We deserve and demand that we have safe and accessible health care.” Haliburton Highlands Health Services (HHHS) announced in April that it would close the emergency department at…
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Workers value paid time off more than health insurance, the survey suggests

Paid time off is important to many workers.Kena Betancur/Getty Images More workers said paid leave was extremely important to them than those valuing health insurance. That was one finding of a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center. Almost half of workers who get paid time off don’t usually use up all their allocation, it was found. Workers appear to value paid time off even more than having employer-funded health insurance, a recent study found. The Pew Research Center report called “How Americans view their jobs” found 62% of the 5,900 people surveyed felt it’s “extremely” important to have paid…