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Sun Life’s innovative approach to mental health treatment

“Becoming a first-time mother has been incredibly exciting and fulfilling. However, I found myself needing extra support for my mental health,” she said. “There were several barriers preventing me from getting this, including cost. I was able to navigate my situation by working with a Mental Health Coach. A quick response and an action plan were what I needed and helped me to feel better.” Half of all disability claims for people under 44 are for mental diseases, making younger Canadians the group most affected by mental health problems. With MHC’s individualized and proactive approach, participants can take control of…
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UC San Diego Health Spotlights SMART Health Insurance Cards

highlights – First demonstration of the new QR code standard for health insurance cards. – New model will allow providers to scan QR code, verify its authenticity and ingest the data into their systems automatically. – Collaborating partners include UC San Diego Health, UC Irvine Health, UCLA Health, UCSF Health, UC Davis Health, UCR Health, Evernorth Health Services, Healthcare Financial Management Association, The Commons Project, VCI Coalition and CARIN Alliance. SMART Health Insurance Card Initiative During a digital health symposium this week, Christopher Longhurst, MD, with UC San Diego Health, pulled up a QR code from his phone’s digital wallet,…
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Ballooning cost of insuring undocumented immigrants complicating Illinois budget negotiations

CHICAGO — The $49.6 billion budget Gov. J.B. Pritzker introduced in February estimated the cost of a program that provides state-funded health insurance to adult immigrants who are in the country without legal permission at $220 million. [–Just three months later, that estimate has grown fivefold, swelling to $1.1 billion and threatening to blow a hole in the Democratic governor’s proposal for the budget year that begins July 1, the first of his second term. [–At the same time, revenue flowing to the state appears to be slowing, putting further pressure on Pritzker and the Democratic-controlled legislature as…
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FSRA Takes Action to Protect Consumers of Life and Health Insurance

Annual report highlights examinations of high-risk agents TORONTO, May 2, 2023 /CNW/ – Through market conduct supervision and enforcement activities, The Financial Services Regulatory Authority of ont (FSRA) is working to ensure life and health insurance agents are compliant with legislation, regulations, and that they are working to achieve fair outcomes for customers. In 2021-22, the FSRA reviewed 115 higher-risk life agents and the results are included in the first Life and Health Insurance Agent Supervision Report which is being released today. Annual reporting of life agent supervision contributes to public confidence through promoting transparency, disclosure of information, and deterring…
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Remarriage and Estate Planning – Rickard & Associates

If you are getting remarried, it is essential to understand your spouse’s inheritance rights. 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). Before you get married for a second or third time, you want to be aware of the rights your spouse will have to your estate and vice versa. You may want to work with an attorney to draft a prenuptial agreement, prior to exchanging vows. Then, you want to be familiar with the intestacy laws in your…
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Britain’s NHS has never seen industrial action on this scale

OnMay 2nd health-care trade unions in England finally signed off on a government pay deal. More than 1m workers in the National Health Service (NHS) will receive pay increases of 5% this year—with an additional one-off bonus added on for the previous year. But hopes for an end to the industrial action that has convulsed the health service in the past six months may be dashed. Two of the 14 unions to vote on the deal are still holding out for something better. The settlement does not include NHS doctors. Whatever happens, the strikes have caused over half a million…
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Integration of My Number and accelerating health insurance cards

With the government aiming to integrate health insurance cards into My Number cards in the fall of next year, medical institutions will be required in principle to accept My Number cards with health insurance functions starting this month. However, concerns remain among medical and welfare workers who worry about the possibility of people who don’t own My Number cards having difficulty seeing a doctor, or issues related to handling the My Number cards of patients and welfare service users. “If (health insurance cards are) integrated into My Number cards, the burden of safekeeping them will become incomparably tougher,” said an…
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Physician Contracting 101 – Rickard & Associates

Physician contracts are often complicated and have unique terms. We help our clients understand the terms and negotiate their contracts. 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). Many of our clients are physicians who are negotiating or renegotiating their employment contracts with their employers. Sometimes these are with health systems, hospitals, or small physician offices. We also have clients come to us with issues after they negotiated their own contracts. Physician contracts are unique, as they have standard…