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Kaiser Permanente Acquires Geisinger Health in $5B Mega-Deal

In one of the largest healthcare deals to date, Kaiser Permanente is acquiring Pennsylvania-based Geisinger Health and investing $5 billion to fold it into a new nonprofit subsidiary called Risant Health, which is set to purchase additional medical groups in coming years. While regulators still must review this initial acquisition, the marriage of Kaiser and Geisinger would create a behemoth with more than $100 billion in annual revenue — 95% of it coming from the Kaiser side of the equation. Like Kaiser, Geisinger both owns hospitals — 10 of them — and operates its own health insurance program. Unlike California-based…
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State alleges Health Partners illegally denied mental health coverage, says the company is cooperating

Updated: 2:00 p.m Minnesota officials hit Bloomington-based insurance and health care company Health Partners with a consent order for allegedly violating laws related to mental health parity. State and federal laws prohibit health insurance companies from evaluating mental health diagnoses or treatments more stringently than they do for other forms of care. “This is one example of our commitment to enforcing mental health parity laws and making sure that Minnesotans can get access to the coverage that they’ve paid for,” said Commerce Commissioner Grace Arnold. “We want to make sure that people have fewer barriers, and this is a way…
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Can Your Practice Afford a Data Breach?

Probably not. A recent study found that the total average cost of a healthcare breach is $10.10 million. 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). Can your healthcare practice afford a breach? Most healthcare entities cannot. Since 2020, healthcare breach costs have risen by 42%. As we know healthcare breaches are incessant, it is important to understand trends. The trends that have emerged over the past few years are: Repeat attacks. Many healthcare entities have seen repeat attacks.…
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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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Future-proofing the health and wellbeing of Canadian workplaces

The Benefits Together Conference Series provides a forum for meaningful dialogue on meeting the diverse health and wellness needs of employees TORONTO, May 4, 2023 /CNW/ – At an exclusive conference series in Halifax (April 19), Toronto (April 26) and Montreal (May 3), speakers and delegates came together to exchange thoughts, ideas and actionable strategies to support the health and wellbeing of today’s workforce. Alaina Mackenzie and Bernard Lord (CNW Group/Medavie Blue Cross) Hosted by Medavie Blue Cross, Benefits Together put access to care, mental health and diversity and inclusion into focus, while exploring the urgent questions and transformational trends…
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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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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…