Nov 13 (Reuters) - New York’s insurance regulator has formally notified a group of opioid manufacturers and distributors that it will launch a civil enforcement action against them for contributing towards a rise in health insurance premiums in the state, said two sources familiar with the matter. The New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) has sent letters to around 23 opioid manufacturers and distributors, notifying them that the regulator would begin the process to hold a hearing on the issue in an administrative proceeding, the sources said. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said in September the state would launch a legal action against drug companies and distributors that sell opioids in order to recoup about $2 billion in insurance rate increases that were passed on to New York consumers because of opioids. Premiums surged because insurers had to cover prescription costs and opioid-related issues such as emergency room visits and addiction treatments, Cuomo … [Read more...] about N.Y. insurance regulator notifies opioid makers, distributors of enforcement action -sources
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New Guide That Will Help Senior Drivers Get Cheaper Car Insurance
Photo: PRWeb Photo: PRWeb Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Image 1 of 1 Photo: PRWeb New Guide That Will Help Senior Drivers Get Cheaper Car Insurance 1 / 1 Back to Gallery Cheapquotesautoinsurance.com (https://cheapquotesautoinsurance.com/) announces a new blog post, “5 Useful Tips for The Seniors Looking for Cheaper Car Insurance” LOS ANGELES (PRWEB) December 12, 2019 Cheapquotesautoinsurance.com has launched a new blog post that explains how senior drivers can easily obtain affordable car insurance rates. For more info and free quotes, please visit: https://cheapquotesautoinsurance.com/5-useful-tips-for-the-seniors-looking-for-cheaper-car-insurance/ A person's age is extremely relevant to the insurance companies. After a certain age, the risk … [Read more...] about New Guide That Will Help Senior Drivers Get Cheaper Car Insurance
U.S. watchdog finds $6.7 billion in questionable Medicare payments to insurers
(Reuters) - A U.S. government watchdog is raising fresh concerns that health insurers are exaggerating how sick Medicare patients are, receiving billions of dollars in improper payments as a result. Health insurers selling Medicare Advantage plans to seniors and the disabled received an estimated $6.7 billion in 2017 after adding diagnoses to patients’ files that were not supported by their medical records, according to a report released on Thursday by the U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Inspector General’s Office. Inspectors found that Medicare Advantage insurers had added diagnoses for diabetes, heart disease and other conditions in 99.3% of chart reviews of patient information, even though they did not appear in records from doctors, hospitals or other medical providers. Insurers deleted incorrect diagnoses less than 1% of the time, they found. The additional diagnoses boosted government payments to insurers by an estimated $6.9 billion, while the deleted … [Read more...] about U.S. watchdog finds $6.7 billion in questionable Medicare payments to insurers
More people signing up for health insurance in California
FILE - In this Nov. 1, 2016 file photo, agents help sign people up for insurance through the Covered California exchange at their storefront on Beach Boulevard in Huntington Beach, Calif. More than 130,000 people have purchased health insurance through California's state-run marketplace for the first time, a 16% increase from last year now that the state is offering more money to help people pay their monthly premiums and will begin taxing people next year who refuse to buy insurance. Covered California released the numbers on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019 ahead of a Sunday deadline for people to purchase insurance and have their plans effective Jan. 1. (Nick Agro/The Orange County Register/SCNG via AP, File) less FILE - In this Nov. 1, 2016 file photo, agents help sign people up for insurance through the Covered California exchange at their storefront on Beach Boulevard in Huntington Beach, Calif. More than 130,000 ... more Photo: … [Read more...] about More people signing up for health insurance in California
A week before election, McSally focuses on border security
MESA, Ariz. (AP) — Senate candidate Martha McSally hammered down on her promises to strengthen border security and crack down on immigrants who commit crimes as she faces criticism over her position on health coverage for people with pre-existing conditions. With a week until Election Day, McSally held a news conference Tuesday in Mesa to publicize her endorsements from three members of “angel families” — people who lost loved ones at the hands of immigrants living in the United States illegally. She also said the caravan of Central American migrants in Mexico headed to the United States is awakening Americans to the dangers at the border. “This caravan just shows the insanity of the border crisis that’s happening everyday single day here in Arizona,” McSally said. McSally, a Republican, faces Democrat Kyrsten Sinema in the race to succeed retiring U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake. McSally has recently been accused of using the migrant caravan to divert … [Read more...] about A week before election, McSally focuses on border security
U.S. insulin costs per patient nearly doubled from 2012 to 2016: study
(Reuters) - The cost of insulin for treating type 1 diabetes in the United States nearly doubled over a five-year period, underscoring a national outcry over rising drug prices, according to a new analysis shared with Reuters. Insulin supplies are pictured in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., January 18, 2019. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri A person with type 1 diabetes incurred annual insulin costs of $5,705, on average, in 2016. The average cost was roughly half that at $2,864 per patient in 2012, according to a report due to be released on Tuesday by the nonprofit Health Care Cost Institute (HCCI). The figures represent the combined amount paid by a patient and their health plan for the medicine and do not reflect rebates paid at a later date. The increasing cost of insulin has led some patients to put their own health at risk. In recent months, anecdotal stories have cropped up from family members and patients describing the rationing of the life-saving … [Read more...] about U.S. insulin costs per patient nearly doubled from 2012 to 2016: study