Massachusetts State

August 8, 2024 – In a July 29 opinion piece in CommonWealth Beacon, John McDonough, professor of the practice of public health at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, wrote about how profit-focused decisions by companies including Steward Health Care, UnitedHealth Group, and drugstore chains Walgreens and CVS, are damaging medical care in Massachusetts. Here, he explains how the situation got so bad and how it might improve.

How for-profit medicine is harming health care

POLITICO

Both the White House and the Harris campaign have envisioned the savings promised by the negotiations as playing a significant role in the run-up to November's election.

White House set to unveil Medicare price negotiation savings

Georgia State

Seven insurers are exiting Medicare Advantage markets in 2025, a number that is likely to grow in the fall. There are 3,959 Medicare Advantage plans available nationwide in 2024. The average number of plans available to beneficiaries is 43, unchanged from 2023. Seven insurers exiting Medicare Advantage markets in 2025:

7 payers exiting Medicare Advantage markets in 2025

Delaware State

CBS News

The best state to retire in the U.S. is also one of the smallest, according to a new ranking. Based on its high marks for affordability, access to high quality health care, overall well-being and other categories, Delaware, known as the "First State," earned the top spot in Bankrate's annual ranking of the best states to retire in the U.S. In 2023, the state ranked No. 2, behind Iowa. "While you might not think of Delaware as a typical retirement haven, it has many strong selling points for retirees," Bankrate analyst Alex Gailey told CBS MoneyWatch. Bankrate ranked states based on their scores...

This state was named the best place to retire in the U.S.

WashingtonExaminer

The Department of Veterans Affairs predicts it will have a $15 billion budget shortfall, which would put disability, medical, and benefit payments to over 7 million veterans and survivors at risk. The shortfall is attributed to an increase in filing prompted by the PACT Act. For this year, the DVA expects to be $2.9 billion […]

Millions of veteran benefits at risk as VA deals with predicted $15 billion budget shortfall

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NewsNinja

One Walmart shopper is issuing a warning against buying meat at the massive retail chain—but the reason why isn’t strictly tied to Walmart. It seems that customers at stores such as Walmart believe it's acceptable to grab perishable items, such as meat or dairy, and then place them on any available shelf if they decide they no longer want them.

Walmart customer shares why they will never shop for meat at the store leaving viewers torn

“Private Medicare plans now cover more than half of Medicare beneficiaries, but how well they actually serve people differs from county to county,” Maya Goldman writes over at Axios. “Medicare enrollees living in communities of color and with high rates of poverty had less access to top-rated Medicare Advantage plans last year than those living in wealthier places that are majority white. These disparities could contribute to unequal health outcomes for seniors across the country as Medicare Advantage enrollment grows, particularly among seniors from diverse and low-income backgrounds. The geographic quality differences in Medicare availability drive home the longstanding point that where someone lives in America can determine the caliber of their health care options. ‘Nobody can really easily move to another location to get the health care services they need,’ said Jeannie Fuglesten Biniek, associate director of KFF’s program on Medicare policy. ‘It’s even harder for people who are Medicare beneficiaries.’ … Medicare Advantage plans offered in more disadvantaged counties were less likely to be rated 4.5 stars or higher, according to research published last week in JAMA Network Open.” Maya Goldman, “Medicare Advantage’s geographic disparities,” Axios.

Medicare Advantage worse in some places

A "record-breaking backlog" of pending actions has led to an estimated $1.1 billion in improper beneficiary payments, according to a new report. Experts say the Social Security Administration needs more funding in its budget to properly address a "customer service crisis." The Social Security Administration faces a "record-breaking backlog" of...

'Record-breaking backlog' leads to $1.1 billion in improper Social Security payments, report finds

Louisiana State

California State

Local officials and advocates in California are divided over Gov. Gavin Newsom's recent executive order requiring state agencies to remove homeless encampments on public property, leaving the homeless community caught in the middle and uncertain where they will go. In June, the Supreme Court ruled that punishing homeless people for...

'It’s mayhem and craziness': Californians react to Gavin Newsom’s order to remove homeless encampments

In a Wednesday interview with CNBC's Jim Cramer, CVS CEO Karen Lynch said she is taking responsibility for the company's Aetna insurance business after the most recent quarter missed expectations. "I'm taking direct ownership and am going to focus on the financial and operational execution of that business," she said.

CVS CEO says she's 'taking direct ownership' to fix Aetna insurance business

The Independent

 The head of the Federal Trade Commission wants to investigate whether grocery stores could do more to lower prices for Americans, as many shoppers continue to be shocked over their food bills. This month, FTC Lina Khan announced she would seek the investigation, during the first meeting of the Biden administration’s multi-agency Strike Force on Unfair and Illegal Pricing.Khan said that while the pandemic temporarily jacked up labor costs and caused supply chain disruptions, those constraints have eased, but “many items are still too costly, and many large grocery chains are still raking in enormous profits.”“We want to make...

FTC head wants investigation into grocery stores over inflated prices

Who: Plaintiff Erica Hampton filed a class action lawsuit against Mattress Firm Inc. Why: Hampton claims that Mattress Firm sells items on its website at fake discount prices to dupe consumers into thinking they are getting a bargain. Where: The Mattress Firm class action lawsuit was filed in California federal...

Mattress Firm class action claims retailer advertises fake discount prices

North Carolina State

Roxboro, NC

Town Talks

According to Travel alot, Roxboro, North Carolina, holds the unfortunate title of the most miserable city in the state. Several factors contribute to this designation, including high poverty rates, low median household income, and high crime rates.

North Carolina City Named The 'Most Miserable' In The State

Daily Times

Attorneys and people alike are parties to class actions. Many class action lawsuits nowadays occur from instances of data breaches. According to TopClassActions.com, many people have received notice from the Cash App company about their right to be a party in the class-action. Parties to this case may receive up to $2,500 for documented losses related to the data breaches. People can also be compensated for up to three hours of time lost at a rate of $25 hour.

$15M Cash App data breach settlement: Join now for compensation up to $2,500

HealthPartners, a prominent healthcare provider, has announced plans to withdraw from the Medicare Advantage plan offered by UnitedHealthcare starting in 2025. This decision will affect approximately 30,000 patients and marks a considerable shift in the relationship between the two healthcare giants. A potential coverage gap is anticipated for the affected...

HealthPartners to exit UnitedHealthcare’s Medicare plan in 2025

The Biden administration unveiled a new, multi-agency regulatory effort to target corporate practices that officials claim are designed to waste consumers' time and needlessly burden them with red tape. "In all of these practices, the companies are delaying services to you, or really trying to make it so difficult for...

White House launches broad new regulatory effort, as Harris prepares to unveil economic plan

Former National Economic Council director Brian Deese is advising Vice President Kamala Harris on economic policy. Deese is among a small group of advisors helping Harris and her team. Deese previously worked as President Joe Biden's National Economic Council director. Economist Brian Deese has begun advising Vice President Kamala Harris...

Harris economic policy draws on Biden White House alums Brian Deese, Mike Pyle

The US Sun

AMERICANS have the opportunity to claim hundreds of dollars through a medical device settlement. Those who have paid for or rented a specific Philips Respironics ventilator may be eligible for a cash award after the product was recalled. This class action lawsuit alleged that members endured economic losses related to...

Americans can claim $100 payments from $494 million medical device settlement – but you need to meet one of two criteria

Florida State

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Uncovering Florida

Most people are guilty of doing it at least once in their lives, many people do it by accident, some do it because they find it fun, and others do it for reasons like honoring loved ones. Regardless of the situation, just about everyone has released a balloon. The difference is that intentionally releasing balloons is now illegal by House Bill 321’s standards.

Law Signed By DeSantis Makes It Illegal To Release Balloons In Florida

Nevada State

Americans have the opportunity to claim thousands of dollars after personal information was leaked due to a restaurant data breach. Those eligible for free money from the Nevada Restaurant Services (NRS) don't have to show their receipts. Consumers argued that NRS had unauthorized access to systems and certain files. The...

Americans can claim up to $10,350 from restaurant data breach settlement – and you don’t need to show a receipt

NewsBreak

Healthy Returns: What drugmakers are saying about final negotiated prices with Medicare

Think a friend or colleague should be getting this newsletter? Share this link with them to sign up. Good afternoon! The first round of Medicare drug...

Healthy Returns: What drugmakers are saying about final negotiated prices with Medicare

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