Impacts of Federal Actions on Extreme Heat and Health

Between 1999 and 2023, the number of heat-related deaths in the U.S. increased by 117%. KFF analysis of data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that American Indian or Alaska Native and Black people are at higher risk of experiencing a heat-related death compared to their White counterparts. Estimates suggest that heat…

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Funcionarios de California recomiendan que el estado proteja a los inquilinos del calor extremo

Citando las cientos de vidas que se pierden cada año por el calor extremo, funcionarios del área de vivienda de California están instando a los legisladores a establecer estándares de refrigeración residencial. Propietarios y constructores se han estado negando desde siempre a estas medidas porque temen que los obligue a tener que hacer reformas costosas….

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Federal Medicaid Spending Through State Directed Payments Nears $100 Billion Annually Across 41 States, With New Limits Set to Reduce Funding to States  

Forty states and DC currently receive $93 billion in annual federal Medicaid spending through state directed payments (SDPs) and may be at risk due to forthcoming limits on these payments, according to new KFF estimates. Annual federal spending on SDPs is highest in California (an estimated $10.6 billion)—followed by Texas ($6.3 billion), North Carolina ($5.2…

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DOJ Sues MA Insurers, Brokers Over Alleged Kickbacks

The Department of Justice has filed a complaint against Aetna, Elevance Health, Humana, eHealth, GoHealth, and SelectQuote, alleging that the insurers paid illegal kickbacks to brokers to boost enrollment in their Medicare Advantage plans. The post DOJ Sues MA Insurers, Brokers Over Alleged Kickbacks appeared first on MedCity News.

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Prior authorizations: why they matter and how to navigate the process

Health payers created the prior authorization system as a cost and quality control strategy, ensuring patients receive only the most necessary, evidence-based, cost-effective and quality care. Nevertheless, real-life implementation has shown that prior authorizations often backfire on their original intents, increasing overall care costs beyond what is necessary. It also delays patient care, contributes to…

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