From the monthly archives: February 2016
With three multiemployer pension plans moving to cut benefits, pension advocates are pushing to derail the law that made such steps possible before there are more, while other experts press for new plan designs.
The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp., the federal agency charged with insuring private-sector pensions, estimates that 1.5 million people are covered by severely underfunded multiemployer plans at risk of becoming insolvent. And the PBGC’s own program for backstopping multiemployer plans is projected to be insolvent in as little as 10 years. Continue reading
(Reuters) — Apple Inc. on Monday urged the creation of a government panel on encryption to help resolve a standoff over national security and data privacy that began last week after the technology company refused a U.S. government demand to unlock an iPhone used in a mass shooting in California in December. Continue reading
Rising Rate of Marijuana Use, with Some Evidence of Harmful Effects
Maxwell and Mendelson provide an update on recent state laws regarding marijuana and analyze available data on how those laws are affecting rates of marijuana use, attitudes toward marijuana, and other key issues. A few states have legalized possession/use of small amounts of marijuana, while several others have “decriminalized” marijuana. Most states now permit some types of “medical marijuana” use. Continue reading
Nearly one in five vehicles on U.S. roads is in need of repair of a safety issue serious enough to be involved in a federal government recall, according to used-car history provider Carfax. Continue reading
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama resisted paying for most telehealth services for years after their introduction.
The insurer, which holds a near-monopoly of the state’s commercial market, had cost concerns about the still-evolving technology that electronically connects patients with doctors and other clinicians. Continue reading
Federal emergency officials reported Tuesday a surge in the number of California residents who have purchased flood insurance, most likely in response to a rainy El Nino winter. Continue reading
When evaluating a new or existing health insurance program, your company’s contribution strategy is an important consideration. In simple terms, how much will individual employees pitch in for coverage, and what percent of health insurance is paid by employers? Continue reading
A big hospital chain’s surprise decision to write off a slug of bad debt may be a signal of much deeper consumer healthcare strains being caused by ObamaCare.
Community Health Systems surprised analysts this week, announcing that among other things, the company would take a $169 million provision for bad debt. The write off was a big part of Community’s dismal fourth quarter earnings report, leading to a 22% drop in the company’s stock on Tuesday. Continue reading
