Michelle Andrews

Washington State Retools First-in-the-Nation Long-Term Care Benefit

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The WA Cares Fund program, which would provide workers in the state a lifetime benefit of $36,500, was set to begin collecting money through a payroll tax in January, but it was delayed while lawmakers made adjustments to address equity problems. Now the payroll deductions will begin in July 2023, and benefits will become available in 2026.

Despite Doctors鈥 Concerns, Pharmacists Get More Leeway to Offer Treatment With Testing

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In the battle against covid, pharmacies became a key place for consumers to seek vaccines and testing. Some states are expanding pharmacists鈥 work to include directly prescribing drugs for customers who seek some routine, point-of-care tests, such as those for flu or strep throat. But doctor groups oppose the move.

驴Por qu茅 Medicare no paga por las pruebas caseras para covid?

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Las mismas leyes del programa para los adultos mayores previenen que puedan comprar medicamentos de venta libre y obtener este tipo de pruebas sin una orden m茅dica.

Why Medicare Doesn鈥檛 Pay for Rapid At-Home Covid Tests

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The laws governing Medicare don鈥檛 provide coverage for self-administered diagnostic tests, which is precisely what the rapid antigen tests are and why they are an important tool for containing the pandemic.

Officials Struggle to Regulate Pop-Up Covid Testing Sites 鈥 And Warn Patients to Beware

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High demand for covid screening and scarce supply have opened the door to bad actors, and officials in some states are sounding the alarm about dubious street testing operators that could put people鈥檚 personal data, their health or wallets at risk.

鈥楾he Charges Seem Crazy鈥: Hospitals Impose a 鈥楩acility Fee鈥 鈥 For a Video Visit

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Facility fees, designed to help hospitals cover the high cost of staying open 24/7, have long rankled consumers. Now, some patients are assessed the fees while sitting at home for a telehealth appointment.

Empleadores ampl铆an beneficios de salud mental, mientras trabajadores luchan con el impacto de la pandemia

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Muchos empleadores informaron que desde que comenz贸 la pandemia han realizado cambios en sus beneficios de salud mental y adicciones. La principal forma fue extender el uso de la telemedicina.

As Workers Struggle With Pandemic鈥檚 Impact, Employers Expand Mental Health Benefits

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Many job-based health plans broadened their mental health and substance use coverage to make sure workers had the support they needed this year as pandemic stress lingered, the annual 麻豆女优 survey finds. Also, the proportion of employers offering health insurance to their workers remained steady, and increases for premiums and out-of-pocket health expenses were moderate.

驴No est谩s vacunado? Si falleces por covid tu familia puede quedarse sin beneficios

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La Autoridad de Transporte Metropolitano de Nueva York (MTA) ya no paga un beneficio por muerte de $500,000 a las familias de los trabajadores del metro, autob煤s y trenes suburbanos que mueren de covid, si los trabajadores no estaban vacunados al momento de la muerte.

Unvaccinated? Don鈥檛 Count on Leaving Your Family Death Benefits

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Some front-line workers who die of covid-19 have been considered eligible for accidental death benefits because it is presumed their infection was contracted on the job. But some employers now suggest that if the workers didn鈥檛 follow established safety protocols, such as getting vaccinated, those benefits may be denied.

Democrats鈥 Plans to Expand Medicare Benefits May Pinch Advantage Plans鈥 Funding

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As lawmakers weigh new spending provisions to cover dental, hearing and vision services for Medicare beneficiaries, a group supporting Medicare Advantage plans is airing commercials that raise concerns about the funding for those private plans.

Student Nurses Who Refuse Vaccination Struggle to Complete Degrees

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The Biden administration is requiring workers at health care facilities that accept Medicare and Medicaid payments to be vaccinated. For the minority of nursing students who have refused a shot, the new policy could mean they can鈥檛 get the training they need in a hospital or other health care venue.

Biosimilar Drugs Are Cheaper Than Biologics. Are They Similar Enough to Switch?

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Biologic drugs, made from living organisms, and the cheaper biosimilar drugs that mimic them are more complex than chemical drugs and their generic counterparts. The Food and Drug Administration says biosimilars are as safe and effective as the biologics, and doctors agree 鈥 but they are cautious about changing the treatment regimen of patients doing well.

Even in Red States, Colleges Gravitate to Requiring Vaccines and Masks

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As students return to campus, schools across the country are taking steps to enforce public health advice to keep people safe from covid. In deeply conservative South Carolina when elected officials tried to stop that, a professor took on the establishment and won.

Sign-Up Window for Free COBRA Coverage for Many Laid-Off Workers Closes This Week

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The most recent covid relief law offered federal funding to pay insurance premiums for workers who lost their jobs and opted to keep their workplace insurance through COBRA. But the window to take advantage of the subsidized coverage is closing: Many workers would need to enroll in the program by July 31.

Contraception Is Free to Women, Except When It鈥檚 Not

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The landmark federal health law required most commercial health plans to cover a comprehensive list of birth control methods approved by the Food and Drug Administration free of charge to female patients. But health plans don鈥檛 have to cover every option, and newer methods are not included in the federal list of covered services.

Adolescentes voluntarios se abren paso como futuros profesionales en hogares de adultos mayores

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Desde que se puso en marcha en 2006, el programa de desarrollo para la carrera en geriatr铆a ha ayudado a m谩s de 700 estudiantes de secundaria de 10 escuelas de bajos recursos, en la ciudad de Nueva York, a adquirir experiencia pr谩ctica en cuidados geri谩tricos.

Teen Volunteers Get a Foot in the Door for Nursing Home Careers

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A group of New York senior living facilities offer teens from 10 underserved schools the chance to volunteer and get free training for entry-level health jobs, career coaching and assistance on college prep.