Category: Health Coverage

Daily articles posted on health insurance changes for all lines of business. Whether you are an agent or a small business owner you will be captivated in how much this industry is changing in the United States today.

Health insurance companies can’t use AI for Medicare

Logan B.
Health insurance - Medicare and AI

Newly released federal guidelines say that artificial intelligence can’t make all the choices. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have released new guidance for health insurance companies to protect Medicare Advantage (MA) against bias from artificial intelligence (AI). The CMS is the federal agency overseeing Medicaid, Medicare and other programs CMS oversees the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), the Health Insurance Marketplace, Medicare and Medicaid. It recently issued a policy memo to insurers in which it banned them from using algorithmic systems or AI exclusively to decide on…

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New Louisiana Law Requires Insurers to Cover Smoking Cessation Treatments

Angela Linders
Lousiana Health Insurance News

Louisiana has taken a bold step in promoting public health with a groundbreaking new law. According to this report, the aforementioned law mandates health insurance coverage for six months of smoking cessation treatment. Historically, the state has been lagging behind in terms of providing tobacco cessation treatments and removing barriers to accessing treatments. In its 2023 State of Tobacco Control report, the American Lung Association scored Louisiana an “F” in funding for tobacco prevention and cessation and a “D” in access to cessation services. What this law means for Louisianan…

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Virginia considers mandatory health insurance for PANS/PANDAS

H. Cutner
Health insurance - Mandatory in Virginia

The “devastating” childhood illness can cost affected families hundreds of thousands for treatment. A bill in Virginia is being studied by the state Health Insurance Reform Commission for the coverage of treatment for PANS/PANDAS, a mainly childhood neuropsychiatric disorder. The examination of the bill follows a unanimous tabling in a House subcommittee earlier this month. The legislation was proposed by House Delegate Patrick Hope (D-Arlington) and would require private health insurance and Medicaid to provide coverage for PANS/PANDAS treatment in order to lower the cost families must face upon diagnosis.…

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Medical tourism industry suffers as health insurance companies stop paying some bills

G. Turner
Health insurance - Medical Tourism

Insurers have begun excluding certain procedures for patients out of the country. American health insurance companies have started placing a limit on the procedures they will cover for patients traveling to other countries to get them. Patients had been traveling to cities such as Tijuana to receive their medical procedures. According to the Tijuana Convention and Tourism Committee, medical tourism has plummeted as US health insurance companies have started limiting the procedures their policyholders are covered for outside the country. The new regulations implemented by the insurers are impacting both…

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Cost of health insurance premiums drives UD to seek more funding

H. Cutner
Health insurance - University of Delaware Funding

Officials from the University of Delaware have requested additional money from the state legislature. University of Delaware officials recently issued a request to their state legislature for additional funding to help them to cover increases to health insurance premiums. At the same time, the university is also seeking more money for providing state residents with scholarships. The funding would also help to support a dual degree program between the University of Delaware and Delaware State University. The funding requests arrived at the University of Delaware’s annual Joint Finance Committee (JFC)…

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