Thứ Sáu, 31 tháng 5, 2019
Confessions Of A Reddit 'Karma Whore'
Confessions Of A Reddit 'Karma Whore'
My years-long journey to the top of Reddit's karma leaderboards has only made me feel more alone.
May 31, 2019 at 11:06PM
via Digg http://bit.ly/2JOO03H
A Happiness Researcher Relates The Ten Things You Should Do If You Want To Be Totally Miserable
A Happiness Researcher Relates The Ten Things You Should Do If You Want To Be Totally Miserable
Writer Helen Russell explains the building blocks of happiness in a TED talk.
May 31, 2019 at 11:04PM
via Digg http://bit.ly/2MoocgU
The Human Foot Is An Evolutionary Disaster
The Human Foot Is An Evolutionary Disaster
If there was some divine creator involved in the design of man, they were really calling it in when they made the foot.
May 31, 2019 at 11:06PM
via Digg http://bit.ly/2EX8dk3
[Question - Insurance] Can I stay on my parents Health Insurance plan if I am attending school in another State?
I moved from Michigan to Texas last year and the opportunity to apply for a Texas License is coming, allowing me to get instate tuition for college. My mother says that I will lose coverage on my current health insurance plan as well as dental. Albeit vague, is this true? Any sources I can show her if not?
NPR News: What's Doctor Burnout Costing America?
Doctors who feel burned out are more likely to cut back on hours or leave medical practice entirely. This costs hospitals and health care organizations billions each year, new research finds.
Read more on NPR
NPR News: 'It's Never Done This': Arkansas River Keeps Flooding, Testing Levees And Patience
The Arkansas River is rising well above its previous record, and it's forecast to stay that way for days. That's putting pressure on old levees, and making it hard for some residents to evacuate.
Read more on NPR
Heidi Fleiss Is Finally Ready To Rat Out A Client. But Why?
Heidi Fleiss Is Finally Ready To Rat Out A Client. But Why?
On the 20th anniversary of her release from custody, Hollywood's most famous madam invites The Hollywood Reporter to her desert bird sanctuary to spill a wild story, in the process revealing a bizarre and drug-filled lifestyle and zero interest in a post #MeToo image rehab.
May 31, 2019 at 09:05PM
via Digg http://bit.ly/30Xg3Dw
What 'Family Values' Really Means In American Politics
What 'Family Values' Really Means In American Politics
In talking about the family in American politics, neoliberals and social conservatives often find common ground.
May 31, 2019 at 08:05PM
via Digg http://bit.ly/2JRfUMD
NPR News: Richer Medicare Payments For Rural Hospitals Could Come At Urban Centers' Expense
The administration's proposed adjustment to the wage index, a key factor used to set hospitals' Medicare payments, could help rural facilities while hurting those in cities.
Read more on NPR
[Question-Other] Has anyone else had trouble with the "My UPMC" App?
I've tried to create an account multiple times and it always ask me all these questions then says that I will receive an email with a code shortly but then I never receive said email.
[Question - Other] Someone please tell me what is wrong with my arm.
[Question - Insurance] When choosing ACA plan: How valuable is not having to get referrals to a specialist, vs having to?
The cigna connect plan has more providers, but requires referrals to specialist.
The Bright Health plan doesn't require referrals to specialists, but has a bit of a smaller network here in Nashville, TN.
So how much do no referrals matter?
'Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare' Can't Decide Whether War Is Bad Or Badass
'Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare' Can't Decide Whether War Is Bad Or Badass
The reboot of the series is going for emotional storytelling, but all the gun fetishization might just get in the way.
May 31, 2019 at 07:24AM
via Digg http://bit.ly/2JN8PMT
Coconut makes my hair greasy
I put, what I thought to be, a very little amount of coconut oil in my hair. It looked very greasy and wet after it dried. I then washed it again with just water to try and get it out even more. It still looks the same, just a little better. It feels nice, just looks bad.
A Morbidly Fascinating Explanation Of How Leprosy Works
A Morbidly Fascinating Explanation Of How Leprosy Works
Millions across the world are still afflicted with the pernicious bacterial infection and yet there is still so much about how the disease operates that scientists simply don't know.
May 31, 2019 at 05:05AM
via Digg http://bit.ly/30UYUds
[Question - Insurance] Which ACA plan to pick (Tennessee)
I qualified for a special enrollment period and I have options of a few silver plans that I can pick between Bright Healthcare and Cigna.
Bright seems to have a smaller network but some pretty straight forward policies. I have no idea what the difference is between silver and perks. I've heard mixed reviews on cigna, but the $26.00 plan looks to have good benefits and wider coverage than Bright.
I have to enroll by tomorrow to get June 1 coverage and I really need it this coming month. I also will likely need a hernia surgery by the end of the year. Thoughts on which is the best?
Thanks in advance!
Here are the details on each:
Bright Health · Silver - $21.88 /mth
SilverMetal Level: Silver
- EPOPlan type: EPO
- Plan ID: 97906TN0010022
- Summary of benefits: https://cdn1.brighthealthplan.com/docs/2019-SBCs/SBC_97906TN0010022_06_20190101.pdf
- Brochure: https://cdn1.brighthealthplan.com/docs/2019-COCs/COC_97906TN0010022_06_20190101.pdf
Bright Health · Silver Perks - $22.90 /mth
- SilverMetal Level: Silver
- EPOPlan type: EPO
- Plan ID: 97906TN0010023
- Summary of benefits: https://cdn1.brighthealthplan.com/docs/2019-SBCs/SBC_97906TN0010023_06_20190101.pdf
- Brochure: https://cdn1.brighthealthplan.com/docs/2019-COCs/COC_97906TN0010023_06_20190101.pdf
Cigna Healthcare · Cigna Connect 150-4 - $26.00 /mth
- SilverMetal Level: Silver
- EPOPlan type: EPO
- Plan ID: 99248TN0060005
- Summary of benefits: https://www.cigna.com/static/www-cigna-com/docs/individuals-families/2019/medical/tn/907318-sbc-cigna-connect-150-4-silver-nashville-tn.pdf
- Brochure: https://www.cigna.com/static/www-cigna-com/docs/individuals-families/2019/medical/tn/907383-connect-plan-brochure-tn.pdf
Cigna Healthcare · Cigna Connect 75-4 - $68.50 /mth (Probably out of my price range as I'm on a limited budget)
- SilverMetal Level: Silver
- EPOPlan type: EPO
- Plan ID: 99248TN0060044
- Summary of Benefits: https://www.cigna.com/static/www-cigna-com/docs/individuals-families/2019/medical/tn/907323-sbc-cigna-connect-75-4-silver-nashville-tn.pdf
- Brochure: https://www.cigna.com/static/www-cigna-com/docs/individuals-families/2019/medical/tn/907383-connect-plan-brochure-tn.pdf
NPR News: Louisiana Governor Says He Plans To Sign Bill Restricting Most Abortions Into Law
Louisiana is the latest state where lawmakers have voted to ban most abortions with no exceptions for cases of rape or incest. The state's Democratic governor says he will sign the bill into law.
Read more on NPR
NPR News: The Regulations Allegedly Violated By The Last Clinic Offering Abortions In Missouri
NPR's Audie Cornish speaks with Dr. Randall Williams, director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, about the investigation he is overseeing into Missouri's only abortion clinic.
Read more on NPR
NPR News: Scientists Genetically Modify Fungus To Kill Mosquitoes That Spread Malaria
The modified fungus produces spider toxin that rapidly kills mosquitoes, raising hopes for a new weapon to fight a disease that sickens millions. But not everyone is convinced.
Read more on NPR
Do Humans Have A 'Religion Instinct'?
Do Humans Have A 'Religion Instinct'?
Are spiritual beliefs an inevitable consequence of human evolution?
May 31, 2019 at 12:56AM
via Digg https://bbc.in/2WeRAei
Kanye West Talks Mental Health In The Latest Teaser For 'My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman'
Kanye West Talks Mental Health In The Latest Teaser For 'My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman'
The new season of David Letterman's talk show premiers on May 31, on Netflix.
May 31, 2019 at 12:05AM
via Digg http://bit.ly/2EJOmVj
Thứ Năm, 30 tháng 5, 2019
All-American Despair
All-American Despair
For the past two decades, a suicide epidemic fueled by guns, poverty and isolation has swept across the West, with middle-aged men dying in record numbers.
May 30, 2019 at 11:45PM
via Digg http://bit.ly/2wrVotj
All-American Despair
All-American Despair
For the past two decades, a suicide epidemic fueled by guns, poverty and isolation has swept across the West, with middle-aged men dying in record numbers.
May 30, 2019 at 11:45PM
via Digg http://bit.ly/2wrVotj
'The Dark Crystal: Age Of Resistance' Looks As Whimsical And Wonderful As The Jim Henson Films Of Our Childhoods
'The Dark Crystal: Age Of Resistance' Looks As Whimsical And Wonderful As The Jim Henson Films Of Our Childhoods
The Netflix series will act as a prequel to the original film. You can returns to the land of Thra beginning August 30.
May 30, 2019 at 11:04PM
via Digg http://bit.ly/2WzZfD7
Sylvester Stallone Is Still Out There Kicking Ass And Taking Names In The Trailer For 'Rambo: Last Blood'
Sylvester Stallone Is Still Out There Kicking Ass And Taking Names In The Trailer For 'Rambo: Last Blood'
This trailer is at least worth watching for its use of a comically intense "Old Town Road" remix.
May 30, 2019 at 10:55PM
via Digg http://bit.ly/2W0zE1V
Eating Way Too Much Rice Almost Doomed Japan's Imperial Navy
Eating Way Too Much Rice Almost Doomed Japan's Imperial Navy
After the war, the Emergency Beriberi Investigative Committee investigated the disease's devastation of Japanese ranks.
May 30, 2019 at 10:36PM
via Digg http://bit.ly/2wuZdxG
Simone Giertz Recounts What Radiation Therapy Is Like — Oh, And Makes A Lamp From The Mask She Had To Wear
Simone Giertz Recounts What Radiation Therapy Is Like — Oh, And Makes A Lamp From The Mask She Had To Wear
The net's favorite vlogger/maker/master of sh**ty robots has been pretty candid about her experience going through treatment for a brain tumor, and she's not about to toss out a relic of all that time spent getting better.
May 30, 2019 at 09:20PM
via Digg http://bit.ly/2QCkzCv
When Is Dead Actually Dead?
When Is Dead Actually Dead?
As a doctor, I can keep somebody breathing even after brain death. How do I make the final call?
May 30, 2019 at 08:09PM
via Digg http://bit.ly/2XeN2AR
I'm A Former Elite Athlete And I Call BS On Tech's Obsession With Working Long Hours
I'm A Former Elite Athlete And I Call BS On Tech's Obsession With Working Long Hours
As a champion gymnast, I trained 22 hours a week. Now, as a startup founder, I see how dangerous ‘hustle culture’ can be.
May 30, 2019 at 07:02PM
via Digg http://bit.ly/2YX8omF
Alabama's Mortal Sounds
Alabama's Mortal Sounds
Lyrical derring-do and emotional complexity made way for mass appeal. Tone poems about rural poverty and romantic bankruptcy gave way to drum-driven, big-hook anthems. Alabama was more interested in making hits than making statements, and no country band ever made more hits.
May 30, 2019 at 07:02PM
via Digg http://bit.ly/2wrAiLD
Hunting down the true origins of the battle royale craze
Hunting down the true origins of the battle royale craze
From "Fortnite" to Japanese films to one novelist's sleep deprivation.
May 30, 2019 at 06:34PM
via Digg http://bit.ly/2HKhf5J
[News] The Skincare Line That Can Help You Achieve a Summer Glow
NPR News: Safe Or Scary? The Shifting Reputation Of Glyphosate, AKA Roundup
The world's most widely used weed killer was once seen as one of the safest pesticides. Now it is blamed for causing cancer. Yet the scientific evidence remains disputed.
Read more on NPR
NPR News: Old Fight, New Front: AIDS Activists Want Lower Drug Prices. Now!
In the 1980s, ACT UP demanded action from the U.S. government and got results with drama. AIDS activists today have fresh tactics for their new goal: a more affordable HIV prevention pill.
Read more on NPR
Crystal deodorant not working?
As it says in the title - I've used a crystal deodorant on and off for the last two years and most recently started again about three months ago. For the last two weeks, it seems to not be working as well and I'm finding myself getting smelly earlier in the day. I used to be able to wear shirts more than one day most of the time, but now my shirts/blouses smell before the end of the day!
Any suggestions? I like not having scented deodorant and really liked the crystal...when it worked!
Switched to natural deodorant...still sweating and staining? Help!
Like the title suggests, I made the switch to natural deodorant a few months ago because I was fed up with irritated underarms and bad pit stains from aluminum. I’ve been using Schmidt’s magnesium charcoal for about three months and I’m mostly pleased. It smells wonderful and I’m happy to be rid of the aluminum. Unfortunately I’m sweating about as much as I used to with regular deodorant, but my skin is overall much happier.
However, I’ve noticed I’m still getting significant deodorant/sweat stains on shirts, even brand new ones. I try to wear natural fibers and loose fitting clothing rather than polyester, but it’s still an issue. Despite diligently washing my clothes right away, I can’t seem to find a solution that works for my body and my clothing. I’m at a loss if it’s just from being an unfortunately sweaty person or if it’s the particular deodorant brand or if I’m not cleaning my clothing correctly or what.
Any other natural deodorant users out there have any tips and tricks to avoiding annoying sweat stains? Or can recommend some different brands you’ve found effective for reducing sweat and avoiding pit stains? TIA!
[news] Treating the complex grief of surviving spouses of veterans who die by suicide
Every hour an American veteran dies by suicide. Behind every one of them, a wife, girlfriend, partner and often young children are left trying to process the loss and their new future. Who cares for these survivors? How do we, as a country, honor them? Turns out until recently we weren’t. I'm a producer for Empowered Health, a podcast focused on navigating women's health, and in honor of Memorial Day, we just released an episode will that unpacks the parallel between those veterans who are traumatized by a comrade’s death abroad and the women who have a similar experience when they lose their loved ones at home.
After Kim Ruocco lost her husband, Marine Corps Maj. John Ruocco, she recognized first-hand the lacking of support for women in her position. Ruocco’s had a connection that was in the perfect position to help. Brigadier General Jack Hammond, the executive director of Home Base, a Boston-based organization in partnership with Mass General, that was successfully treating veterans with post-traumatic stress and complex grief. By June 2017, the Homebase team came up with an iteration of their program to be catered to military widows. In this episode, we hear from Ruocco, General Hammond, and Dr. Bonnie Ohye, director of the family initiative and an associate professor at Harvard Medical School, and hear how this unique two-week intensive program has given these women permission to live their lives again. Thought this group may have an interest in listening to the podcast:
APPLE PODCASTS | SPOTIFY | GOOGLE PLAY | STITCHER | LUMINARY | OVERCAST | WEBSITE
(if you want a 3-minute read version, we also have a sister column in Boston Magazine: https://www.bostonmagazine.com/health/2019/05/24/heroes-who-dont-wear-uniforms/
Why Ambition Is Overrated
Why Ambition Is Overrated
I used to be embarrassed by my lack of drive, until I realized that the strange moral value we place on overwork is sapping our lives of joy.
May 30, 2019 at 04:57AM
via Digg http://bit.ly/2KbcFyR
NPR News: AIDS Activists Take On The High Price Of HIV Prevention Pill
In the 1980s, AIDS activists demanded action from the U.S. government in a dramatic way, and got results. Now, they have a new goal: more affordable access to an HIV prevention pill.
Read more on NPR
NPR News: Rep. Seth Moulton Announces Mental Health Care Proposal By Sharing His Experience
Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., Iraq veteran and presidential candidate, revealed at a campaign event Tuesday that he was treated for PTSD after his deployment and he continues to see a counselor monthly.
Read more on NPR
Stop mouth-breathing and correct your profile with mewing! (with citations and before-and-after photos)
Mewing is a proper oral posture technique which seeks to better the orientation of the face and jawline by altering your unconscious, resting tongue position. By mewing, you are training your tongue to rest on the roof of your mouth and making it a part of your muscle memory.
As someone who did not find this intuitive at first, I’m surprised to find out that most people already naturally rest their tongues on the roof of their mouths. However, if you’re one of the few who don’t already do this, mewing might come as a revelation. Resting your tongue on the floor of your mouth is an abnormality which destablizes the opposing forces of the mandible and maxilla (the lower and upper jaw). It results in mouth-breathing, a longer face, a more hunched poise, and an overall worse appearance. Luckily, however, it can be corrected.
Before we get into specifics, let’s get one misconception out of the way right off the bat: mewing is not a new trendy thing in cosmetics to make you instantly look better. Rather, not mewing is the modern phenomenon making people’s appearance worse. Mewing is simply a form of corrective therapy aimed at bringing our tongue posture back to what it should be.
Trying to develope skin care products and could use some advice.
Tl;dr at the bottom.
Hi all, I just recently started transitioning to natural skin care products and am still very green about the topic. So far I've only made one body lotion. I really like it, but it is very "heavy" for lack of a better word. I have rather sensitive skin that tends to get pretty dry.
My current lotion consists of : 3/4 cups Shea Butter 1/4 cup Mango Butter 20ml Olibanum Oil 30ml Jojoba Oil
As I said it is pretty "heavy" which is nice for winter as my skin tends to get really dry. Now I am looking to make a lighter lotion that is more suitable for summer. Any suggestions are appreciated!
I also want to use oils to clean my face, but am not sure on what to do. I've read multiple threads that Castor and grapeseed oil are good for that. But I am unsure on how exactly to use them. Also, what kind of moisturizer is advisable after an oil cleanse or is it moot?
tl;dr: what butters and oils do you use to create a light summer lotion? What oils do you use for (face)cleansing? What moisturizer (if any) do you use after cleansing? I have sensitive, dry skin.
Thứ Tư, 29 tháng 5, 2019
Looking for the most natural brand shampoo [UK]
I have been washing my hair with bicarbonate of soda for two years and I will never stop singing its praises. I hate washing my hair with normal shampoo now - it makes it limp, greasy and dull.
However, my hair drying out has got out of control. I slather my hair in cocoa butter and oil for a few hours before washing and it seems to be doing almost nothing.
I used to use Kind Natured shampoo to give my hair a 'break' from bicarb. However, while I liked the shampoo I didn't love it.
I wondered if you people could give me recommendations of what sort of shampoos to buy, or at least what I should be looking for in a shampoo because I'm embarrassed to say I still don't know any of the science or language used. I started bicarbing just because a friend did it and said it helped control grease.
[News] Healthcare's biggest stories, week of May 29, 2019 - The latest on the drafted health reform bill in the Senate, the emergence of direct-to-consumer primary care, Nonprofit hospital tax exemption gets called into question, Google's AI platform Verily makes strategic biotech partners, & more.
Somebody get Mississippi under control.
1. Senators draft huge-ass bill aimed at big-time healthcare reform
They DO listen to us, sometimes.
The Senate released a bipartisan 165 page bill this Thursday called the Lower Health Care Costs Act. It’s designed to lower health care costs (ignore me).
Anyway, the bill is pretty comprehensive in its efforts to address all of the following hot-button issues:
Wiping Surprise Billing from the face of the earth with 3 proposed solutions:
1 – Independent, third-party arbitration to negotiate payments between insurers and providers (providers like this method);
2 – Payment caps/benchmarks for reimbursing out of network providers. This type of pricing method would target payments for services at a certain percentage of Medicare payments (e.g., “I’ll reimburse you at 200% of Medicare’s rate for that surgery”) or at the median in-network rate for those services, adjusted for the geographical region (insurers like this method);
3 – In-Network guarantee. This new proposal would require any hospital to guarantee/promise that anyone working there is also in-network with that patient’s health plan. The guarantee would also extend to laboratory and imaging testing, too (insurers like this method)
Interestingly, there’s no mention of bundled payments as a potential solution to surprise billing in the legislation. Originally, the Trump administration was pretty into tackling surprise billing via the bundled payment approach. It’s possible that bundled payments might get introduced in future bill iterations.
Also, here’s the general reaction from various healthcare trade organizations.
Other items from the bill included the following:
- Reforming Drug pricing:
- An easier ability for generic drugs to get to market, which would increase the supply of generic drugs and hopefully lower costs;
- A stricter drug patent law, meaning that companies wouldn’t be able to hold onto exclusive ‘brand-name’ drug patents as long;
- Increasing pharmacy benefit management (PBM) price transparency:
- Requiring PBMs to provide quarterly reports that would include information on drug costs, fees received, and rebates detail;
- Eliminating the drug rebate (i.e., requiring 100% of the discount to be passed along to patients);
- These changes are actually pretty dang substantial.
- Creating an entity to manage claims data (i.e., the details behind a hospital or physician visit – this would be a BIG first)
- Increasing vaccination education;
- Granting funding for infant mortality, postpartum treatment, and healthcare professional discrimination training; and
- Improving privacy laws concerning HIPAA info online.
The bigger picture.
As you can probably tell, there’s a ton of healthcare change packed into this one bill. So it’s more than likely a bit ambitious to think that all of this will get passed at once, especially with the presidential election looming in 2020 and other bills circulating. Still, it’s interesting to note how Congress is approaching these issues and the attention that healthcare is receiving overall.
Keep an eye on the expected vote date, which is expected to take place sometime in July. Also, there are a few other senators whipping up their own healthcare bill, so stay posted…
Trump’s Big Healthcare Stick
Not to be outdone by his colleagues in Congress, Trump and the dream team are planning an executive order on healthcare, which is a bit skimpy on details, but lays out ambitious changes to the system. Most people expect the order to include increased disclosures of cost data among insurers and providers along with tackling local health system monopolies that could be driving up prices in their markets.
2. Is Direct-to-Consumer the future of Primary Care?
Add that to my Netflix subscription.
Forget Trump: there’s yet another healthcare model making its way into headlines. Direct primary care is gaining traction among physicians in several states.
How it works.
Rather than working through insurance plans and billing indirectly for primary care services, direct primary care practices will charge patients a monthly membership fee up front. It varies from site to site, but that membership fee covers pretty much every ‘routine’ service – including various forms of testing.
According to the Wall Street Journal, cutting out the insurance plan and having patients deal directly with providers may help to lower drug costs, testing costs, and increase transparency. One flat fee – no billing, no co-pays.
Keep an eye on the potential trend here. There are plenty of healthcare startups (not just in primary care) that are targeting direct-to-consumer strategies. Don’t forget though – there are plenty of growing pains with DTC healthcare.
3. The latest beef: are nonprofit hospitals getting too much of a break?
Tax Exempt in Limbo.
Add nonprofit hospital systems to the list of healthcare folks getting put under the microscope. Senators (specifically, Chuck Grassley if you care) noticed that the amount of dollars spent on charity care is decreasing, while hospital margins appear to be doing pretty well. Don’t tell that to Johns Hopkins, though, which decided to sue low income patients for medical debt.
You’re getting an audit.
As a result, the Senate is asking the IRS to investigate nonprofit hospitals. Specifically, they want the IRS to check into whether nonprofit health systems have enough oversight when it comes to their required charity care spending. What are those nonprofit health systems actually spending funds on? Hopefully patient care!
Arguably, nonprofit hospitals should, in theory, be doing worse, relative to their for-profit brothers. Think about it – the tax cuts enacted a few years ago only benefited for-profit health systems, giving these profit-driven systems extra cash to work with in lieu of the income tax they were previously paying.
Anyway, the AHA (of course) had a prepared statement over the spat, arguing that hospital charity care more than covered the required amounts.
4. Google’s AI making healthcare headlines
Google is Verily excited about this.
Google’s healthcare AI platform, Verily, made headlines this week by announcing several partnerships with big-name pharmaceutical companies including Novartis and Pfizer. It’s the latest push by big-tech as the firms try to break into the stubborn healthcare space.
From the partnership, Verily and Google are looking to enter the business of clinical trials, including developing drug algorithms and aggregating E H R / wearable data to find new potential therapies and trial candidates.
On the other side of health IT, Google’s lung screening software showed serious promise in finding lung cancer, with a 94% success rate. The algorithm could turn into a very powerful tool at the hands of radiologists.
In other A.I. news, could robots be a boon to therapists when it comes to children with autism?
5. Healthcare Price Inflation Update
To the moon.
A recent report by Modern Healthcare highlighted healthcare inflation in various subsectors. Notably, healthcare services prices in April grew at a 2.3% rate, which was slightly above the rate of inflation. The real kicker here, though, was inflation in the health insurance sector. Over the past 12 months, health insurance prices grew at a whopping 10.7% rate.
This rate tells us how much insurers have been retaining (as profits, administrative cost, or re-distributions after factoring in the regulated medical loss ratio). If a managed care company does not meet the medical loss threshold, that company must issue rebates to their plan members to make up for ‘overcharging’ on premiums.
The hell happened?
Altarum, a consulting firm, thinks that premiums were much higher than expected claims for the year, which led to decreases in insurers’ medical loss ratios. Expected rebates that insurers must pay out are continuing to rise as managed care profits skyrocket.
Bonus: Quick Hits
- State highlights: Colorado is becoming the first state to cap the price of insulin at no more than $100. Connecticut decided to follow Washington’s footsteps to develop a public insurance option. Kansas, in particular, is getting hit hard by rural hospital closures. California, like most states, is dealing with a physician shortage, but physicians might be the ones keeping it that way? On another physician note, they don’t really like to stay in rural areas.
- The FDA just approved the most expensive drug on the planet. Haven, everyone’s favorite mysterious startup, just lost its COO. Speaking of Amazon joint ventures, the e-commerce giant is working on a device that can…read human emotions. I like to think that it’s a smart mood ring. We’re long overdue for one of those, aren’t we? The biggest healthcare brand name is UnitedHealth. Here’s the rest of the list.
- Here’s a nice long-form piece from Fortune about CVS and the company’s vision for the future of healthcare. Right before Peloton Therapeutics (no, not the bike company) went public, Merck snatched the biotech startup for $2.25 billion in cash and future incentives. Did someone say snatching? In an interesting development, Blue Cross is taking a page from UnitedHealth’s book and scooping up physician practices nationwide. And the WSJ is bullish on healthcare stocks, citing cheap valuations(paywall).
Thanks for reading! As always, you can read past editions HERE, and if you want to receive these via e-mail, that’s HERE.
Let me know if I missed anything.
Measles for the One Percent
Measles for the One Percent
Vaccines, Waldorf schools and the problem with liberal Luddites.
May 29, 2019 at 09:28PM
via Digg http://bit.ly/2JMad2i
NPR News: In Yemen Conflict, Some See A New Age Of Drone Warfare
Iran has been developing drones for both itself and its proxies. In recent months those drones have been used for targeted assassinations, military strikes and to sew chaos in the region.
Read more on NPR
[news] The Other Reasons Kids Aren't Getting Vaccinations: Poverty And Health Care Access
All Elite Wrestling's Fantastic First Show Proves that Wrestling's Future Lies in Its Past
All Elite Wrestling's Fantastic First Show Proves that Wrestling's Future Lies in Its Past
With its upcoming weekly show on TNT still months away, AEW's Double or Nothing was a true beginning, ground zero for an exciting new company that's directly challenging WWE's long domination of the American market, and it's hard to see how it could've gone any better.
May 29, 2019 at 08:03PM
via Digg http://bit.ly/2WqhSJN
The Grateful Dead's Bob Weir Will Not Rest
The Grateful Dead's Bob Weir Will Not Rest
"My whole life is constantly trying to shove ten pounds of rats into a five-pound bag."
May 29, 2019 at 06:47PM
via Digg http://bit.ly/2QBG8mU
Jon Hamm And David Tennant Answer The Most Commonly Googled Questions About Themselves
Jon Hamm And David Tennant Answer The Most Commonly Googled Questions About Themselves
Why on earth are people on the internet asking if David Tennant is related to Charlie Sheen?
May 29, 2019 at 06:47PM
via Digg http://bit.ly/2KgI7Ml
How Tech Helped Create A New Erectile Dysfunction Crisis
How Tech Helped Create A New Erectile Dysfunction Crisis
Startups are exploiting the market Viagra created, but experts are wary.
May 29, 2019 at 06:47PM
via Digg http://bit.ly/2VXpaQH
No shampoo
I stopped using shampoo about two weeks ago. So far I have only good things to say about it. Except that I do a coconut oil mask at least once a week which cleans all the debris out of my hair and makes it healthy, but also leaves my hair very greasy for a few days; it takes a few rinses to get it all out. This I can live with, I just plan the mask around days when I don't see any people. The problem is that I like to swim in the ocean often, the only way I have found, other than going back to shampoo, to get salt out of my hair is the coconut mask, which I would rather not do every day for obvious reasons. So my question to you is, how can I get salt out of my hair without shampooing?
NPR News: Mired In Medical Debt? Federal Rule Changes Proposed For Bill Collectors
More than half of Americans contacted about an overdue bill said it related to medical debt. Some consumer advocates say newly proposed limits on debt collectors don't do enough.
Read more on NPR
[Question - Other] No History on Wikipedia for US Healthcare?
So I searched "Healthcare In The United States" on Wikipedia hoping to find some statistics on healthcare from over the past 50 years or so. Things like the average cost of it and how many people were without it over certain periods of time. When you click on the history tab, there is nothing there... It says "this section is empty."
I don't understand why there's no history showing. The furthest the provided statistics on the rest of the wiki page only go back to 1990 from what I read. Does anyone know where I can find studies or research that breaks down what I'm seeking from over the past 60 years?
On Pooping in the Dark—No Lights, No Phones, No Distractions
On Pooping in the Dark—No Lights, No Phones, No Distractions
A bowel movement, above all human projects, is the body's way of making time for the mind to roam.
May 29, 2019 at 07:41AM
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Nation's first opioid trial could set precedent for massive pharma payouts
Nation's first opioid trial could set precedent for massive pharma payouts
A trial kicking off in Norman, Oklahoma, on Tuesday will provide an unprecedented examination of how the country spiraled into a devastating opioid epidemic — and could indicate to what degree drug companies accused of fueling the crisis will be held responsible in hundreds of other lawsuits still pending across the country.
May 29, 2019 at 07:41AM
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We need worms
We need worms
You might think they are disgusting. But our war against intestinal worms has damaged our immune systems and mental health.
May 29, 2019 at 07:41AM
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Is 'Gaming Disorder' An Illness? WHO Says Yes, Adding It To Its List Of Diseases
Is 'Gaming Disorder' An Illness? WHO Says Yes, Adding It To Its List Of Diseases
They are popular. They are controversial. And now, video games have just become an internationally recognized addiction.
May 29, 2019 at 07:41AM
via Digg https://n.pr/2W7zLNY
Schmidt’s sensitive skin deodorant
Just want to give a shout out to Schmidt’s sensitive skin deodorant and thank everyone who recommended it (I went through a lot of old threads to find the commonly higher rated brands). After reacting BADLY to regular Schmidt’s trying the sensitive skin one has changed my life! I know unfortunately it doesn’t work for everyone but I have tried no fewer than 10+ different brands and varieties and nothing has worked like this! I got the Jasmine Tea flavour and it’s divine, honestly even after a full day at work plus exercise post work I still smell like a fresh cup of tea and I love it!!
Why I'll Never Be A Wedding Photographer
Why I'll Never Be A Wedding Photographer
So the number one reason that I would never want to photograph someone else's wedding is that I know how it feels to be disappointed with the results.
May 29, 2019 at 06:27AM
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What I Learned Trying To Secure Congressional Campaigns
What I Learned Trying To Secure Congressional Campaigns
Specifically, how to keep candidates and their staff and families safe from people trying to break into social media, read their email or wire their campaign war chest to Nauru.
May 29, 2019 at 06:27AM
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