Health Insurance

EHR Threats? – Rickard & Associates

13/04/2023binomo

A recent warning highlights that electronic health records (EHRs) are a top target of cybercriminals.

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The Health Sector Cybersecurity Coordination Center (HC3) issued a warning to healthcare entities regarding EHR vulnerabilities and protections.

Protected health information (PHI) continues to hold its value on the dark web and is a constant target of cybercriminals.

With the recent growth of telehealth and healthcare technology, we have seen a large increase in cybercrime

Healthcare costs are rising again even as inflation falls

12/04/2023binomo

WASHINGTON —

During the pandemic, healthcare costs — usually a main driver of US inflation — remained surprisingly stable, rising just about 2% annually even as prices for many goods and services soared more than three or four times that rate.

But signs are emerging that medical inflation is back as demand for non-COVID-19-related health services recovers and healthcare providers seek to make up for soaring labor costs and losses during the pandemic.

Prices for hospital services, the single biggest component of medical care, accelerated in December and even faster in January, to an annual rate of 5.5%, according to

Another health insurance showdown as Blue Cross, Medical City is near the end of contract

09/04/2023binomo

Two days ahead of a contract deadline that threatens thousands of North Texas residents’ in-network health coverage at Medical City Healthcare facilities — the state’s largest insurer Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas and the hospital chain I have a deal is imminent.

The negotiations come as patients across Texas received notification that in-network coverage between the state’s largest health insurance provider and one of the region’s largest hospital chains might come to an end on April 1. Despite the warnings, the two sides said they expect a deal so patients don’t lose access to doctors or are at risk

My Loved One Passed Away – What Do I Need To Do?

07/04/2023binomo

Losing a loved one is incredibly hard. We help our clients with the administrative and legal aspects following the death of a loved one.

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When a loved one dies, there are many things to do and many are time sensitive.

First, there are many practical items to consider. These may include:

Finding care for any pets;
Determining if there are funeral instructions, arrangements, or prepayments;
Notifying family and friends;
Preparing

eHealth Named Ovative Group as Media Agency of Records

07/04/2023binomo

MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. April 5, 2023 – eHealth, a leading private online health insurance marketplace, selected Ovative Group as its new full-service media agency. Ovative is an independent media and measurement firm based in Minneapolis, MN. Ovative will oversee eHealth’s omnichannel strategy and execution, including organic search (SEO) and digital experience optimization (DXO), to accelerate eHealth’s growth.

Ovative’s deep knowledge of the healthcare industry paired with its customer-centric approach that leads with planning against audience insights made the agency a perfect fit for eHealth’s needs. By integrating offline data points into digital strategy and execution, Ovative will help eHealth transform its

Sources of financial aid and insurance for hearing aids

06/04/2023binomo

When you’re ready to purchase hearing aids, you don’t want to waste time finding out if you qualify for monetary assistance. Based on the way most people are provided with financial support, we have put together a prioritized list below to help uncover your options.

Does health insurance cover hearing aids?

Hearing aids are generally not covered by medical insurance, although insurers sometimes offer optional hearing/vision/dental plans that may include coverage for hearing tests and hearing aid fittings.

Other options for paying for your hearing aids may include financing offered by your hearing care professional, credit from a third party

Ontario to end program providing health care to uninsured residents

31/03/2023binomo

The Ontario government will be ending a program that provides free-of-charge health-care services to uninsured people at the end of the month, something doctors say is extremely concerning for marginalized communities.

In March 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic was first slim up, the ministry of health established temporary funding for doctors to provide health-care providers to treat those without coverage under the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP).

The program allowed anyone to access “medically necessary physician and hospital services.”

In a memo sent to Ontario hospitals and health providers, and provided to CTV News Toronto, the government said this funding

Healthcare Encryption Exceptions? – Rickard & Associates

30/03/2023binomo

We know that all emails and text messages that contain protected health information (PHI) should be encrypted.

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Are there any exceptions to the encryption rule?

Just one.

Patients can communicate with covered entities using unencrypted email and text messages, if the patients have been informed of the increased risk.

Patients can opt to have reminders sent via text messages or emails.

One issue that many healthcare providers have regarding encryption,