Category: Washington DC

Transgender families press education secretary on rights

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos watched a transgender girl eat apple sauce and draw and listened to another student’s emotional story of feeling marginalized at school, as activists pressed DeVos to make good on her promise to protect all students. Parents and activists who met with DeVos on Wednesday said they thought she was moved by their stories, but they still left with little hope that she would be a strong advocate for transgender children.

A tale of two mergers: Following their losses in DOJ merger…

In the past month, the DOJ and several state governments scored two trial wins in their challenges to mergers among some of the country’s largest health insurers. First, Judge Bates of the District of Columbia blocked the combination of Aetna and Humana, finding that the “proffered efficiencies do not offset the anticompetitive effects of the merger.”

Study: GOP Medicaid plan could save more than $100 billion

Transforming Medicaid into a block grant or per capita cap program could save the federal government more than $100 billion over five years, a new study found. The research from the healthcare firm Avalere Health was released as the GOP-controlled Congress eyes overhauling Medicaid as part of a replacement to Obamacare.

Tuesday is last day to sign up for Obamacare

This year, many enrollees have added questions as the Trump administration and legislators in Washington dismantle the Affordable Care Act, often referred to as Obamacare, which established the marketplace and created penalties for people who forgo health insurance. Yes. “Though consumers may have concerns about the future of the Affordable Care Act, as of now, nothing has changed about the fourth enrollment period - not plans, not prices, and not dates,” according to Enroll America, which seeks to get the uninsured signed up for coverage.

U.S. District Court Blocks Proposed Aetna-Humana Merger

The health insurance companies Aetna and Humana have been blocked in their attempt to merge their businesses by a federal judge, who issued a 158-page opinion preempting the deal earlier this week. The two companies made their case around the belief that the merger of the two businesses would create a more efficient operation, which would allow the anticipated savings to be passed on to consumers.

Think of those who need help

… Obviously, there is some crossover in these initiatives. * Nearly one-fourth of the people in our country have health insurance paid for entirely by state and federal governments, through the Medicaid and CHIP programs (CHIP is for children). The …