‘Thoughts And Prayers Are Out Of Network’: The Cold Online Response To An Insurance Executive’s Killing
Biogen Inc. stock rises Wednesday, still underperforms market
Advertisement Trump announced that William Joseph McGinley will serve as counsel to DOGE. McGinley is DOGE's first reported hire, and Musk and Ramaswamy have encouraged everyday Americans to apply. Musk and Ramaswamy, DOGE co-heads, said they want to staff the commission with "small-government crusaders." President-elect Donald Trump announced Wednesday a new hire for the Department of Government Efficiency: William Joseph McGinley as the commission's counsel. Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy have begun sharing details about how DOGE will work, promising to staff their commission with "a lean team of small-government crusaders." DOGE's account on X, formerly known as Twitter, told those interested to send along their CV in a direct message. Various Silicon Valley leaders , including investor Marc Andreessen and Uber cofounder Travis Kalanick, have reportedly been involved with planning for the commission. Advertisement The DOGE co-heads have said they want to cut $2 trillion from the federal budget. In 2024, federal spending totaled $6.75 trillion , nine-tenths of which went to federal programs. Representatives for Musk and Ramswamy did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment.In 2025, payments tech will bring to thee, a wallet and a passkey
Global 5G Iot Market Set For 66.9% Growth, Reaching $95.4 Billion By 2028PALISADES TAHOE SKI RESORT — At midnight, a slender moon hangs above the snowy Sierra Nevada, casting only a faint glow on a sheer cliff and the dark canyon below. But snowcat operator “Bandit” Ferrante has laser-guided vision, measuring snow depth 150 feet ahead and to each side to sculpt the slopes with precision. By dawn, crowds will start arriving to ski and ride the weekend’s fresh powder. “These advancements are changing the way we do things,” said Ferrante, 36, who drives a new $400,000 German-made PistenBully rig with Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology to prepare the trails. “I see exactly where we’re going, and what’s going on.” After two winters of heavy snow, the snowfall so far this winter has been sporadic. While Mother Nature is always fickle, climate change could create less reliable snow, spelling hardship for the businesses and mountain communities that depend on storms for their economic survival. So resorts seek to make and protect each precious flake. Big corporations running Palisades, Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood and Mammoth Mountain have made major investments, worth many millions of dollars, in what’s dubbed “snow management.” With some daily lift tickets exceeding $250, the resorts seek to deliver a dependable high-end experience. Initially just farm tractors on tracks, snowcats have evolved into machines of design, detailed craftsmanship and computer-driven tools. Inside the warmth of his cab, with a chatty podcast for company, Ferrante monitors a computer screen with color-coded snow depths, guiding him on where to push and pull snow for the best coverage. Its SNOWsat LiDAR remote sensing technology uses laser pulses to measure snow depth. With accuracy to within an inch, it can construct perfect snowboard half-pipes or World Cup ski race terrain. The joystick that directs the 12-ton machine is smooth, responsive and comfortable to grasp. The blade shifts in 17 different directions, with wings to shovel the snow. With a sensor that detects incline, the powerful tiller automatically rises and falls when routes get steep. It’s turned a once lonely and tedious task into a skill-driven profession. “You keep learning new things,” said Ferrante, a South Lake Tahoe native with nearly 20 years of resort experience. A tidy tattoo — a snowcat control stick — adorns his neck. At competitive “Groomer Games” every spring, representatives of all California ski resorts gather to test their expertise by pushing a golf ball through a maze. Innovations in snow-making tools — such as the $40,000 Super PoleCat — perform alchemy, mixing massive drafts of water, air and electricity to cover miles of runs. Some have built-in automated weather stations. Snowcats maximize the efficiency of snowmaking. Some are simple utility vehicles, hauling things around the mountain. Others are “trooper carriers,” moving ski patrollers. “Dig rigs” have backhoes to excavate buried equipment. A few have forks, for installing fences and seats on race days. The smallest cats are adroit at digging out chairlifts and clearing sidewalks. “You use the right tool for the right job,” said Brendan Gibbons, director of snow surface at Palisades Tahoe. The most prized snowcats at Palisades are the new LiDAR-equipped machines. They are leading the fleets that are racing across the resort this weekend to groom freshly fallen powder, sending information by cell signal to the less well-equipped machines. Until recently, snowcats relied on GPS to measure snow depth; the technology knows how high the machine is sitting above the ground. But this tool offers a limited view of what’s directly under the rig and front blade, not what lies ahead. “It was a great start to this technology, but it only allowed us to see how deep the snow is where we’ve been, and where we are,” said Gibbons. “LIDAR shows us what the snow is before we get to it.” LiDAR also measures the volume of piles of manmade snow, helping guide its use. The tool is already in use in research and government agencies to study snow from the air. It helps water districts measure future water reserves. It can identify avalanche danger. Related Articles Technology | France rushes aid to Mayotte after Cyclone Chido leaves hundreds feared dead Technology | Here’s where burrowing owls have disappeared in California Technology | US hikes tariffs on imports of Chinese solar wafers, polysilicon and tungsten products Technology | Monarch butterflies to be listed as a threatened species in US Technology | World’s oldest-known wild bird lays an egg in Hawaii at age 74 It works by sending out up to 200,000 laser pulses per second. Then it measures the time of flight — how long it takes the laser to hit the snow and bounce back to the instrument. It calculates distance by using the known speed of light and the time it takes the laser to travel. In the summer, LiDAR builds a digital model of the bare terrain. In the winter, Bandit and other “night crawlers” creep along the mountain’s cold contours, taking snow measurements. Managers study the freshly updated maps on their phones, then strategize a nighttime plan based on weather, wind, melting and skier traffic. After a long day of wear and tear, LiDAR helps “clean up the holes, remove the moguls and return the slope back to a nice, perfect skiing surface,” said Brian Demarest, SNOWsat manager for Kassbohrer All Terrain Vehicles in Reno, which sells PistenBully (“trail worker,” loosely translated, in German). Snowcats no longer lurch and rock. An eight-hour shift “is like driving to L.A.,” said Gibbons. The snowcat’s taco-shaped blade can turn in 17 different directions. On each side of the blade is a wing that shoves the snow left or right. Its weight compresses the snow as it rolls, squeezing out dangerous air pockets and creating a more firm surface. Each track works independently, so the rig can pivot. Cleats add traction. In the back is a spinning barrel with teeth, which chews up the snow. The barrel’s spin speed is adjustable, influencing how much the flakes heat up and bind to each other. A comb, also adjustable, drags behind to deposit rows of perfect corduroy. Grooming is still dangerous, with peril on slippery and avalanche-prone slopes. One recent winter, when winds hit 192 mph gusts, machines skidded on ice. Ferrante arrives at Palisades in mid-afternoon from his home in Garnerville, Nevada, to get his assignment for the night’s “swing shift.” When he’s done, he’ll hand it off to a colleague on the graveyard shift that grooms until the lifts open. By 5 a.m., he’s in bed. “I don’t get lonely,” said Ferrante, who drinks a thermos of black tea to stay alert. Food can be heated by the exhaust pipe. Throughout the long night hours, operators coordinate with each other, traveling together when there’s avalanche danger. A winch can help secure a machine, allowing it to work on steep slopes. Ferrante sees coyotes, deer, porcupines, and occasional bear. One crew saw migrating ducks fall from the sky, lost in a storm. His crew started the season with “track packing” to compress November’s snow. Now, with the arrival of a new storm, he’ll push snow into rigid “wind rows,” like fences, to catch blowing drifts; later teams will smooth them out. Post-storm priorities are roads, then ramps, then runs. His discipline, largely unrecognized by resort visitors, is building the foundation for a whole season of sport. “There is a ‘skill ceiling’ that’s infinite,” said Ferrante. “You’re never going to be the very best. You’re never going to figure it all out.”(Photo by Kampus Production via Pexels) By Stephen Beech Employees are suffering "techno-strain" as a result of digital systems making it difficult to switch off from work, warns a new study. Tile used Department of Transportation data from the 2023 and 2024 summer travel seasons to see which airlines are getting worse at luggage handling. Click for more. These airlines are getting worse at baggage handling Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. (Photo by Tara Winstead via Pexels) (Photo by Thirdman via Pexels)
Mbappé Misses Penalty as Real Madrid Suffer Defeat to Athletic ClubWordle today, December 18, 2024: Need hints for puzzle #1278? Find clues, tips, and today's Wordle answer here to solve the NYT Wordle challenge quickly. Wordle hints, clues and answer today #1278 December 18, 2024: There’s a new puzzle every day! You should be aware that Wordle has undergone several adjustments and difficulties in recent years if you were among the original users. But in the very simple Wordle game, the player only has to guess five or six letters. Using the coloured tiles, you might be able to predict the sentences immediately. Grey means the letter is not in the word, green means the letter is in the right location, and yellow means the letter is in the wrong place but correct. It is sufficient to apply one of the previously described concepts and make an effort to forecast how the issue will develop in the future. Keep in mind that there are up to six possible choices for the word of the day. But occasionally, a drawn-out decision-making process produces advantageous results. You can choose the word of the day instead of the typical response by adhering to these rules and recommendations. Today’s Wordle Hints for December 18, 2024 The word of the day for Wordle #1278 was selected due to its capacity to stop your run. But sometimes we can mislead people even when we speak clearly. It also utilises the feature of letter repetition. But don’t worry, you can follow these guidelines: – The word has one vowel. – It starts with the letter ‘H’. – There are no repeated letters. – The third letter is ‘F’. – Here’s a clue: Large, heavy, or substantial in size, weight, or amount. Are you still unable to pinpoint the problem? The last piece of advice has the potential to have a big impact. If you’re near and only need one or two letters, don’t pull out just yet. The answer is provided below. Wordle Answer for December 18, 2024 (#1278) You can now scroll away if you want to give it one last try. Here’s the word you’re looking for, though, while you wait for your guess to be verified: Today’s Wordle answer is “HEFTY.” Did you solve it on your own? This one was probably easy for you to understand. For more information on how to complete the Wordle challenge, stay tuned and come back tomorrow. Click for more latest Gaming news . Also get top headlines and latest news from India and around the world at News9. Pragya is an accomplished journalist known for in-depth reporting and a keen eye for detail. Delivers insightful and well-researched content that informs and engages readers.
Louisiana GOP lawmakers want to make it easier to try juveniles as adults(Photo by Kampus Production via Pexels) By Stephen Beech Employees are suffering "techno-strain" as a result of digital systems making it difficult to switch off from work, warns a new study. Staff are experiencing mental and physical issues due to being "hyperconnected" through digital technology, according to the findings. Researchers from the University of Nottingham’s Schools of Psychology and Medicine conducted detailed interviews with employees from a variety of professions. They found that the cognitive and affective effort associated with constant connectivity and high work pace driven by the digital workplace is detrimental to employee well-being. The study is the final part of a research project exploring the "dark side effects" of digital working which include stress, overload, anxiety and fear of missing out. The results, published in the journal Frontiers in Organisational Psychology , highlight an "overarching" theme of "digital workplace technology intensity" as a result of digital workplace job demands. The research team says their findings indicate a "sense of burden" associated with working digitally which surfaced for most participants in perceptions of overload and feelings of being "overwhelmed" by the proliferation of messages, apps and meetings in the digital workplace. They say "fear of missing out" - or FOMO- on important information and contact with colleagues also contributed to stress and strain for digital workers, as did hassles encountered when using digital technologies. (Photo by Tara Winstead via Pexels) Study leader Elizabeth Marsh said: “Digital workplaces benefit both organizations and employees, for example by enabling collaborative and flexible work. "However, what we have found in our research is that there is a potential dark side to digital working, where employees can feel fatigue and strain due to being overburdened by the demands and intensity of the digital work environment. "A sense of pressure to be constantly connected and keeping up with messages can make it hard to psychologically detach from work." Fourteen employees were interviewed in detail and asked about their perceptions and experiences of digital workplace job demands and impacts to their health. Comments from interviewees included: “[It’s] just more difficult to leave it behind when it's all online and you can kind of jump on and do work at any time of the day or night.” Another participant said: “You kind of feel like you have to be there all the time. You have to be a little green light,” while another commented: “It's that pressure to respond [...] I've received an e-mail, I've gotta do this quickly because if not, someone might think “What is she doing from home?” In their analysis, the researchers explored potential underlying psychological, technological and organizational factors that may influence ways in which employees experience digital workplace job demands. The findings showed that participants' dark side experiences were particularly shaped by a pervasive and constant state of connectivity in the digital workplace, termed "hyperconnectivity." Those experiences contributed to a sense of pressure to be available and the erosion of work-life boundaries, according to the research team. (Photo by Thirdman via Pexels) They said the evidence also indicates that "hyperconnectivity" has become the norm among workers post-pandemic. PhD student Marsh said: “The findings underline the need for both researchers and professionals to identify, understand and mitigate the digital workplace job demands to protect the well-being of digital workers.” The research also makes practical suggestions for employers including helping workers improve their digital skills and empowering them to manage boundaries in the digital workplace. The team says their findings could also be used by IT departments to consider how to improve the usability and accessibility of the digital workplace, as well as reining in the proliferation of applications. Dr. Alexa Spence, Professor of Psychology, said: “This research extends the Job Demands-Resources literature by clarifying digital workplace job demands including hyperconnectivity and overload." She added: "It also contributes a novel construct of digital workplace technology intensity which adds new insight on the causes of technostress in the digital workplace. "In doing so, it highlights the potential health impacts, both mental and physical, of digital work.”Thanksgiving Travel Latest: Airport strike, staff shortages and weather could impact holiday travel
Taxes CANNOT rise again, Keir Starmer – the cost and size of the State must be slashed
The fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel on Wednesday morning was a shock to the city and the nation. But as police hunted for the missing gunman in what they called a “premeditated, pre-planned, targeted attack,” social media erupted with contempt for the health insurance industry he represented — and his company in particular. “Saw mainstream news coverage about the killing of the CEO of United Healthcare on TikTok and I think political and industry leaders might want to read the comments and think hard about them,” wrote political activist Tobita Chow in a post on X, formerly Twitter . In screenshots he shared, TikTok users reacted to the story with blistering references to the costly and often unnavigable for-profit U.S. health insurance system. “Sending prior authorization, denied claims, collections & prayers to his family,” wrote one. “As someone covered under UnitedHealthCare I can completely understand the actions taken,” wrote an X user replying to a news link about Thompson’s murder “being investigated as a possible hit,” according to a statement from law enforcement. “Did he have a pre-existing condition?” asked another . And under an ABC News TikTok on police officers’ efforts to find the killer, a user asked, “Why are they investigating this?” “Got a push notification to exercise caution because the United Healthcare shooter is still at large,” noted standup comic Samantha Ruddy in her own X post . “I personally do not feel like I am on the shooter’s radar because I am not the CEO of a highly divisive multi billion dollar insurance company.” Thompson’s violent death outside a hotel where UnitedHealthcare was hosting an investor conference didn’t just prompt scathing jokes but heated criticism of the insurer he had helmed since 2021. One image that made the rounds online was a chart from the personal finance website ValuePenguin, which found that UnitedHealthcare denies 32 percent of all in-network claims relating to individual health insurance plans — twice the industry average. Some pointed to headlines describing how UnitedHealthcare has used an allegedly faulty AI algorithm to assess claims and deny care for seriously ill patients on private Medicare Advantage plans, as described in an ongoing class-action lawsuit brought by the estates of two deceased people who were denied coverage for their care at an extended-care facility. Editor’s picks The 100 Best TV Episodes of All Time The 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time Among those who amplified that story was right-wing podcaster Tim Pool , suggesting that Americans across the political spectrum can find rare consensus when it comes to disdain for their free-market health care system. “It’s actually kind of touching that the one thing that can bring together our fractious and disunited country is celebrating the assassination of a health insurance CEO,” wrote University of Virginia historian David Austin Walsh on X. Still, a few dissenters tried to shame anyone making light of the slaying. Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota, who unsuccessfully challenged President Joe Biden for the 2024 Democratic Party presidential nomination, drew an odd comparison to Israel ‘s ongoing bombardment of Gaza and Lebanon . “Seems like leftists opposed to killing terrorists in the Middle East support killing CEOs in Midtown Manhattan,” he fumed on X, adding: “Sick.” Both Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota, where UnitedHealthcare is based, shared statements of condolence . While the shooter’s identity and motive are presently unknown, Thompson’s wife, Paulette Thompson, told NBC News that he had received threats and that they may have involved issues with a customer’s “lack of coverage.” The NYPD has released surveillance images of the suspect, who was masked and wearing a black jacket with a gray backpack, and have offered a $10,000 reward for information regarding the homicide. Related Content SCOTUS Considers Ban on Health Care for Trans Youth Ahead of Trump’s Term Crackpot vs. the Machine: Will RFK Jr. Target America’s Health Care Scams? Unraveling the 50-Year Mystery of the Body in the Basement Democratic Lawmaker Clarifies He’s Not ‘Suddenly Anti-Trans’ Another ongoing lawsuit against UnitedHealthcare’s parent company, UnitedHealth Group, named Thompson along with two other top executives. A pension for firefighters in the city of Hollywood, Florida, filed the securities fraud class action earlier this year, accusing Thompson and his colleagues of selling $120 million of their UnitedHealth shares after learning of a U.S. Justice Department antitrust investigation of the company — but before the probe became public. Between coverage of such alleged profiteering, UnitedHealthcare’s grim reputation, and disclosures of the millions the company spends on lobbying and Thompson’s $10 million salary , there was hardly a shortage of material for vicious riffs. “It’s no surprise that gallows humor is responding to the assassination of a gallows business model CEO,” observed Dr. Steven Thrasher in a post on X. A professor at Northwestern University’s Medill School, Thrasher is the author of The Viral Underclass , a book about inequalities in healthcare that determine who has privileged access to medical resources. “Health insurances lets ghouls decide whether live or die based upon how much your life or death will affect shareholder value.” For once, too, it seemed that no extremist factions were quick to blame the murder on ideological opponents, as they typically have in the wake of high-profile shootings throughout the U.S. in recent years (save one Fox News commentator who suggested the NYPD hadn’t yet located the shooter because they were too busy dealing with immigrant crime ). Online influencers known to shape a narrative before the facts emerge instead proved willing to wait and see where the case would lead. Within the feverish climate of social media, this made for an unfamiliar sort of restraint — almost as unusual as the street homicide of an American businessman.In August, the agency barred two of about a dozen private sector online-enrollment platforms from connecting with healthcare.gov over concerns related to improper switching.
The Reds ultimately left St James’ Park with only a point after Fabian Schar snatched a 3-3 draw at the end of a pulsating encounter, but Salah’s double – his 14th and 15th goals of the season – transformed a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 lead before the Switzerland defender’s late intervention. The 32-year-old Egypt international’s future at Anfield remains a topic of debate with his current contract running down. Asked about Salah’s future, Slot said: “It’s difficult for me to predict the long-term future, but the only thing I can expect or predict is that he is in a very good place at the moment. Two goals and an assist for Mo tonight 👏 pic.twitter.com/tMXidgeA0P — Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 4, 2024 “He plays in a very good team that provides him with good opportunities and then he is able to do special things. “And what makes him for me even more special is that in the first hour or before we scored to make it 1-1, you thought, ‘He’s not playing his best game today’, and to then come up with a half-hour or 45 minutes – I don’t know how long it was – afterwards with an assist, two goals, having a shot on the bar, being a constant threat, that is something not many players can do if they’ve played the first hour like he did. “That is also what makes him special. If you just look at the goals, his finish is so clinical. He’s a special player, but that’s what we all know.” Salah did indeed endure a quiet opening 45 minutes by his standards and it was the Magpies who went in at the break a goal to the good after Alexander Isak’s stunning 35th-minute finish. Slot said: “The shot from Isak, I don’t even know if Caoimh (keeper Caoimhin Kelleher) saw that ball, as hard as it was.” Salah set up Curtis Jones to level five minutes into the second half and after Anthony Gordon has restored the hosts’ lead, levelled himself from substitute Trent Alexander-Arnold’s 68th-minute cross. He looked to have won it with a fine turn and finish – his ninth goal in seven league games – seven minutes from time, only for Schar to pounce from a tight angle in the 90th minute. Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe was delighted with the way his team took the game to the Reds four days after their disappointing 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace. Howe, who admitted his surprise that VAR official Stuart Attwell had not taken a dimmer view of a Virgil van Dijk shoulder barge on Gordon, said: “It’s mixed emotions. “Part of me feels we should have won it – a big part of me – but part of me is pleased we didn’t lose either because it was such a late goal for us. “Generally, I’m just pleased with the performance. There was much more attacking output, a much better feel about the team. “There was much better energy, and it was a really good performance against, for me, the best team we’ve played so far this season in the Premier League, so it was a big jump forward for us.”NFL NOTESLiverpool boss Arne Slot hailed “special” Mohamed Salah after seeing him fire the Premier League leaders to the brink of victory at Newcastle. The Reds ultimately left St James’ Park with only a point after Fabian Schar snatched a 3-3 draw at the end of a pulsating encounter, but Salah’s double – his 14th and 15th goals of the season – transformed a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 lead before the Switzerland defender’s late intervention. The 32-year-old Egypt international’s future at Anfield remains a topic of debate with his current contract running down. Asked about Salah’s future, Slot said: “It’s difficult for me to predict the long-term future, but the only thing I can expect or predict is that he is in a very good place at the moment. Two goals and an assist for Mo tonight 👏 pic.twitter.com/tMXidgeA0P — Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 4, 2024 “He plays in a very good team that provides him with good opportunities and then he is able to do special things. “And what makes him for me even more special is that in the first hour or before we scored to make it 1-1, you thought, ‘He’s not playing his best game today’, and to then come up with a half-hour or 45 minutes – I don’t know how long it was – afterwards with an assist, two goals, having a shot on the bar, being a constant threat, that is something not many players can do if they’ve played the first hour like he did. “That is also what makes him special. If you just look at the goals, his finish is so clinical. He’s a special player, but that’s what we all know.” Salah did indeed endure a quiet opening 45 minutes by his standards and it was the Magpies who went in at the break a goal to the good after Alexander Isak’s stunning 35th-minute finish. Slot said: “The shot from Isak, I don’t even know if Caoimh (keeper Caoimhin Kelleher) saw that ball, as hard as it was.” Salah set up Curtis Jones to level five minutes into the second half and after Anthony Gordon has restored the hosts’ lead, levelled himself from substitute Trent Alexander-Arnold’s 68th-minute cross. He looked to have won it with a fine turn and finish – his ninth goal in seven league games – seven minutes from time, only for Schar to pounce from a tight angle in the 90th minute. Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe was delighted with the way his team took the game to the Reds four days after their disappointing 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace. Howe, who admitted his surprise that VAR official Stuart Attwell had not taken a dimmer view of a Virgil van Dijk shoulder barge on Gordon, said: “It’s mixed emotions. “Part of me feels we should have won it – a big part of me – but part of me is pleased we didn’t lose either because it was such a late goal for us. “Generally, I’m just pleased with the performance. There was much more attacking output, a much better feel about the team. “There was much better energy, and it was a really good performance against, for me, the best team we’ve played so far this season in the Premier League, so it was a big jump forward for us.”
Axon Enterprise CPO & CTO Jeffrey Kunins sells $1.73m in stock
Julie Appleby | KFF Health News Unauthorized switching of Affordable Care Act plans appears to have tapered off in recent weeks based on an almost one-third drop in casework associated with consumer complaints, say federal regulators . The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which oversees the ACA, credits steps taken to thwart enrollment and switching problems that triggered more than 274,000 complaints this year through August. Now, the annual ACA open enrollment period that began Nov. 1 poses a real-world test: Will the changes curb fraud by rogue agents or brokerages without unduly slowing the process of enrolling or reducing the total number of sign-ups for 2025 coverage? “They really have this tightrope to walk,” said Sabrina Corlette, co-director of the Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University. “The more you tighten it up to prevent fraud, the more barriers there are that could inhibit enrollment among those who need the coverage.” CMS said in July that some types of policy changes — those in which the agent is not “affiliated” with the existing plan — will face more requirements, such as a three-way call with the consumer, broker, and a healthcare.gov call center representative. In August, the agency barred two of about a dozen private sector online-enrollment platforms from connecting with healthcare.gov over concerns related to improper switching. And CMS has suspended 850 agents suspected of being involved in unauthorized plan-switching from accessing the ACA marketplace. Still, the clampdown could add complexity to enrollment and slow the process. For example, a consumer might have to wait in a queue for a three-way call, or scramble to find a new agent because the one they previously worked with had been suspended. Given that phone lines with healthcare.gov staff already get busy — especially during mid-December — agents and policy analysts advise consumers not to dally this year. “Hit the ground running,” said Ronnell Nolan, president and CEO of Health Agents for America, a professional organization for brokers. Meanwhile, reports are emerging that some rogue entities are already figuring out workarounds that could undermine some of the anti-fraud protections CMS put in place, Nolan said. “Bottom line is: Fraud and abuse is still happening,” Nolan said. Brokers assist the majority of people actively enrolling in ACA plans and are paid a monthly commission by insurers for their efforts. Consumers can compare plans or enroll themselves online through federal or state marketplace websites. They can also seek help from people called assisters or navigators — certified helpers who are not paid commissions. Under a “find local help” button on the federal and state ACA websites , consumers can search for nearby brokers or navigators. CMS says it has “ramped up support operations” at its healthcare.gov marketplace call centers, which are open 24/7, in anticipation of increased demand for three-way calls, and it expects “minimal wait times,” said Jeff Wu, deputy director for policy of the CMS Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight. Wu said those three-way calls are necessary only when an agent or a broker not already associated with a consumer’s enrollment wants to change that consumer’s enrollment or end that consumer’s coverage. It does not apply to people seeking coverage for the first time. Organizations paid by the government to offer navigator services have a dedicated phone line to the federal marketplace, and callers are not currently experiencing long waits, said Xonjenese Jacobs, director of Florida Covering Kids & Families, a program based at the University of South Florida that coordinates enrollment across the state through its Covering Florida navigator program. Navigators can assist with the three-way calls if a consumer’s situation requires it. “Because we have our quick line in, there’s no increased wait time,” Jacobs said. The problem of unauthorized switches has been around for a while but took off during last year’s open enrollment season. Brokers generally blamed much of the problem on the ease with which rogue agents can access ACA information in the federal marketplace, needing only a person’s name, date of birth, and state of residence. Though federal regulators have worked to tighten that access with the three-way call requirement, they stopped short of instituting what some agent groups say is needed: two-factor authentication, which could involve a code accessed by a consumer through a smartphone. Unauthorized switches can lead to a host of problems for consumers, from higher deductibles to landing in new networks that do not include their preferred physicians or hospitals. Some people have received tax bills when unauthorized policies came with premium credits for which they did not qualify. Unauthorized switches posed a political liability for the Biden administration, a blemish on two years of record ACA enrollment. The practice drew criticism from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle; Democrats demanded more oversight and punishment of rogue agents, while Republicans said fraud attempts were fueled by Biden administration moves that allowed for more generous premium subsidies and special enrollment periods. The fate of those enhanced subsidies, which are set to expire, will be decided by Congress next year as the Trump administration takes power. But the premiums and subsidies that come with 2025 plans that people are enrolling in now will remain in effect for the entire year. The actions taken this year to thwart the unauthorized enrollments apply to the federal marketplace, used by 31 states . The remaining states and the District of Columbia run their own websites, with many having in place additional layers of security. Related Articles Health | Marin boosts minimum pay for contractors, caregivers Health | ‘Especially disgusting’: Former workers, patients, level accusations at California addiction treatment empire Health | Addicts came to Southern California from afar to get sober but wound up dead Health | California raw milk recalled after positive test for bird flu virus Health | New school data raises concerns among California education experts about pandemic recovery For its part, CMS says its efforts are working, pointing to the 30% drop in complaint casework. The agency also noted a 90% drop in the number of times an agent’s name was replaced by another’s, which it says indicates that it is tougher for rival agents to steal clients to gain the monthly commissions that insurers pay. Still, the move to suspend 850 agents has drawn pushback from agent groups that initially brought the problem to federal regulators’ attention. They say some of those accused were suspended before getting a chance to respond to the allegations. “There will be a certain number of agents and brokers who are going to be suspended without due process,” said Nolan, with the health agents’ group. She said that it has called for increased protections against unauthorized switching and that two-factor authentication, like that used in some state marketplaces or in the financial sector, would be more effective than what’s been done. “We now have to jump through so many hoops that I’m not sure we’re going to survive,” she said of agents in general. “They are just throwing things against the wall to see what sticks when they could just do two-factor.” The agency did not respond to questions asking for details about how the 850 agents suspended since July were selected, the states where they were located, or how many had their suspensions reversed after supplying additional information.Cabinet okays changes to colonial-era CrPC Amendments stipulates that trial court would deliver its verdict within one year ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet on Tuesday approved the Criminal Procedure (Code of Criminal Procedure) Amendment Bill 2024 on the recommendation of the Ministry of Law and Justice. The prime minister chaired a meeting of the federal cabinet at the PM House during which several important decisions were made, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release. The bill will be sent to Parliament for its assent. Under the amendments in the Criminal Procedure Amendment Bill, the system of registering FIRs has been simplified. Use of modern technology in investigations, forensic technique and to enable the audio-video recording of witness statements would be allowed. Furthermore, the amendment bill included provisions to strengthen the role of the prosecutor during investigations. The prosecutor will be able to point out any deficiencies or flaws in the police report. Under these amendments, women, individuals under 12 years old, men over 70 years old, and persons with physical or mental disabilities will be able to record their statements at a place of their convenience. The amendments also stipulated that the trial court would deliver its verdict within one year, and in case of delay, the relevant High Court would be held accountable. Additionally, the appellate court will be required to make a decision on any appeal within six months to one year. Furthermore, in cases where the police investigation finds the accused innocent and prepares a discharge report, the accused would be entitled to bail. The meeting was informed that e-office has been fully implemented in 18 federal government divisions. It was further stated that this was the first time that such a large-scale implementation of e-office had been carried out in the federal government, marking a significant step towards a paperless economy. The meeting was also informed that if e-office was fully implemented, there was a potential saving of up to Rs230 million in stationery and fuel costs. The prime minister praised Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima and the officials of the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication for their efforts. He also commended the performance of the ministers and secretaries of those divisions where e-office has been fully implemented. The federal cabinet also made several important decisions which included the approval to the National Registration and Biometrics Policy Framework 2024 on the recommendation of the Ministry of Interior. On the recommendation of the Ministry of Law and Justice, the forum approved the establishment of the Intellectual Property Tribunal in Quetta. It also approved signing the United Nations Convention on International Settlement Agreements resulting from arbitration, based on the recommendation of the Ministry of Law and Justice, regarding December 20, 2018. It rejected the appeal of Arbab Ans manager HR of Karachi Port Trust against his dismissal. On the recommendation of the Ministry of Petroleum, the cabinet approved amendments to Form EL-01 under the Explosives Rules 2010, regarding licenses for the preparation of high-density explosive materials. It approved the transfer of the Upper Kohistan, Lower Kohistan, and Kolai Pallas Kohistan districts from Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) to Hazara Electric Power Company (Hepco) on the recommendation of the Ministry of Energy, Power Division. On the recommendation of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, the cabinet approved the inclusion of section related to oath of Finality of Prophethood in marriage certificates within the Islamabad Capital Territory. The cabinet was presented with reports on the implementation of Principles of Policy for federal affairs for the years 2021-22 and 2022-23 by the Cabinet Secretariat. It also received reports from the Cabinet Division regarding the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) for the past three years. These reports will now be sent to the Council of Common Interests. The federal cabinet confirmed the decisions made during the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on State Owned Enterprises held on December 4, 2024, and the meetings of the Cabinet Committee on Inter-Government Transactions held on November 20 and 21, 2024. Separately, Prime Minister Shehbaz has formed a 13-member committee under Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal to ensure timely decisions regarding sugar exports. The committee’s mandate includes evaluating the accurate stock position of sugar and strengthening the monitoring system. The committee members are Minister for Industries and Production Rana Tanveer Hussain, the minister of state for finance, Ministry of Food secretary, a representative from the Intelligence Bureau, a Pakistan Sugar Mills Association representative, Land Information and Management System director-general, Federal Board of Revenue chairman, Sultan Ahmad Zafar, Dr. Abid Qayyum Suleri (Executive Director of SDPI), Dr Obaidullah Anjum (Pakistan Institute of Development Economics), Dr Bahriawar Jan (Director-General of the Trade Statistics Authority), and Ikram Ul Haq. The committee’s terms of reference have been issued. It would review all data services related to sugar production, consumption, and stocks. The committee would also investigate discrepancies in various data sources, including the underlying assumptions. It will identify those responsible for presenting incorrect data regarding sugar consumption, stocks and surpluses, which could delay decisions on potential exports.
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