Cosmetic Surgery Investigation Prompts Warnings for Patients, and a Push for Tighter Safety Standards

Fred Schulte, KFF Health News An investigation into cosmetic surgery chains by KFF Health News and NBC News has prompted consumer warnings from industry groups representing plastic surgeons and a call for more transparency around physician disciplinary actions in California. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons, which represents 12,000 doctors, is now warning patients to…

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Families Scramble To Pay Five-Figure Bills as Clock Ticks on Promised Preauthorization Reforms

Sheldon Ekirch is used to being disappointed by her health insurance company. That’s why Ekirch, 31, of Henrico, Virginia, was stunned when she learned Anthem would finally have to pay for life-changing medical treatment. For two years, she had battled the company to cover blood plasma infusions called intravenous immunoglobulin, or IVIG. The treatment has…

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Medicare Advantage ‘Dark Money’ Group Attempts To Win Higher Payments for Insurance Companies

Judging by more than 16,400 comments recently posted on a federal government website, you’d think there was a groundswell of older Americans demanding that federal officials hike payments to their Medicare Advantage health insurance plans. Yet about 82% of the comments are identical to a letter that appeared on the website of a secretive advocacy…

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