By Diane Bartz; Reuters ~ Jan 16, 2018

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. lawmakers are urging AT&T Inc, the No. 2 wireless carrier, to cut commercial ties to Chinese phone maker Huawei Technologies Co Ltd and oppose plans by telecom operator China Mobile Ltd to enter the U.S. market because of national security concerns, two congressional aides said.

The warning comes after the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump took a harder line on policies initiated by his predecessor Barack Obama on issues ranging from Beijing’s role in restraining North Korea to Chinese efforts to acquire U.S. strategic industries.

By Lindsay Hoffman; Fox 17 ~ Jan 15, 2018

For those on Medicare, the system can sometimes get confusing. What is covered? What isn’t covered?

There are several types of Medicare now that patients can have, and different forms of Medicare differ in what they pay for.. One of the more confusing areas for both patients and physicians alike center around the relatively new visit called the annual wellness visit, and the physical.

By Jayne O’Donnell; USA TODAY ~ Jan 15, 2018

The health care industry’s fever for consolidation has shot up with two major deals closing out 2017, but the big question is whether consumers should be feeling any better this year.

DaVita Medical Group, which has nearly 300 medical clinics along with about 40 surgery centers and urgent care clinics, will become part of UnitedHealth Group’s doctors’ office and outpatient clinic division.

By Sean Williams; The Motley Fool ~ Jan 13, 2018

Social Security is a program that’s leaned upon by tens of millions of retired Americans each and every month. The November update from the Social Security Administration shows that almost 42.4 million retired workers were receiving a monthly benefit, and that 62% of these workers were reliant on that monthly stipend to account for at least half of their income.

By Geri Stengel; Forbes ~ Jan 10, 2018

Could visiting your doctor be a thing of the past? If Renee Dua, chief medical officer at Heal has her way, it will.

Doctor visits will be replaced by doctor house calls. Hey, wasn’t that how it was done in yesteryear? It turns out that this type of medicine is cheaper and more effective.

Heal saw its first patient in February, 2015. Since then, the company calculates that its first 40,000 patient visits has driven more than $21 million in cost savings, diagnosed 1,100 previously unknown issues and reduced unnecessary trips to the ER by 62%.

From News Wire Feed; Light Reading ~ Jan 09, 2018

LAS VEGAS — For many, a new year ushers in a new set of resolutions. AT&T is resolved to continue developing and delivering Internet of Things (IoT) solutions to help make our cities and communities smarter, safer and more efficient. We’re currently testing a new structure monitoring solution that will help improve the safety of our roadways and railways.

By Elizabeth Dilts; Reuters ~ Jan 07, 2018

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Pfizer Inc (PFE.N) is abandoning research to find new drugs aimed at treating Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, the U.S. pharmaceutical company announced on Saturday.

The company said it expects to eliminate 300 positions from the neuroscience discovery and early development programs in Andover and Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Groton, Connecticut, as it redistributes the money spent on research, according to the emailed statement.

By Carol Wilson; Light Reading ~ Jan 05, 2018

Job cuts are continuing to grab headlines for major telecom players, with Comcast the latest to take some heat. Multiple Philadelphia-area publications are reporting that the cable giant laid off 500 direct sales people two weeks before Christmas. Meanwhile, AT&T is facing a lawsuit from the Communications Workers of America over layoffs in multiple states.

From Joseph Coughlin; Forbes ~ Jan 05, 2018

Tis the season of good intentions – another new year is here. After the festive holidays we make long lists of New Year’s resolutions. I will eat better. I will finally quit Twitter. I will get more sleep. I will use my treadmill for more than a clothes hanger. And so on.

Unfortunately, research (and personal experience) shows that many of us fall off the resolution wagon early on.

By Greg Iacurci; Pensions & Investments ~ Jan 05, 2018

The new tax law’s provision on pass-through businesses is proving to be one of the most challenging to dissect, and it’s one that some retirement pundits are eyeing with concern.

Some industry groups, such as the American Retirement Association, say the pass-through rules could become the most impactful part of the law for 401(k) plans, which were otherwise largely left untouched by the legislation.