By Stephen Ohlemacher, AP; The Washington Post ~ Jul 13, 2017
WASHINGTON — Millions of Americans who rely on Social Security can expect to receive their biggest payment increase in years this January, according to projections released Thursday by the trustees who oversee the program.
But older Americans shouldn’t get too excited.
By Phil Galewitz; Kaiser Health News ~ Jul 13, 2017
The Trump administration said Thursday that the financial outlook for Medicare’s hospital insurance trust fund improved in the past year due to health costs rising more slowly than expected and predictions that enrollees will use hospital services less often.
By Carol Wilson; Light Reading ~ Jul 11, 2017
AT&T is addressing pent-up demand among its customer base by adding the Oracle Network Cloud Service – FastConnect to its AT&T NetBond for Cloud ecosystem, its 20th cloud participant. (See AT&T Adds Oracle Cloud to NetBond.)
By Anna Bahney; CNNMoney ~ Jul 11, 2017
Ever feel like a bobble-head when talk turns to money?
Between your APR and 401(k), it’s hard to know your FICA from your FICO.
After asking around, we heard about the money terms that get people dazed and confused. Maybe you’ve heard these words or read about them, but don’t quite understand how they apply to you.
By Aaron Pressman; Fortune ~ Jul 11, 2017
AT&T, a leading opponent of the federal government’s 2015 net neutrality rules, said it would join an online protest this week in favor of keeping the rules.
In recognition of the “Day of Action” on July 12, the company said it would display on its website banners in favor of maintaining a “free and open” Internet. But the company said it still opposes the 2015 net neutrality rules, which prevent Internet service providers from blocking, slowing or otherwise discriminating against online content.
By Michelle Andrews; Kaiser Health News ~ Jul 11, 2017
For many consumers, an unexpected health care calamity can quickly burgeon into a financial calamity. Just over half of all the debt that appears on credit reports is related to medical expenses, and consumers may find that their credit score gets as banged up as their body.
Changes in the way credit agencies report and evaluate medical debt are in the works that should reduce some of the painful financial consequences of having a health care problem.
By Susan Cornwell & Ian Simpson; Reuters ~ Jul 10, 2017
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump on Monday prodded the Republican-led U.S. Congress to pass major healthcare legislation but huge obstacles remained, with a senior lawmaker saying the Senate was unlikely to take up the stalled bill until next week.
By Jennifer Haberkorn; Politico ~ Jul 07, 2017
It was a grim week for the Republican effort to repeal Obamacare.
The few GOP senators who hosted town hall meetings over the Fourth of July recess were hammered by constituents for trying to undo the health care law. Reliable conservatives like Sens. Jerry Moran and John Hoeven outlined their opposition to the current version of the Senate repeal bill.
By Jordan Rau; Kaiser Health News ~ Jul 06, 2017
In 2012, Parkview Healthcare Center’s history of safety violations led California regulators to issue an ultimatum reserved for the most dangerous nursing homes.
The state’s public health department designated Parkview, a Bakersfield, Calif., nursing home, a “special focus facility,” requiring it to either fix lapses in care while under increased inspections or be stripped of federal funding by Medicare and Medicaid — a financial deprivation few homes can survive.
By Jon Reid; Morning Consult ~ Jul 06, 2017
More than 4 out of 10 of voters want Congress to make reforming Medicare a top legislative priority, according to Morning Consult/POLITICO polling.
But though entitlement reform has historically been a focus for the GOP, congressional Republicans — under President Donald Trump — are choosing to leave the program for older Americans alone, at least in the immediate future.