Category: Health Care

Blue Shield Presents Medi-Cal Redetermination & Other Healthcare Information

Blue Shield, alongside the community of Bakersfield, recently convened for a town hall meeting dedicated to championing the cause of wellness. On the afternoon of November 19, 2023, members from every corner of Bakersfield gathered at the Greater Harvest Christian Center on 5421 Aldrin Ct., uniting to shed light on the significance of healthcare and the myriad advantages that a comprehensive health plan, such as Blue Shield’s Covered California, can offer to families throughout the state.

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Affordable Care Act Premiums Rise, But Subsidies Protect Most Consumers

Premiums on the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA) exchange will increase in 2024, but the Biden-Harris Administration has pledged that generous subsidies will ensure that most consumers remain shielded from the rising costs. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the average monthly premium for the benchmark silver plan in 2024 will see a 4% increase in the 32 states participating in the federal exchange, HealthCare.gov. The uptick mirrors the increase seen in the previous year and marks a shift from the four consecutive years of premium declines that preceded it.

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Medicaid Managed Care Organizations Face Scrutiny Over Prior Authorization Denials

A recent review of Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) has revealed concerning trends in approving prior authorization requests for services. In 2019, MCOs denied one out of every eight requests for prior authorization of services, according to a report by the Office of the Inspector General (OIG).


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FDA Approves Updated COVID-19 Vaccines Amid Rising Cases and Hospitalizations

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved updated COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech in response to the surge in cases and hospitalizations. Both manufacturers have reported that their vaccines demonstrate effectiveness against the currently dominant EG.5 strain in the United States.

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