The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services shut down access to the Affordable Care Act marketplace to two health insurance agencies. Here's a look at what's happened.
The recently concluded December Political Bureau Meeting in China has drawn significant attention from various sectors, including the financial industry. Securities brokers have been busy analyzing and interpreting the outcomes of the meeting, which are believed to have exceeded expectations and are seen as highly favorable for the market.In a recent development, Zhang Jizhong's company was found liable for the payment of 5 million yuan to his ex-wife as part of the court's decision. The ruling was based on the grounds of the company's involvement in the couple's financial affairs and assets, which were deemed to be subject to the divorce settlement.Bruins see improvements under new coach, tackle Canucks next
NoneUS Senators want investigation of TSA’s expanding use of facial recognition‘KU committed to empower women socially & financially’
FILE PHOTO: Jul 13, 2022; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers manager Chris Woodward (8) walks off the field during the ninth inning against the Oakland Athletics at Globe Life Field. Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo The Los Angeles Dodgers named former Texas Rangers manager Chris Woodward as their first-base coach. Woodward replaces Clayton McCullough, who was named the Miami Marlins manager earlier this month. A native of the Los Angeles area, Woodward was the Rangers' manager from 2019 into the 2022 season before he was dismissed after compiling a 211-287 record. He was an adviser to the Dodgers' player-development staff last season and was the Los Angeles third-base coach from 2016-18. The 48-year-old played 12 seasons in the major leagues, batting .239 with 33 home runs and 191 RBIs over 659 games for five teams, including his first six seasons (1999-2004) with the Toronto Blue Jays before returning to Toronto in 2011. --Field Level Media REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you. Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards Spin the wheel nowIn Japan, three chicken farms have been hit by an outbreak of avian influenza, leading to the tragic decision to cull 240,000 chickens. The devastating news has sent shockwaves through the poultry industry and raised concerns about the spread of the highly contagious virus.
THE Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (Philhealth) announced a total disbursement of P137.6 billion in benefit claims from Jan. 1 to Oct. 31, 2024. This represents a 37.7 percent increase compared to the P99.9 billion disbursed during the same period last year, according to the media release it sent to SunStar Cebu on Friday, Nov. 22. The state health insurer credited this improvement to its accelerated claims processing, with an average turnaround time (TAT) of just 25 days, which is significantly faster than the 60 day limit prescribed under Republic Act (RA) 10606, or an Act Amending RA 7875, also known as the National Health Insurance Act of 1995. Emmanuel Ledesma Jr., Philhealth president and chief executive officer, emphasized the impact of the improved payment system. “The steady flow of payments and accelerated processing time are part of our commitment to provide timely and efficient support to our health care partners. The reduced turnaround time has been commended by partner hospitals around the country,” he said. He said the quicker TAT has been instrumental in helping hospitals maintain liquidity, pay health workers’ salaries, secure medical supplies and enhance facilities, ultimately resulting in better services for members. Dr. Jose Santiago Jr., president of the Philippine Hospital Association (PHA), commended the changes. “There have been many changes in recent months regarding Philhealth’s payments to hospitals. They have been personally visiting hospitals in different regions to reconcile and identify issues. As a result, negative issues between Philhealth and hospitals have been decreasing, and a better relationship between Philhealth and PHA is being established. We can feel the change,” said Santiago in Tagalog. Dr. Jose Rene De Grano, Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc. (Phapi) president, echoed his sentiments, and acknowledged Philhealth’s efforts. PhilHealth is also exploring technology-driven solutions to further enhance claims processing. Ledesma revealed that a study on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been completed, which could significantly reduce processing times. “We are confident that with the support of our healthcare partners, this will happen in the very near future,” he said. To sustain the momentum, Ledesma urged healthcare facilities to ensure the proper filing of claims by investing in trained personnel and adhering to prescribed filing standards. Common issues, such as incomplete documents, discrepancies and late filings, lead to claims being returned or denied, he said. Claims are returned to the hospitals because of discrepancies in entries; incomplete, inconsistent or unreadable documents; and improperly completed claim forms. On the other hand, claims are denied payment due to late filing, re-filing, non-compensable cases and confinement during which the hospital has accreditation issues. Philhealth has also ramped up outreach efforts to educate hospitals on updated claims policies and requirements, conducting reconciliation activities to address issues. These initiatives, validated by PHA and Phapi leaders, aim to minimize the incidence of rejected or returned claims while promoting transparency and accountability. “Philhealth is governed by pertinent laws and state auditing rules to ensure that every peso is spent prudently and transparently,” Ledesma said. He assured the public that Philhealth remains committed to ensuring its funds are used responsibly for the benefit of the Filipino people. The agency’s reforms have not only improved its relationship with healthcare partners but have also laid the groundwork for sustained collaboration, fostering trust and efficiency in the health sector. / CAV
The Kremlin fired a new intermediate-range ballistic missile at Ukraine on Thursday in response to Kyiv's use this week of American and British missiles capable of striking deeper into Russia, President Vladimir Putin said. In a televised address to the country, the Russian president warned that U.S. air defense systems would be powerless to stop the new missile, which he said flies at ten times the speed of sound and which he called the Oreshnik — Russian for hazelnut tree. He also said it could be used to attack any Ukrainian ally whose missiles are used to attack Russia. “We believe that we have the right to use our weapons against military facilities of the countries that allow to use their weapons against our facilities,” Putin said in his first comments since President Joe Biden gave Ukraine the green light this month to use U.S. ATACMS missiles to strike at limited targets inside Russia. Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh confirmed that Russia’s missile was a new, experimental type of intermediate range missile based on it’s RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile. “This was new type of lethal capability that was deployed on the battlefield, so that was certainly of concern," Singh said, noting that the missile could carry either conventional or nuclear warheads. The U.S. was notified ahead of the launch through nuclear risk reduction channels, she said. The attack on the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro came in response to Kyiv's use of longer-range U.S. and British missiles in strikes Tuesday and Wednesday on southern Russia, Putin said. Those strikes caused a fire at an ammunition depot in Russia's Bryansk region and killed and wounded some security services personnel in the Kursk region, he said. “In the event of an escalation of aggressive actions, we will respond decisively and in kind,” the Russian president said, adding that Western leaders who are hatching plans to use their forces against Moscow should “seriously think about this.” Putin said the Oreshnik fired Thursday struck a well-known missile factory in Dnipro. He also said Russia would issue advance warnings if it launches more strikes with the Oreshnik against Ukraine to allow civilians to evacuate to safety — something Moscow hasn’t done before previous aerial attacks. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov initially said Russia hadn’t warned the U.S. about the coming launch of the new missile, noting that it wasn't obligated to do so. But he later changed tack and said Moscow did issue a warning 30 minutes before the launch. Putin's announcement came hours after Ukraine claimed that Russia had used an intercontinental ballistic missile in the Dnipro attack, which wounded two people and damaged an industrial facility and rehabilitation center for people with disabilities, according to local officials. But American officials said an initial U.S. assessment indicated the strike was carried out with an intermediate-range ballistic missile. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a Telegram post that the use of the missile was an "obvious and serious escalation in the scale and brutality of this war, a cynical violation of the UN Charter.” He also said there had been “no strong global reaction” to the use of the missile, which he said could threaten other countries. “Putin is very sensitive to this. He is testing you, dear partners,” Zelenskyy wrote. “If there is no tough response to Russia’s actions, it means they see that such actions are possible.” The attack comes during a week of escalating tensions , as the U.S. eased restrictions on Ukraine's use of American-made longer-range missiles inside Russia and Putin lowered the threshold for launching nuclear weapons. The Ukrainian air force said in a statement that the Dnipro attack was launched from Russia’s Astrakhan region, on the Caspian Sea. “Today, our crazy neighbor once again showed what he really is,” Zelenskyy said hours before Putin's address. “And how afraid he is.” Russia was sending a message by attacking Ukraine with an intermediate-range ballistic missile capable of releasing multiple warheads at extremely high speeds, even if they are less accurate than cruise missiles or short-range ballistic missiles, said Matthew Savill, director of military sciences at the Royal United Services Institute, a London-based think tank. “Why might you use it therefore?” Savill said. "Signaling — signaling to the Ukrainians. We’ve got stuff that outrages you. But really signaling to the West ‘We’re happy to enter into a competition around intermediate range ballistic missiles. P.S.: These could be nuclear tipped. Do you really want to take that risk?’” Military experts say that modern ICBMs and IRBMs are extremely difficult to intercept, although Ukraine has previously claimed to have stopped some other weapons that Russia described as “unstoppable,” including the air-launched Kinzhal hypersonic missile. David Albright, of the Washington-based think tank the Institute for Science and International Security, said he was “skeptical” of Putin’s claim, adding that Russian technology sometimes “falls short.” He suggested Putin was “taunting the West to try to shoot it down ... like a braggart boasting, taunting his enemy.” Earlier this week, the Biden administration authorized Ukraine to use the U.S.-supplied, longer-range missiles to strike deeper inside Russia — a move that drew an angry response from Moscow. Days later, Ukraine fired several of the missiles into Russia, according to the Kremlin. The same day, Putin signed a new doctrine that allows for a potential nuclear response even to a conventional attack on Russia by any nation that is supported by a nuclear power. The doctrine is formulated broadly to avoid a firm commitment to use nuclear weapons. In response, Western countries, including the U.S., said Russia has used irresponsible nuclear rhetoric and behavior throughout the war to intimidate Ukraine and other nations. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday that Russia’s formal lowering of the threshold for nuclear weapons use did not prompt any changes in U.S. doctrine. She pushed back on concerns that the decision to allow Ukraine to use Western missiles to strike deeper inside Russia might escalate the war. ′′They’re the ones who are escalating this,” she said of the Kremlin — in part because of a flood of North Korean troops sent to the region. More than 1,000 days into war , Russia has the upper hand, with its larger army advancing in Donetsk and Ukrainian civilians suffering from relentless drone and missile strikes. Analysts and observers say the loosening of restrictions on Ukraine's use of Western missiles is unlikely to change the the course of the war, but it puts the Russian army in a more vulnerable position and could complicate the logistics that are crucial in warfare. Putin has also warned that the move would mean that Russia and NATO are at war. “It is an important move and it pulls against, undermines the narrative that Putin had been trying to establish that it was fine for Russia to rain down Iranian drones and North Korean missiles on Ukraine but a reckless escalation for Ukraine to use Western-supplied weapons at legitimate targets in Russia,” said Peter Ricketts, a former U.K. national security adviser who now sits in the House of Lords. ___ Associated Press writers Jill Lawless and Emma Burrows in London, and Zeke Miller and Lolita C. Baldor in Washington contributed to this report. ___ Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraineThe actions of these ticket scalpers have sparked outrage among Shanghai residents, many of whom have taken to social media to express their anger and frustration. Calls for stricter regulations and improved usage restrictions on the vouchers have been growing louder, with citizens urging the authorities to take decisive action to curb the activities of these scalpers.
When it comes to analyzing Arsenal's performance on the pitch, one glaring issue that continues to persist is the lack of impact from the left flank. With the team heavily reliant on the creativity and dynamism of Bukayo Saka on the right-hand side, the underperformance on the left has become a cause for concern. Despite Saka's exceptional abilities and willingness to contribute across the pitch, the disjointed and ineffective play on the opposite flank has left the young star without the necessary support to truly shine.
In response to the outbreak, the Japanese government has mobilized resources to support the affected farmers and provide assistance in managing the culling operation. Efforts are also being made to educate farmers and the public about the importance of strict biosecurity measures to prevent future outbreaks of avian influenza.
THE KING beamed as he mingled with A-list celebs at the Royal Albert Hall for the Royal Variety Performance this evening. He was seen laughing with Elton John before sitting down to watch the much anticipated entertainment. It's already proven to be a star-studded evening with presenters Amanda Holden and Alan Carr leading the way at the 2024 Royal Variety Performance. The event will see Sir Elton John and his husband David Furnish present a musical number from their new show The Devil Wears Prada - based on the 2006 Oscar-nominated film. Sir Elton John, who is introducing his West End adaptation, told the King: "I'm very happy to be here." Cast members Vanessa Williams, who plays Miranda Priestly, and Matt Henry, who stars as art director Nigel, were among those posing on the red carpet. Read more on Royals The variety show will also see debuts from British singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor with her hit track Murder On The Dancefloor while Eurovision winner Nemo is also featured on the bill. Also posing on the carpet were US magicians and comedy duo Penn and Teller, whose performance marks their 50th anniversary. Comedy will come from Ted Lasso star Ellie Taylor, writer and comic Scott Bennett, Scottish comedian Larry Dean and political comic Matt Forde - who posed on the red carpet with a crutch after undergoing surgery for cancer on his spine. Among the arrivals was TV presenter Lorraine Kelly, who will make an appearance in this year's show with her Change And Check Choir led by Wet Wet Wet singer Marti Pellow. Most read in Royals The choir, made up of women from across the UK who detected their breast cancer through Kelly's campaign, will perform Love Is All Around, which is being re-released to raise awareness of breast cancer early detection. The King wished "everyone a very enjoyable evening" as the Royal Variety Performance started at the Royal Albert Hall. In a statement from Buckingham Palace, the King said he was "delighted" to accept the position as patron of the Royal Variety Charity earlier this year, following in the footsteps of his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II. It is the first time Charles has attended the event as patron. He said in the statement: "The charity's crucial work in assisting those who have fallen ill, had an accident or hit hard times is as essential now as it ever has been. "I would like to thank all of those who have worked so hard to stage this year's production and wish everyone a very enjoyable evening." The King seemed amused as he laughed at comedian Matt Forde's impression of Donald Trump on the stage of the Royal Variety Performance. During the show, the comedian referenced the unfounded claims Donald Trump repeated during his presidential debate against Democrat candidate Kamala Harris earlier this year, that illegal immigrants from Haiti were eating locals' pets in the small Ohio city of Springfield. Matt Forde exclaimed in the president-elect's voice: "They're eating the cats, they're eating the dogs!" He then turned to address Charles from the stage, saying in Mr Trump's voice: "Your Majesty King Charles, you're named after a Spaniel - be very careful, they'll eat you alive." The King was seen laughing in response to the joke from the royal box of the Royal Albert Hall. This comes as the Royal received a posy of flowers meant for Camilla from eight-year-old Iris King-Taylor as he arrived at the event on Friday evening. The flowers were picked from the gardens of the Royal Variety charity's nursing home Brinsworth House, in Twickenham. It is the latest high-profile event that Camilla has not been able to attend because of her illness, having also had to miss Remembrance events earlier this month. The King received the show's programme from 10-year-old Louie Cooper before taking the stairs up to the royal box in the auditorium. It comes hours after Camilla insisted the "show must go on" after pulling out of attending the performance on Friday evening as doctors advised that she should prioritise rest. A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: "Following a recent chest infection, the Queen continues to experience some lingering post-viral symptoms, as a result of which doctors have advised that, after a busy week of engagements, Her Majesty should prioritise sufficient rest. "With great regret, she has therefore withdrawn from attendance at tonight's Royal Variety Performance. His Majesty will attend as planned." A royal source said the Queen was "naturally disappointed to miss the evening's entertainments and sends her sincere apologies to all those involved, but is a great believer that 'the show must go on'". "She hopes to be back to full strength and regular public duties very soon," the source added. Read More on The US Sun The Royal Variety Performance will air on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player in December. Money raised from the show will go to help people from the world of entertainment in need of care and assistance, with the Royal Variety Charity launching an initiative to help those with mental health issues this year.