Category: Insurance
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Breaking – Colonial Heights Rehab and Nursing Center Closed to New Admissions
by James C. Sherlock This is the best nursing home news in this space in a long time. A phone call to the facility today confirmed that the infamous Colonial Heights Rehab and Nursing Center is closed to new applicants. This reporter is not sure of the driving force behind this specific action, but that…
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Sentara’s Opportunity to Improve Hospital-to-Nursing Facility Patient Transitions
by James C. Sherlock Sentara Healthcare in October announced an important initiative to improve the quality and availability of primary care. It will double number of advanced practice providers (APPs) in its primary care facilities. APP refers to nurse practitioners, physician assistants, clinical nurse specialists, certified registered nurse anesthetists, or certified nurse midwives. In order…
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7,000 Virginia Properties Have Made Repeated Flooding Insurance Claims
by James A. Bacon I don’t share the apocalyptic alarmism of those who assert that global warming is increasing the frequency and severity of hurricanes. (Read Roger Pielke’s latest essay on the use of a fake data set to buttress the claim.) But I do agree about one thing. Flooding in Hampton Roads is increasing…
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Private Equity in Medicine
To add to those revealed in James Sherlock’s excellent posts about nursing homes and the health care industry generally, here is another culprit–private equity firms. They buy up medical practices in an area, creating great bargaining power with insurance companies, and begin raising prices. The fight is between giant, merged insurance companies and giant, merged…
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Predatory Virginia Nursing Home Owners
by James C. Sherlock Merriam Webster: Pred*a*tor: (noun) one who injures or exploits others for personal gain or profit. The most medically vulnerable of us reside in skilled nursing facilities (SNF). Nobody plans to be there, but that is where about thirty thousand Virginians find themselves at any one time. People who are moved from hospitals…
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No Clarity In This Process
by Dick Hall-Sizemore Here is another example of the utter inanity of this country’s medical care system and its financing. First, some background. I am covered by Medicare. I also have a Medicare supplement insurance policy issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia for retirees, administered by Anthem. (Good deal, by the way.) I chose to…
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Federal Flood Insurance Needs to Cover Its Costs
by James C. Sherlock Virginia is suing FEMA over its new risk rating methodology for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Virginia’s suit says that the new methodology: doesn’t recognize many mitigation efforts, nor does it clearly explain how rates are calculated based on mitigation efforts. This means that (Virginia’s) mitigation efforts don’t result in…
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Virginia’s Community Banks, Under Stress, are Crucial to the Economy, Small Business and Small Communities
by James C. Sherlock In general, I do not write enough about Virginia small businesses. Small business is both the heart and soul of the Virginia economy. I have no personal financial interest in Virginia’s community banks, but all of us need them to be healthy. Because community banks disproportionately fund small business. The Federal…
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Virginia Mental Health Services in Deep Trouble – A Survey
by James C. Sherlock Nov. 29 updates in blue. Supply cannot begin to keep up with demand. In this case, the consequences involve personal welfare and public safety. And they can be terrible in both cases. Governor Youngkin will propose to the 2023 General Assembly additional funding and policy prescriptions for the state’s mental health…
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Hormone Treatment of Transgender Adolescents in Virginia – New Concerns
by James C. Sherlock We have discussed at length the controversial policies of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). It is time to consider the impact of Great Britain’s ongoing National Health Service Review of its transgender support to children and young people. It offers new concerns about clinical challenges in the diagnosis and treatment…
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Medicaid, Public Health and Chronic Disease Management
by James C. Sherlock From the CDC: Chronic diseases have significant health and economic costs in the United States. Preventing chronic diseases, or managing symptoms when prevention is not possible, can reduce these costs. Virginia pays a great deal of money every year to contractors who manage the care of its Medicaid population. It is…
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Hey, Buddy, What’s Your Friggin’ Problem?
by James A. Bacon Based on anecdotal evidence, I have long thought that the rudest, most aggressive drivers in the United States resided in the Northeastern states. It turns out, based on insurance data, that Virginia has some of the worst drivers in the country. So much for our self-image as courteous ladies and gentlemen.…
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Things Are Not Always As Intuitive As They May Seem
by Dick Hall-Sizemore Sometimes, public policy proposals can be counterintuitive. Virginia law authorizes health insurance companies to charge smokers up to 50% greater than the premium that would otherwise be effective. The 2022 General Assembly passed legislation that would have repealed this authorization. The bills, HB 675 (Hope, D-Arlington) and SB 422 (Edwards, D-Roanoke), passed…
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Feds Require Changes to Virginia Health Insurance Law
by James C. Sherlock There are a couple of new issues between Virginia’s Bureau of Insurance (BOI) and the federal Centers for Medicare/Medicaid Services (CMS). The problems were briefed today by a Board of Insurance representative to the Health Insurance Reform Committee. CMS has told the BOI that the 2020 General Assembly passed a law…
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Will Liability Insurers Drive School Mask Policies?
by James C. Sherlock California has imposed a school mask mandate for the fall. Virginia has not — yet. California shows us some of the implications. In that state, the mandate has produced varying reactions. Reporting in Education Week has illuminated some of those.