Personal: @novenella.bsky.social. Here: making your employee benefits make sense. Mostly posting article links. Opinions my own. https://benefitmims.comhttps://bsky.app/profile/benefitmims.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/benefitmims.bsky.social/post/3mrdojpb6nn2tAetna has announced it will discontinue issuing paper checks to out-of-network dentists. The American Dental Association has urged Aetna to reconsider this change. #Aetna #Dental #ADA #EFT #PaperChecks https://buff.ly/RcBxwON23 Jul 2026 20:30 +0000at://did:plc:ysri5ochiffe2j6eeleviacd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrdojpb6nn2thttps://bsky.app/profile/benefitmims.bsky.social/post/3mrdjkrsznf2qMost provider-payer contract disputes are about reimbursement levels. But not all. benefitmims.com?p=297623 Jul 2026 19:01 +0000at://did:plc:ysri5ochiffe2j6eeleviacd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrdjkrsznf2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/benefitmims.bsky.social/post/3mrdeib7f2f2aThe growing divide between #nonprofit #hospital CEO pay and direct patient care worker pay was concentrated almost entirely in the largest 10% of hospitals by bed size. #HospitalConsolidation https://buff.ly/wmLxDi923 Jul 2026 17:30 +0000at://did:plc:ysri5ochiffe2j6eeleviacd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrdeib7f2f2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/benefitmims.bsky.social/post/3mrd7h4yweb2f"Acknowledging the limits of benefits education isn't an argument for investing less in it. But education is a front-end solution applied to a problem that also has a back end." I'm not sure I 100% agree with this #opinion piece, but it's making me think. https://buff.ly/KRTgoYC23 Jul 2026 16:00 +0000at://did:plc:ysri5ochiffe2j6eeleviacd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrd7h4yweb2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/benefitmims.bsky.social/post/3mrb633fvj42a#Erlanger and #Prisma health system leaders have signed a nonbinding letter of intent, beginning a 120-day due diligence period before the proposal can move forward. #Tennessee #HospitalConsolidation https://buff.ly/LD5C6du22 Jul 2026 20:30 +0000at://did:plc:ysri5ochiffe2j6eeleviacd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrb633fvj42ahttps://bsky.app/profile/benefitmims.bsky.social/post/3mraz5iv4g72hThe University of Miami UHealth and UnitedHealthcare have reached an agreement for student health plans, but negotiations continue for most other plan types. #florida benefitmims.com?p=303122 Jul 2026 19:02 +0000at://did:plc:ysri5ochiffe2j6eeleviacd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mraz5iv4g72hhttps://bsky.app/profile/benefitmims.bsky.social/post/3mratz7gfsc2xIt's already a common industry practice. Now the #DOL Labor Department is proposing a safe harbor allowing employer-sponsored #HealthInsurance plans post documents to a website versus mailing paper copies to participants. https://buff.ly/KYtLo1d22 Jul 2026 17:30 +0000at://did:plc:ysri5ochiffe2j6eeleviacd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mratz7gfsc2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/benefitmims.bsky.social/post/3mraoxzxqaf2gOther items in the bills broaden eligibility for financial assistance and outline minimum primary care spending levels. #Delaware #HospitalConsolidation #PrivateEquity https://buff.ly/BrZHRvo22 Jul 2026 16:00 +0000at://did:plc:ysri5ochiffe2j6eeleviacd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mraoxzxqaf2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/benefitmims.bsky.social/post/3mr6snfbuho2lThe proposal would bring together five #Denver-area hospitals from #AdventHealth and three #Intermountain hospitals. #Colorado #HospitalConsolidation https://buff.ly/kgXFjt421 Jul 2026 22:00 +0000at://did:plc:ysri5ochiffe2j6eeleviacd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mr6snfbuho2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/benefitmims.bsky.social/post/3mr6dkco5wb2fA recent lawsuit highlights something many people only learn after the fact: an in-network hospital doesn't always mean in-network physicians. benefitmims.com?p=301421 Jul 2026 17:30 +0000at://did:plc:ysri5ochiffe2j6eeleviacd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mr6dkco5wb2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/benefitmims.bsky.social/post/3mr5zi56hvx2fNot to put too fine a point on it, but there are some excellent children's hospitals a lot closer to Kernersville than Memphis. And yes...in a non-emergency situation it is, in fact, the member's responsibility to verify #network participation BEFORE receiving care. https://buff.ly/Yf8hWxz21 Jul 2026 14:30 +0000at://did:plc:ysri5ochiffe2j6eeleviacd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mr5zi56hvx2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/benefitmims.bsky.social/post/3mr3o2aaka42m"Health outcomes matter. But the leap from that concern to criminal liability for investors represents a dangerous departure from basic principles." Not sure I agree with all of this, but he makes some relevant points. #PrivateEquity #Healthcare #CapitalResources https://buff.ly/suAYfXg20 Jul 2026 16:00 +0000at://did:plc:ysri5ochiffe2j6eeleviacd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mr3o2aaka42mhttps://bsky.app/profile/benefitmims.bsky.social/post/3mqu4seybu525Adding to my previous note: larger employers are more likely to have #SelfFunded or #LevelFunded #HealthInsurance plans. For smaller employers, the market share of these types of plans has been growing quickly over the last several years.17 Jul 2026 16:02 +0000at://did:plc:ysri5ochiffe2j6eeleviacd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqu4seybu525https://bsky.app/profile/benefitmims.bsky.social/post/3mqu4ndkn3n2aDid you know? If you are on a #SelfFunded (or #LevelFunded) #HealthInsurance plan, state-specific mandates usually don't apply, thanks to #ERISA pre-emption. Curious how many plans this affects? Check out this list from Becker's. https://buff.ly/wLU4v5V17 Jul 2026 16:00 +0000at://did:plc:ysri5ochiffe2j6eeleviacd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqu4ndkn3n2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/benefitmims.bsky.social/post/3mqske56jci26The Medicare Advantage contract between Mary Washington Healthcare and Humana expires on August 31, 2026. #virginia buff.ly/ur3TKmq17 Jul 2026 01:00 +0000at://did:plc:ysri5ochiffe2j6eeleviacd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqske56jci26https://bsky.app/profile/benefitmims.bsky.social/post/3mqsfd5pkpk27Even with the increased state rate for fiscal year 2027, which begins on October 1, projections show the SEIB will “be in the red” for that fiscal year based on the current health costs. #Alabama #StateHealthPlan https://buff.ly/uGPqw4A16 Jul 2026 23:30 +0000at://did:plc:ysri5ochiffe2j6eeleviacd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqsfd5pkpk27https://bsky.app/profile/benefitmims.bsky.social/post/3mqsadhk2dt2lECU Health hospitals are remaining in-network with UnitedHealthcare through August 6th. Vidant Medical Group physicians remain out-of-network. #northcarolina benefitmims.com?p=298816 Jul 2026 22:00 +0000at://did:plc:ysri5ochiffe2j6eeleviacd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqsadhk2dt2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/benefitmims.bsky.social/post/3mqrm6ggkff23Why do provider networks exist in the first place? It's a fair question, with a more interesting answer than you might think. benefitmims.com?p=296616 Jul 2026 16:00 +0000at://did:plc:ysri5ochiffe2j6eeleviacd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqrm6ggkff23https://bsky.app/profile/benefitmims.bsky.social/post/3mqpptgidrx2rThe law allows #pharmacists to provide medication management and test and treat common conditions such as strep throat, urinary tract infections and the flu. #Alaska #ScopeOfPractice https://buff.ly/UDoE4dB15 Jul 2026 22:00 +0000at://did:plc:ysri5ochiffe2j6eeleviacd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqpptgidrx2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/benefitmims.bsky.social/post/3mqpksifjdv2rThe bill also allows patients to establish relationships with physicians through telehealth interactions and by reducing barriers for ambulance services. Remember, though, #ERISA pre-emption applies here too, so many employer-based plans are exempt from the mandate. #Missouri https://buff.ly/LoLId9A15 Jul 2026 20:30 +0000at://did:plc:ysri5ochiffe2j6eeleviacd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqpksifjdv2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/benefitmims.bsky.social/post/3mqpfrjuc5223The bill also requires the Insurance Commissioner to conduct a study of mandated health insurance coverage for certain medical treatments or services. Just remember, folks, that #ERISA pre-emption applies to a lot of plans. #Connecticut https://buff.ly/vuoTG7615 Jul 2026 19:00 +0000at://did:plc:ysri5ochiffe2j6eeleviacd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqpfrjuc5223https://bsky.app/profile/benefitmims.bsky.social/post/3mqp3pgy5tt23The push to name and shame companies reflects dueling narratives about the biggest abusers of the joint state-federal #Medicaid program. https://buff.ly/jYl7nLv15 Jul 2026 16:00 +0000at://did:plc:ysri5ochiffe2j6eeleviacd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqp3pgy5tt23https://bsky.app/profile/benefitmims.bsky.social/post/3mqn7envvtw26The OSU Wexner Medical Center, The James Cancer Center and OSU-affiliated physicians will be out of Humana’s insurance network October 1. #ohio benefitmims.com?p=298614 Jul 2026 22:00 +0000at://did:plc:ysri5ochiffe2j6eeleviacd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqn7envvtw26https://bsky.app/profile/benefitmims.bsky.social/post/3mqn2dkjnuy2kThe #insurance industry also features a steep structural pyramid, with roughly 1.4 million insurance professionals aged 55 or older, compared to just a fraction of that between the ages of 20 and 24. https://buff.ly/tQP181514 Jul 2026 20:30 +0000at://did:plc:ysri5ochiffe2j6eeleviacd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqn2dkjnuy2khttps://bsky.app/profile/benefitmims.bsky.social/post/3mqmvcqacut2bYIKES. Any registered agent or broker, not only the agent of record, can pull a consumer’s full enrollment record by entering a first name, last name and date of birth. #ACAEnrollments #ExchangePlans https://buff.ly/MF0Qbr814 Jul 2026 19:00 +0000at://did:plc:ysri5ochiffe2j6eeleviacd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqmvcqacut2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/benefitmims.bsky.social/post/3mqmqbqlisq2pSome of you coming to this page may be looking for the 2027 ACA rate filings. They're not here anymore, and here's the reason why. https://buff.ly/DQkv4lq14 Jul 2026 17:30 +0000at://did:plc:ysri5ochiffe2j6eeleviacd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqmqbqlisq2phttps://bsky.app/profile/benefitmims.bsky.social/post/3mqmlao4sj42dIn his July 10 decision, Judge Thomas Thrash Jr. wrote that the court lacked jurisdiction over most of the counts and ruled the claims were “collateral attacks” on the arbitration decisions. #NSA #NoSurprisesAct #IDR #Litigation https://buff.ly/4OcOD6h14 Jul 2026 16:00 +0000at://did:plc:ysri5ochiffe2j6eeleviacd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqmlao4sj42dhttps://bsky.app/profile/benefitmims.bsky.social/post/3mqkewuk42o2gThe new #legislation is intended to prevent #Germans from having to pay even more for #HealthInsurance. Currently, 17.5 per cent of gross salaries is contributed to the statutory health insurance system. #Germany https://buff.ly/NWHI7vo13 Jul 2026 19:01 +0000at://did:plc:ysri5ochiffe2j6eeleviacd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqkewuk42o2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/benefitmims.bsky.social/post/3mqk7u2sw3p2rThese #reforms — which Green signed during two separate ceremonies — help ensure people receive screenings, treatment and support they need without risking financial stability. #Hawaii #Legislation https://buff.ly/z4rIOCd13 Jul 2026 17:30 +0000at://did:plc:ysri5ochiffe2j6eeleviacd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqk7u2sw3p2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/benefitmims.bsky.social/post/3mqk2ruy5p62lUnitedHealth Group, CVS Health and Cigna are fiercely fighting back against laws targeting large health coverage conglomerates. #Legislation #AntiTrust #BreakUpBigMedicineAct https://buff.ly/cMQbLcp13 Jul 2026 16:00 +0000at://did:plc:ysri5ochiffe2j6eeleviacd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqk2ruy5p62l