Latest news with #BillHennessey
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Here's Why People Can't Stop Talking About The "Luigi Mangione Act"
Recently, a California ballot initiative proposal named after suspected UnitedHealthcare CEO killer Luigi Mangione has been going viral. Yes, you read that right. According to the initiative document, the proposed name is the "Luigi Mangione Access to Health Care Act." It proposes: "No insurer may delay, deny or modify any medical procedure or medication... recommended by a treating or attending physician where the delay, denial or modification could result in disability, death, amputation, permanent disfigurement, [or] loss or reduction of any bodily function." Further, any decision made to delay, deny, or modify medication or a medical procedure must also be made by the physician themselves, on behalf of the insurer. AND employing "any person who is not a physician to review a decision made by a treating or attending physician shall be a felony." This would be a significant shake-up for insurance companies — some of which have been found by ProPublica to reject claims without even reading them. On average, families in the US spend thousands of dollars every year on healthcare insurance, yet, according to the limited data mined by healthcare policy non-profit KFF, about one in five in-network insurance claims were denied in 2023. Depending on the insurance provider and state, the denial rate reportedly reached up to about 54% that same year. And why does this happen? Well, when speaking to ABC Action News, one doctor shared his personal insight: 'The national average, as well as my physician billing company average, is 20 percent of claims are denied,' Dr. Bill Hennessey shared. 'It's based primarily on one thing... price tag. The more expensive the care, the more likely the denial.' It's a fraught subject, and reactions to the proposal have been wide-ranging — as with most news attached to Mangione's name. His name, in association with the proposal, appears to bring immediate discomfort from opposition online. One response on X reads, "Naming a bill after a murderer wont stick. If it does, it tells our children killing others is how you enact change. Society is turning sociopathic. Not good." However, in response to someone claiming that the proposal is "GLORIFYING assassinations in the street," others pushed back, suggesting it instead aims to quell future unrest and dissatisfaction with the US healthcare system. "The point of this act is so that people DON'T feel the need to kill healthcare CEOs. It's called the Luigi Mangione act because LUIGI MANGIONE IS THE REASON THEY NEEDED TO WRITE A BILL ABOUT THIS," someone wrote. Overall, a middle-of-the-road faction ignored the name and expressed they believe "this act could significantly improve healthcare access" by holding "insurance companies accountable for patients' well-being and needs."
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
The Proposed "Luigi Mangione Act" Is Going Viral Because It Could Make It Harder For Healthcare Insurers To Deny Claims
Recently, a California ballot initiative proposal named after suspected UnitedHealthcare CEO killer Luigi Mangione has been going viral. Yes, you read that right. According to the initiative document, the proposed name is the "Luigi Mangione Access to Health Care Act." It proposes: "No insurer may delay, deny or modify any medical procedure or medication... recommended by a treating or attending physician where the delay, denial or modification could result in disability, death, amputation, permanent disfigurement, [or] loss or reduction of any bodily function." Further, any decision made to delay, deny, or modify medication or a medical procedure must also be made by the physician themselves, on behalf of the insurer. AND employing "any person who is not a physician to review a decision made by a treating or attending physician shall be a felony." This would be a significant shake-up for insurance companies — some of which have been found by ProPublica to reject claims without even reading them. On average, families in the US spend thousands of dollars every year on healthcare insurance, yet, according to the limited data mined by healthcare policy non-profit KFF, about one in five in-network insurance claims were denied in 2023. Depending on the insurance provider and state, the denial rate reportedly reached up to about 54% that same year. And why does this happen? Well, when speaking to ABC Action News, one doctor shared his personal insight: 'The national average, as well as my physician billing company average, is 20 percent of claims are denied,' Dr. Bill Hennessey shared. 'It's based primarily on one thing... price tag. The more expensive the care, the more likely the denial.' It's a fraught subject, and reactions to the proposal have been wide-ranging — as with most news attached to Mangione's name. His name, in association with the proposal, appears to bring immediate discomfort from opposition online. One response on X reads, "Naming a bill after a murderer wont stick. If it does, it tells our children killing others is how you enact change. Society is turning sociopathic. Not good." However, in response to someone claiming that the proposal is "GLORIFYING assassinations in the street," others pushed back, suggesting it instead aims to quell future unrest and dissatisfaction with the US healthcare system. "The point of this act is so that people DON'T feel the need to kill healthcare CEOs. It's called the Luigi Mangione act because LUIGI MANGIONE IS THE REASON THEY NEEDED TO WRITE A BILL ABOUT THIS," someone wrote. Overall, a middle-of-the-road faction ignored the name and expressed they believe "this act could significantly improve healthcare access" by holding "insurance companies accountable for patients' well-being and needs." What are your thoughts on the ballot initiative proposal and its name? Let us know in the comments.
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
United States predicted to see massive shortage of family practitioners
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The United States could see a shortage of nearly 87,000 family practitioners by the year 2027. That's concerning, as the prediction is made worse by an aging workforce and higher demand for elder care. Family care doctors are comprised of OB-GYNs, pediatrics and geriatrics. When it comes to this next generation of doctors, paying off student loans is a huge concern, which could factor into their decision to forego family medicine. Whistleblower sues Children's Hospital after controversial firing 'You cannot afford to go into family medicine if you're taking out $300,000 plus worth of student loans to get a job that pays $150,000 to $175,000 before taxes. Take taxes out of that and good luck getting a job.' That's why Dr. Bill Hennessey says more Gen Zers are pursuing other specialties that offer more handsome salaries. Doctor Hennessey works as the Chief Innovative Officer for CareGuide, a company that negotiates outrageous medical bills on behalf of patients. 'I would pay the family physicians more, so they want to be family physicians. They work hard; they deserve it.' Across the medical field, people tend to look down on primary care work because it does not pay as well as other specialties, is often an 'administrative slog,' and is not considered as prestigious. However, some schools like the University of Missouri-Kansas City are enthusiastically promoting students to pursue it. What's holding up Pennway Point project? Developer speaks on issues 'Sixty percent of our St. Joseph students went into primary care,' said Dr. Alexander Norbash, the Dean of the School of Medicine. Out of UMKC's two campuses, he said 76 out of 135 students are choosing to pursue family medicine. 'If you're going to a school where primary care is celebrated, appreciated, and taught effectively with good teachers, I think that students can't help but go into it. Many of our students who go into primary care realize that if they go into a specialty to pay off their loans sooner, and then they do that and are not fulfilled by their job, then they have been penny-wise and pound-foolish, so to speak.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
