Latest news with #CVS
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Foulkes extends fundraising edge over McKee. Here's how much she has in the bank.
As the 2026 Rhode Island campaign for governor nears, Helena Foulkes is extending her fundraising advantage over incumbent Gov. Dan McKee. Foulkes, the former CVS executive who came in second to McKee in the 2022 Democratic primary, raised $636,125 in the second quarter of the year and had $2.1 million in the bank at the end of June, her campaign said Tuesday, July 29. McKee raised $205,000 in the second quarter, a third of Foulkes' haul. He had $879,000 in the bank at the end of June, according to his campaign, less than half Foulkes' total. In a news release, the McKee campaign noted that $171,000 of his quarterly total came in June after he hired a full-time finance director. "Governor McKee will be re-elected because he has a strong record of fighting for Rhode Islanders and delivering on the issues that matter most," McKee campaign manager Rob Silverstein said in the release. "Our campaign will continue to highlight the governor's decisive actions on raising family incomes, education, reproductive care, clean energy, and gun safety – all while articulating a forward-looking vision for the state's future." McKee is the only candidate to have officially announced a 2026 campaign for governor, but Foulkes is widely expected to run. House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi remains a wild card in the race for governor and would still have the largest campaign war chest if he decides to get in the race. Shekarchi has not yet announced his second-quarter fundraising total − filings are not due to the state Board of Elections until July 31 − but had $3.4 million in the bank at the end of March. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Helena Foulkes extends fundraising edge over incumbent RI Gov. Dan McKee Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
UnitedHealth Group reports mixed second quarter earnings; stock down in premarket trading
UnitedHealth Group (UNH) reported second quarter earnings Tuesday, beating Wall Street's expectations on the top line by a small margin and missing on the bottom line. But its earnings continue a trend of higher-than-expected costs in the industry this quarter. The company reported revenues of $111.6 billion, compared to Wall Street expectations of $111.53 billion, and adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $4.08, compared to $4.59 expected by the Street. Revenues are up nearly $13 billion year over year compared to the second quarter in 2024. But margins have shrunk from 4.3% in 2024 to 3.1% this quarter. The company also updated its guidance for the full year after pulling it last quarter. It now expects revenues between $445.5 and $448.0 billion and adjusted earnings of at least $16 per share. UnitedHealth's stock fell more than 5% in trading Tuesday. Read more: Live coverage of corporate earnings Industry pressure More patients seeking care means more premiums being paid out and less revenue for health insurers. Typically, insurers aim to be on the lower end of between 80% and 85% of the premiums they receive, known as the medical expense ratio. UnitedHealth reported 89.4% this quarter, compared to 84.8% in the first. That number is the highest in the company's history, breaking its 2024 record of 85.5%, which was attributed to higher utilization of care by seniors. Other insurers have reported 90% or more in the second quarter this year — a significant jump from prior quarters, and it's all related to Medicare or Medicaid programs. This marks a continuing trend that has been plaguing the industry since last year and has taken several stocks for a ride every quarter. Notably, CVS (CVS) saw a hit to its stock after its Aetna Medicare costs came in higher than expected, but then its stock was boosted last quarter as fears of costs were allayed. This quarter, Centene (CNC) and Elevance (ELV) have faced higher-than-expected costs. The hit to UnitedHealth on Tuesday appears to be a delayed part of that trend — and the company has acknowledged that it, like other big insurers, is surprised by the hit. Especially with the company's focus on revenue management, owning and acquiring companies over the years would rely on technology to streamline and increase profits. The result of the inaccurate cost assumptions will be felt by patients next year, as UnitedHealth announced it will exit several markets, impacting 600,000 patients. That's in the Medicare Advantage market alone. It also anticipates heavy losses in the Affordable Care Act marketplace, as enhanced subsidies from the pandemic expire. On top of which, premiums are likely to rise next year as the company looks to boost revenues and profits. Industry change In addition to the insurance market woes, UnitedHealth has faced internal struggles. Former CEO Andrew Witty was ousted in May. Former CEO and board chair Stephen Hemsley then took the helm. The executive shake-up came after a year of turmoil for the company, including the largest-ever cyberattack on its Change Healthcare subsidiary. Meanwhile, the company is still reeling from the death of insurance executive Brian Thompson, who was shot and killed in New York City last year. The incident prompted an awakening in the insurance industry, which faced a backlash for its system of prior authorization requirements that result in denials of care. Several companies and the Trump administration have pledged to fix the problems and relax prior authorization burdens for patients. Humana executives said last week during an earnings call that the company would reduce prior authorizations by one-third of the current volume. UnitedHealth previously said that it only sees prior authorizations for 2% of total claims and that it will further reduce that amount. UnitedHealth said Tuesday the company is focused on greater transparency with Hemsley leading and expects to continue offering greater insight into its operations as it rebuilds the company. 'UnitedHealth Group has embarked on a rigorous path back to being a high-performing company fully serving the health needs of individuals and society broadly,' CEO Stephen Hemsley said in a statement. 'As we strengthen operating disciplines, positioning us for growth in 2026 and beyond, the people at UnitedHealth Group will continue to support the millions of patients, physicians and customers who rely on us, guided by a culture of service and longstanding values.' Anjalee Khemlani is the senior health reporter at Yahoo Finance, covering all things pharma, insurance, provider services, digital health, PBMs, and health policy and politics. That includes GLP-1s, of course. Follow Anjalee as AnjKhem on social media platforms X, LinkedIn, and Bluesky @AnjKhem. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
UnitedHealth Group reports mixed second quarter earnings; stock down in premarket trading
UnitedHealth Group (UNH) reported second quarter earnings Tuesday, beating Wall Street's expectations on the top line by a small margin and missing on the bottom line. But its earnings continue a trend of higher-than-expected costs in the industry this quarter. The company reported revenues of $111.6 billion, compared to Wall Street expectations of $111.53 billion, and adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $4.08, compared to $4.59 expected by the Street. Revenues are up nearly $13 billion year over year compared to the second quarter in 2024. But margins have shrunk from 4.3% in 2024 to 3.1% this quarter. The company also updated its guidance for the full year after pulling it last quarter. It now expects revenues between $445.5 and $448.0 billion and adjusted earnings of at least $16 per share. UnitedHealth's stock fell more than 5% in trading Tuesday. Read more: Live coverage of corporate earnings Industry pressure More patients seeking care means more premiums being paid out and less revenue for health insurers. Typically, insurers aim to be on the lower end of between 80% and 85% of the premiums they receive, known as the medical expense ratio. UnitedHealth reported 89.4% this quarter, compared to 84.8% in the first. That number is the highest in the company's history, breaking its 2024 record of 85.5%, which was attributed to higher utilization of care by seniors. Other insurers have reported 90% or more in the second quarter this year — a significant jump from prior quarters, and it's all related to Medicare or Medicaid programs. This marks a continuing trend that has been plaguing the industry since last year and has taken several stocks for a ride every quarter. Notably, CVS (CVS) saw a hit to its stock after its Aetna Medicare costs came in higher than expected, but then its stock was boosted last quarter as fears of costs were allayed. This quarter, Centene (CNC) and Elevance (ELV) have faced higher-than-expected costs. The hit to UnitedHealth on Tuesday appears to be a delayed part of that trend — and the company has acknowledged that it, like other big insurers, is surprised by the hit. Especially with the company's focus on revenue management, owning and acquiring companies over the years would rely on technology to streamline and increase profits. The result of the inaccurate cost assumptions will be felt by patients next year, as UnitedHealth announced it will exit several markets, impacting 600,000 patients. That's in the Medicare Advantage market alone. It also anticipates heavy losses in the Affordable Care Act marketplace, as enhanced subsidies from the pandemic expire. On top of which, premiums are likely to rise next year as the company looks to boost revenues and profits. Industry change In addition to the insurance market woes, UnitedHealth has faced internal struggles. Former CEO Andrew Witty was ousted in May. Former CEO and board chair Stephen Hemsley then took the helm. The executive shake-up came after a year of turmoil for the company, including the largest-ever cyberattack on its Change Healthcare subsidiary. Meanwhile, the company is still reeling from the death of insurance executive Brian Thompson, who was shot and killed in New York City last year. The incident prompted an awakening in the insurance industry, which faced a backlash for its system of prior authorization requirements that result in denials of care. Several companies and the Trump administration have pledged to fix the problems and relax prior authorization burdens for patients. Humana executives said last week during an earnings call that the company would reduce prior authorizations by one-third of the current volume. UnitedHealth previously said that it only sees prior authorizations for 2% of total claims and that it will further reduce that amount. UnitedHealth said Tuesday the company is focused on greater transparency with Hemsley leading and expects to continue offering greater insight into its operations as it rebuilds the company. 'UnitedHealth Group has embarked on a rigorous path back to being a high-performing company fully serving the health needs of individuals and society broadly,' CEO Stephen Hemsley said in a statement. 'As we strengthen operating disciplines, positioning us for growth in 2026 and beyond, the people at UnitedHealth Group will continue to support the millions of patients, physicians and customers who rely on us, guided by a culture of service and longstanding values.' Anjalee Khemlani is the senior health reporter at Yahoo Finance, covering all things pharma, insurance, provider services, digital health, PBMs, and health policy and politics. That includes GLP-1s, of course. Follow Anjalee as AnjKhem on social media platforms X, LinkedIn, and Bluesky @AnjKhem.
Euronews
17 hours ago
- Health
- Euronews
Staring at screens all day? Here's how to protect your eyes
Screens have become an inescapable part of our daily lives. From replying to work emails on a laptop to doomscrolling through brain rot on TikTok, the average adult now racks up more than six hours of screen time every day – nearly a third of our waking lives. The shift to remote and hybrid working has only intensified this. With Zoom meetings, Slack pings, Google Docs, and Teams chats becoming the new office norm, our eyes rarely get a break. The big problem, according to UK-based optometrist Shahina Pardhan, is the strain we put on our eye muscles. "When you're looking at a digital screen up close, like a smartphone, your eyes have to focus at that short distance. To do that, they use muscle power, specifically the ciliary muscle inside the eye," Pardhan,** who leads the Director of Vision and Eye Research Institute at Anglia Ruskin University, told Euronews Health. "With sustained use, especially as we get older and those muscles don't work as well as they used to, the muscle gets really tired," she added. The pressure can have a serious impact on our wellbeing. While estimates vary, many people have Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS), also known as digital eye strain, with symptoms ranging from dry, irritated eyes to headaches, blurred vision, and fatigue. But these symptoms don't have to be inevitable. Here are five evidence-based tips to give your eyes a break – and protect your vision for the long haul. 1. Practice the 20-20-20 rule One of the most widely recommended techniques to reduce digital eye strain is the 20-20-20 rule, proposed by the American Optometric Association (AOA). It suggests that every 20 minutes, you should look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. Studies have shown that teaching this technique to people with CVS helped to ease their dry eye symptoms. "When you look at something around 20 feet away, you're actually relaxing those eye muscles," Pardhan said. "Even just 20 seconds of that can really help". However, the results are mixed on whether the method helps with tear film stability, which helps ensure eyes stay lubricated and vision stays clear. 2. Optimise your work station and screen position The way your workspace is set up can make a huge difference to your eye health. Poor lighting, bad screen angles, and reflective glare are some of the biggest culprits behind digital eye strain. "It's really important to keep your screen at eye level," Pardhan said, regardless of whether it's your smartphone or computer. "Tilting your head down can put a lot of strain on the neck, increasing stress on the spine and shoulders". Additionally, bright overhead lights or sunlight pouring through a window can reflect off of your screen, forcing your eyes to work harder and causing discomfort. To cut down on glare, try using an anti-reflective screen filter or adjust the lighting in your room so it's soft and indirect. If you work near a window, avoid placing your screen directly in front of or behind it. 3. Blink more than you think Blinking lubricates the eyes by spreading tears across the cornea. But researchers say that when we're glued to screens, our blink rate can drop by as much as 66 per cent, raising the risk of getting dry eyes. Studies show that the average person blinks 15 to 20 times per minute. But this rate drops significantly when working at a computer, to around four to six times per minute. To keep your eyes from drying out, try sticking a small reminder on your monitor or around your workplace – even something simple like 'Blink!' or a visual cue that nudges you to give your eyes a break. And also don't forget your surroundings. If your space is dry, for example if you have central heating or air conditioning, keeping your environment well-hydrated can also help. 'Just having a humidifier or even just a bowl of water or a vase of flowers with water will humidify the air and it won't dry out the atmosphere as much," Pardhan said. 4. Use blue light filters Blue light – the high-energy visible light emitted by LED screens – is more than just a sleep disruptor. Studies show that prolonged exposure to blue light, particularly in the 400 to 470 nanometre range, can contribute to retinal stress and damage, increasing the risk of eye discomfort. Pardhan said that "very bright screens – especially when used in a dark environment – can be harsh on the eyes. They cause your pupils to contract due to the glare, which is the opposite of what your eyes naturally need in low-light settings". Thankfully, most modern devices offer night mode or blue light filter settings. Activating these reduces blue light exposure, especially in low-light environments. Additionally, wearing blue light blocking glasses, especially at nighttime, can provide extra protection. Keep in mind, though, that blue light filters can only do so much. Research indicates they do not protect against serious eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration. 5. Use your devices more mindfully Even when we're off the clock, many of us instinctively turn to screens for downtime – scrolling through social media, binge-watching shows, or falling into YouTube rabbit holes. But those micro-moments of leisure can quietly add up. Cutting back on non-essential screen time, especially outside of work hours, can give your eyes the rest they desperately need. A good starting point is to use your device's built-in tools that track how much time you're spending on different apps and websites. There are also smartphone apps designed to help reduce screen time. The Forest app, for example, lets you 'plant a tree' that grows the longer you stay off your phone. If you give in and start scrolling, your tree dies. Users say it is oddly motivating – and it even helps plant real trees through a partner initiative. Another option is OneSec, which adds a one-second delay before opening apps like Instagram or TikTok. That tiny pause can help disrupt your autopilot habit and give your brain just enough time to ask: Do I really want to open this right now?
New York Post
a day ago
- New York Post
CVS clerk slams DA Alvin Bragg for charging him in self-defense stabbing
Enough is enough. The former CVS worker cleared in the stabbing death of a violent shoplifter slammed Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg for charging him at all — instead of standing up for hardworking New Yorkers. 'I don't know why he decided to bring the case to me, but I feel like this case shouldn't even go to trial,' Scotty Enoe, 48, told The Post in an exclusive interview Monday. 10 Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg Jr. at a press conference. Steven Hirsch 'I feel like they're trying to put me away for something that's their fault,' he added. 'As a hardworking person, the minute you stand up for yourself, they come after you.' Enoe, who lives in Brooklyn, said serial shoplifter Charles Brito never should have been allowed out on the streets, free to harass and threaten Big Apple shoppers and workers. 'It's the prosecutor's fault,' he said, 'because this guy had a record … this guy shouldn't even be on the streets to begin with.' 10 A former CVS worker cleared in the stabbing death of a violent shoplifter slammed Bragg for charging him at all. Helayne Seidman The native of Grenada, who has lived and worked in New York City since moving to the US in 1996, said he felt he had to put up a fight, shooting down a proposed plea deal and taking the stand in his own defense. 'I had to get my story out there,' he said. 'I had to make them know, 'Listen, I work two jobs. I wasn't looking for no trouble with anybody. This guy came in and attacked me from out of nowhere.' Enoe said he wasn't angry over the two-year nightmare, which ended when a jury acquitted him of manslaughter after less than 30 minutes of deliberations last week in Brito's July 2023 death. But the former shelf stocker said he was fed up with New York's failing criminal justice system. 10 Portrait of Scotty Enoe in his lawyer's office. Stephen Yang 'People that work in these retail places to make a living, to pay the bills, they get harassed by these kind of people every night,' he said. 'You're not even safe on the train anymore. Just getting on the train to come to work, it's like a problem.' Over the years, Enoe said he would even go out of his way to avoid confrontations with aggressive vagrants — taking drastic measures like hiding out in a store refrigerator. 'Sometimes when they come in I had to go inside the cooler and just stay there until they leave, because some of them, if you just watch them too hard, they start getting aggressive,' he said. 10 Mugshot of Charles Brito. But Enoe couldn't turn away when Brito, 50, came into the Midtown pharmacy on July 6, 2023, attacked him and threatened two female co-workers, prompting him to 'jab' the homeless man several times with a knife before the crook walked out of the store. Enoe said he had no idea Brito was mortally wounded until the cops showed up — with the officers grilling the worker, who had visible bruises all over his face. 'It was not a good conversation,' he recalled. 'He didn't even, you know, ask me nothing. He just started saying stuff to me. Things like, 'Oh, you stabbed someone, you stabbed somebody over CVS goods, f—ing smart,' and all these things. He didn't even ask me what happened.' 10 Enoe said serial shoplifter Charles Brito never should have been allowed out on the streets. Helayne Seidman Then came the real blow, when Bragg's office charged him with murder in the case. The charge was only reduced later after a grand jury indicted Enoe for manslaughter — which still carried the possibility of up to 25 years in prison. 'I was saying, like, 'I can't believe that just happened,'' Enoe remembered, adding CVS fired him a few days after his arrest. Released on $100,000 bail thanks to his other employer, beverage distributor Big Geyser, Enoe still had to wear a monitoring ankle bracelet, an additional humiliation, he said, after being charged for defending himself. 10 Scotty Enoe, CVS security guard, in court. Steven Hirsch 'I couldn't go to church, but I still tried to go to church,' he said. 'I talked to the sheriff, to give me a little extra time to go to church.' He said prosecutors offered him a plea deal that carried a five-year prison sentence, but Enoe said he and his lawyer, Frank Rothman, shot down the ludicrous offer on the spot. 'Frank, he was like, 'What do you want to do?' I tell him, 'We want to go to trial. We're fighting it all the way,'' Enoe recalled. And Enoe insisted on taking the stand to tell jurors his story. 10 Scotty Enoe and his lawyer, Frank Rothman, in a law office. Stephen Yang 'I wasn't even worried about taking the stand. I knew I wasn't gonna let her wipe the floor with me,' he said, referring to the assistant district attorney on the case. The Manhattan Supreme Court jury also heard from former co-workers, who described how the serial shoplifter threatened 'I can kill y'all' and slammed Enoe against the doors of coolers he'd filled with drinks before the bloody melee. Jurors ultimately only found Enoe guilty of a lesser weapons count for possession of brass knuckles, but he is not expected to face any jail time on that conviction. 10 Enoe said prosecutors offered him a plea deal that carried a five-year prison sentence. Steven Hirsch Enoe noted his ordeal left a bitter taste in his mouth, although he wouldn't say if he planned on taking any legal action over the miscarriage of justice. 'I don't feel anger towards nobody,' he said Monday. 'I just feel relief, happy to go back to work, happy to get back to my life. I feel happy, not angry.' Bragg's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 10 Released on $100,000 bail thanks to his other employer, Enoe still had to wear a monitoring ankle bracelet. Stephen Yang The Manhattan DA's conviction rate has plunged every year since he took office in 2021, with just 35% of felony cases — 6,871 out of 19,602 crimes — ending in convictions last year, state data shows. And those numbers were way down from 2019, the last year before New York's woke discovery reform laws took effect, when 64% of felonies resulted in convictions. But some of Bragg's prosecution choices have sparked outrage, including his initial decision to charge Harlem bodega worker Jose Alba with murder for fatally stabbing an ex-con who attacked him inside his store. 10 Enoe noted his ordeal left a bitter taste in his mouth, although he wouldn't say if he planned on taking any legal action over the miscarriage of justice. Steven Hirsch The DA eventually dropped the case against Alba following widespread outrage. Last year, straphanger Daniel Penny was also ultimately acquitted at trial in the chokehold death of homeless man Jordan Neely aboard a Manhattan F train on May 1, 2023. Enoe noted the similarities between his case and Penny's, who he said was 'standing up for the people.' 'It's kind of similar in a way, because this guy, he was on the train, harassing people who are trying to just get to work and make a living.'
