Lawsuit over hug necessary for insurance reasons, lawyers say
Even if you don’t know the name, you’ve by now heard of Jennifer Connell, aka The Aunt Who Sued Her Nephew Over a Hug. It was reported earlier this week that a Connecticut jury found against Connell in her $127,000 lawsuit against her nephew, whose over-exuberant embrace at his 2011 allegedly caused her to fall […]
Report: Social Security judges rubber-stamp claims
Amid complaints about lengthy waits for Social Security disability benefits, congressional investigators say nearly 200 administrative judges have been rubber-stamping claims, approving billions of dollars in lifetime payments from the cash-strapped program.
Md. claimed $20.6M in unallowable Medicaid costs
ANNAPOLIS — Maryland claimed at least $20.6 million in unallowable Medicaid costs and should pay the money back, a federal audit report released Friday says. The report by the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services found Maryland’s health department did not comply with federal and state requirements when […]
State disputes study’s figures for coming medical claims jump
ANNAPOLIS — Medical claims costs in Maryland could jump 67 percent for residents’ individual policies by 2017 under the federal health-care overhaul, according to a study released Tuesday by the nation’s leading group of financial risk analysts. But a Maryland official said the study is flawed, because it doesn’t consider state-level policy decisions that will […]
Claims due in Delaware doctor’s abuse settlement
Children who were sexually abused by a former Delaware pediatrician, including about 100 who live in Maryland, have until Friday to submit claims following a $123 million settlement of their civil lawsuit. After attorneys’ fees and expenses are paid, $90 million should be available for victims, according to plaintiffs’ attorney Philip Federico of Schochor, Federico […]
Audit finds MHIP did not review claims management
ANNAPOLIS — An audit of Maryland’s state-sponsored health insurance program shows its officials failed to obtain an independent review of the program’s automated claims management system and made payments to a vendor without a written contract. The legislative audit released Thursday reports that MHIP made $367,000 in payments for information technology services, but officials did [&[...]
Medicare disruptions seen if health law is struck
WASHINGTON — Tossing out President Barack Obama’s health care law would have major unintended consequences for Medicare’s payment systems, unseen but vital plumbing that handles 100 million monthly claims from hospitals and other service providers, the administration has quietly informed the courts. Although the law made significant cuts to providers and improved prescription and pre[...]
Md. winner claims share of $656M Mega Millions jackpot
Maryland lottery officials say a holder of a winning Mega Millions ticket has come forward to claim a share of the record-breaking, $656 million prize. Lottery spokeswoman Carole Everett says the winner claimed the prize with the winning ticket at lottery headquarters on Monday. She says she wouldn’t give any details about the winner until […]
Federal court OKs W.R. Grace reorganization
W. R. Grace & Co. said Tuesday that a U.S. District Court affirmed its reorganization plan, putting the chemical maker a step closer to emerging from bankruptcy protection after more than a decade under court supervision. The company originally filed for bankruptcy protection in April 2001 so it could resolve its asbestos-related liabilities. Its reorganization […]
FedEx earns, drop in claims push stocks higher
NEW YORK — Strong earnings from FedEx and a sharp drop in claims for unemployment benefits pushed stocks mostly higher in midday trading Thursday. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 100 points, or 0.9 percent, to 11,923 shortly after noon Eastern. The Dow lost 360 points over the past three days on worries that Europe’s […]
2nd investor files action against Grand Prix
A second early investor of the Baltimore Grand Prix filed an action Tuesday against the race’s organizers, seeking more than $300,000 he said he is owed. And the attorney for Sean Conley and fellow investor Steven Wehner — who filed against the organizers last week — said he will be filing an injunction to freeze […]
Hopkins study says risks of robotic surgery rarely mentioned
Hospitals are pushing robotic surgery even as their websites are filled with unsubstantiated claims and marketing materials provided by the primary manufacturer of the technology, according to new research from Johns Hopkins physicians. A study published Wednesday in the Journal of Healthcare Quality claims that an estimated 40 percent of larger hospitals in the U.S. […]