News From Around the Web
> Health insurance sign-ups slowed in the second week of open enrollment. About 300,000 people picked a plan from Nov. 22-28--a week that included the Thanksgiving holiday. Total enrollment now stands at about 765,000, reports The Washington Post. Article
> Cigna has agreed to pay nearly $400,000 in fines to the state of Vermont. The Cigna Behavioral Health managed care organization used unlicensed mental health review agents to evaluate patients and review services for reimbursement, which violates state law. Announcement
> In light of President Barack Obama's executive order shielding certain undocumented immigrants from deportation, California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) is considering an expansion of Medi-Cal to cover those individuals, reports the Los Angeles Times. Article
Provider News
> It's "still early days" for effectively harnessing big data in healthcare, though there are signs of progress, according to the Harvard Business Review. Article
> PwC has released its list of the top issues within the healthcare industry for 2015. As the post-Affordable Care Act healthcare landscape takes shape, the industry will shift toward digitally-enabled, consumer-focused care models. Article
And finally ... Awkward holiday cards. Don't try this at home. Please. Article