News From Around the Web
> UnitedHealth Group petitioned the Supreme Court Sept. 14 to settle an appellate split over whether claim administrators can be sued under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act after the Second Circuit sided with the New York State Psychiatric Association last month, reports Law360. Article (Subscription required)
> According to the Alliance to Fight the 40, a coalition of healthcare companies and other organizations that seeks to repeal the coming 40 percent tax on certain employee health benefits, many nonprofit organizations are not aware that the health plans they offer to their employees will be subject to the so-called Cadillac Tax. Announcement
> In an effort to promote a diverse workforce, more insurers are adding benefits for employees who want to undergo gender reassignment surgery. According to the Human Rights Campaign, more than 415 of about 780 firms surveyed for their friendliness toward lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender workers now cover related procedures, reports Bloomberg. Article
Anti-Fraud News
> Although medical providers are prohibited from billing patients for costs that aren't covered by Medi-Cal, California's low income insurance plan, patient advocates say they are receiving an increasing number of complaints regarding the practice known as balance billing. Article
> The healthcare industry is devoting more money toward preventing and mitigating medical identity fraud, the majority of which is still going to new fraud detection software, according to a survey published by the Medical Identity Fraud Alliance. Article
And finally … She won the lottery and didn't even know it. Article