Hospitals, doctors drop private Medicare plans over payment disputes

One large health system with hospitals in Virginia and Ohio this year cut off in-network access to consumers enrolled in some Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare and Medicaid health insurance plans.

Hospitals, doctors drop private Medicare plans over payment disputes

Related:

Vanderbilt Health to drop some Medicare Advantage plans

H/T: Christopher Westfall | Senior Savings Network (this is not an endorsement)

US economy expanding?

The first estimate of third quarter real GDP growth in the US was released yesterday. It showed the US economy expanded by an annualised rate of 4.9%. The Financial Times called this a “blistering pace that, not for the first time, defied gloomier predictions from economists.” US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen commented that “It’s a good, strong number and it shows an economy that’s doing very well,” and she is “not expecting growth at that pace to continue, but we do have good, solid growth.”

US economy expanding?

Wisconsin Republicans withhold university pay raises in fight over school diversity funding +

WisPolitics

Wisconsin Republicans withhold university pay raises in fight over school diversity funding

Related:

University of Wisconsin is shutting down in-person instruction at two branch campuses

Wisconsin Senate passes $2B tax cut package, though Evers veto likely

Evers had called on the Legislature to pass a package that included $365 million in new child care funding; a $65 million boost in University of Wisconsin funding; $200 million to pay for a new engineering building at UW-Madison; $243 million to create a new 12-week family medical leave program for Wisconsin workers and millions more for workforce education and grant programs.

The Republican bill would also create a state tax credit for families paying for child care; increase income tax deductions for private school tuition; make professional credentials granted to workers in other states valid in Wisconsin; and prohibit state examining boards from requiring counselors, therapists and pharmacists pass tests on state law and regulations. 😳

Argentina election 2023: what you need to know

The vultures are ready to “make the economy scream” if Javier Milei wins!*

Argentina election 2023: what you need to know

Far-right libertarian Javier Milei is leading the polls ahead of Argentina’s Oct. 22 presidential vote, but it remains a tight race between the top three candidates, three surveys showed.

Related:

Argentina election: from peso to dollar?

But dollarisation would also mean immediate recession and slump. It would have to start with a massive devaluation of the domestic peso monetary base. In a very optimistic scenario, if Argentina received a loan of say $12 billion from the IMF and used $5 billion as a reserve for the banking system and $7 billion to dollarise the monetary base, the domestic peso monetary base would still have to be reduced by nearly 400%. Argentine salaries (then in US dollars) would become among the lowest globally and poverty would rise to unprecedented levels. And Argentina is already in a recession with real GDP expected to drop by around 2% this year. So either way: peso or dollar, Argentine households would pay the price in living standards.

Desperation has driven many Argentines to consider a ‘libertarian, anarcho-capitalist’ as president. If this were to happen, it will be going down another blind alley. Argentina’s capitalist economy will continue to fail.

Just scratching the surface:

Read More »

“60 Minutes” reveals how US tax dollars are supporting Ukrainian small businesses, farmers, and the salaries of 57,000 first responders

“60 Minutes” reveals how US tax dollars are supporting Ukrainian small businesses, farmers, and the salaries of 57,000 first responders

Related:

In Ukraine, American taxpayers funding more than just the military

DFC CEO Travels to Kyiv in Show of Unwavering Support and Makes Several Announcements to Catalyze $1 Billion in Private Sector Engagement

Lindsey Graham is such a psychopath!

As Biden Scrambles to Save Suppliers, UAW Limits Strike’s Impact

Last night’s announcement by UAW President Shawn Fain that the union would initially only strike at three non-strategic plants has confused many in the labor movement. The announcement comes as the Biden Administration has stepped in to stop the strike from spread and protect its $15 billion investment in transitioning the auto parts industry to make electric vehicles.

As Biden Scrambles to Save Suppliers, UAW Limits Strike’s Impact

TSMC Arizona chip plant will be a paperweight, says analyst

The TSMC Arizona chip plant is behind schedule, over budget, and the subject of contention in online forums – and now an analyst says that it will be little more than a useless paperweight, even when it does finally begin production.

Not only will it only make chips for older Apple devices, but it can’t even complete the process of making those without sending them back to Taiwan for final assembly …

TSMC Arizona chip plant will be a paperweight, says analyst