In response to today’s circumstances, we have seen increased demand for telemedicine from healthcare consumers. For many, the opportunity to engage in traditional healthcare (i.e. visiting a doctor’s office or emergency room) has dwindled due to risk of infection and reallocation of resources. Consequently, individuals across the nation have had …
After several months of conducted studies, research has shown that the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is transmitted predominantly by respiratory droplets generated when people cough, sneeze, sing, talk or breathe. “Studies demonstrate that cloth mask materials can also reduce wearers’ exposure to infectious droplets through filtration, including filtration …
Studies have shown that military members and veterans experience high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury and depression when returning from active duty. When these psychiatric conditions are left untreated, increased rates of substance abuse and suicide are likely. To raise awareness surrounding the issues veterans face, …
According to a recent press release, Pfizer, Inc., in partnership with BioNtech, have announced that early data from their COVID-19 vaccine trial has demonstrated high effectiveness. The Phase 3 vaccine candidate’s early results found the immunization to be 90% effective in preventing COVID-19 in participants without prior evidence of the …
The holiday season is a special time to come together with friends and family to reconnect and celebrate. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has presented risks to partaking in traditional social gatherings and remains a top concern across the nation. With that said, it is essential to consider and prioritize your health …
Since COVID-19 was declared a public health emergency, Operation Warp Speed has been working towards producing and delivering 300 million doses of safe and effective vaccines. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), multiple COVID-19 vaccines are currently being developed; which means additional coverage may be necessary …
One in five Philadelphians experience food insecurity. Meaning, they do not have consistent access to enough food and resources to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle. The current pandemic has intensified this issue for a plethora of individuals and their families, putting the overall health and development of children at …
In response to an executive order presented in June 2019, the Department of Labor (DOL), Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Treasury have issued a final rule regarding coverage transparency. The rule imposes new transparency requirements on group health plans and health insurers in the individual and group markets. …
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released Revenue Procedure 2020-45, which includes cost-of-living adjustments for employee qualified transportation fringe benefits for the 2021 taxable year. The combined 2021 monthly limit for transportation in a commuter highway vehicle and a transit pass remains unchanged at $270. For qualified parking, the monthly limit …
Philadelphia region’s largest health insurance company, Independence Blue Cross (IBC), has teamed up with Alvéole — a Montreal based beekeeping company — on a substantial sustainability initiative. 30,000 honeybees are now living in an unoccupied space at the Independence Blue Cross corporate headquarters in Center City, Philadelphia at 19th and …
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) imposes a dollar limit on employees’ salary reduction contributions to health flexible spending accounts, or FSAs, offered under cafeteria plans. For 2020, the health FSA limit on employees’ pre-tax contributions increased by $50 — from $2,700 to $2,750. On October 27, 2020, the Internal Revenue …
The COVID-19 pandemic has made traditional doctor visits less accessible for patients, forcing them to seek out telemedicine and other digital solutions to receive necessary care. According to a recent JAMA study, there have been substantial decreases in primary care delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the rapid spike in …
From payments to policies, to prescriptions and rising healthcare costs, the outcome of the 2020 presidential election will influence the future of the U.S. healthcare system. As we approach the 2020 presidential election, healthcare is definitely top of mind for Americans. According to a recent poll by the Kaiser Family …
To help address two of the largest ongoing health issues facing Americans today — smoking and type 2 diabetes — Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) has teamed up with Carrot Inc. and Virta Health to offer members disease reversal solutions through comprehensive virtual care …
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released final forms and instructions for 2020 ACA reporting under Internal Revenue Code Sections 6055 and 6056. Prior to finalizing, draft forms were released this past July, with additional revisions made this month to both the forms and instructions. The final forms and instructions …
