Family-run business joins the acquirer’s growing 22-state footprint
Author: Awais
As the CMS calls for public feedback on how to stop lab test fraud, experts say a tailored regulatory strategy will be key to avoid stifling innovation.
Municipal bond investors are clamoring for tax-free debt sold by California issuers. That demand is benefiting borrowers across the state — even ones without AAA credit ratings. In general, U.S. state and local government debt has gotten more expensive this year, with the 10-year muni benchmark offering about 64% yield on similar US Treasuries, as the asset class attracts new money. That dynamic is especially pronounced in California, where investors turn to municipal bonds as a refuge from high state income taxes. So far this year, muni bond funds have seen more than $18 billion of inflows, the third highest…
As the Trump administration promotes its new TrumpRx website and other efforts to lower prescription drug prices, a growing majority of the public worries about being able to afford prescription drugs, and large majorities across parties want the government to do more to regulate prices, a new KFF Health Tracking Poll finds. The new poll finds 59% of the public now say they are at least somewhat worried about being able to afford prescription drugs for themselves and their families, the largest share since KFF first polled on this question in 2018. This includes about one in five (22%) who…
Generic drugmaker Viatris has settled a lawsuit brought by the family of Henrietta Lacks, a Maryland woman whose tissue samples were used without her permission to develop enduring cells for lucrative medical research. Viatris and Lacks’ estate told a federal court in Baltimore, Maryland, on Wednesday that they would dismiss the case with prejudice, which means it cannot be refiled. An attorney for Lacks’ estate said her family was “pleased the parties were able to find a way to resolve this matter” and that details of the settlement were confidential. Spokespeople for Viatris did not immediately respond to a request…
AM Best reports that it has revised the outlooks to positive from stable and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) of “a-” (Excellent) for the members of Plymouth Rock Assurance Group (PRAG). At the same time, AM Best has affirmed the FSR of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term ICR of “a-” (Excellent) of the members of Plymouth Rock Home Assurance Group (PRHAG). AM Best’s outlook of these credit ratings is stable. According to AM Best analysts, the ratings of PRAG reflect its balance sheet strength, which they assess as…
Domestically, RB Jones has introduced an allied healthcare professional liability program, expanded capacity in its property and flood facilities, and rolled out new inland marine offerings covering builders’ risk, contractors property, and contractors equipment.
Price Forbes Capital Markets, the investment banking and ILS capital raising unit of reinsurance broker Price Forbes Re, has hired Mike Ward from Artex Risk Solutions as Vice President of its Capital Markets team in Bermuda.In his new role, Ward will be tasked with driving the delivery of capital solutions across primarily the ILS markets and reinsurance-based equity markets to seamlessly connect re/insurers with alternative capital sources. He will also lead investor outreach efforts to foster strong, strategic partnerships with institutional capital providers and asset managers worldwide. Additionally, he will assist with cross-selling and growth initiatives throughout the wider Price…
New York officials reported that after a year-long investigation they have recovered more than 40 Honda and Toyota vehicles worth more than a million dollars that were stolen. New York Attorney General Letitia James and New York City Police (NYPD) Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced the takedown of a car theft operation that allegedly sold stolen vehicles throughout New York and New Jersey. Five individuals have been charged with 92 crimes for their roles in selling stolen cars. The investigation began in February 2025 when Jonathan Mercedes Silvestre was identified as the broker for the sale of stolen motor vehicles, according…
Every summer, people living near the Mendenhall River in Juneau, Alaska, keep a close eye on the water level. When the river level begins to rise rapidly, it’s a sign that Suicide Basin, a small glacier-dammed lake 5 miles up the mountains, has broken through the glacier again and a glacial lake outburst flood is underway. After nearly 15 straight years of ever-larger and more damaging floods in Alaska’s capital city, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is discussing an ambitious and expensive solution: create a permanent drain from the lake that would prevent it from reaching outburst stage. The…
Retailers Casualty Insurance, with offices in Michigan and writing workers’ compensation coverage around the South, has joined a growing list of carriers offering dividends or rebates to safe employers. The company’s board of directors voted recently to declare a $1 million distribution for policies effective in 2024. The payout will be based on employers’ safety and loss record, their annual premiums, and the carrier’s profit level for the year. The maximum rebate will be about 8.1% of premium and the average is about $550, said Chris Neyrey, a vice president for Retailers’ managing general agent. Dividend plans appear to be…
If you judged by the more than 16,400 comments posted on a federal government website, you’d think there was a groundswell of older Americans demanding that federal officials hike payments to their Medicare Advantage health insurance plans. Yet about 82% of the comments are identical to a letter that appeared on the website of a secretive advocacy group called Medicare Advantage Majority, a data analysis by KFF Health News has found. The “dark money” group does not reveal its funders or much else — other than to say it is “dedicated to protecting and strengthening Medicare Advantage” and is “powered…
A bill to create a statewide framework for handling wildfire smoke damage insurance claims is now making its way through California Legislature. The Smoke Damage Recovery Act, which primary backer Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara said stems from the recovery process after the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires and smoke damage claims, is authored by Assemblyman Mike Gipson. Related: LA Fire Victims Suing City Utility for Billions Win Major Ruling The bill was first made public in February. Assembly Bill 1795 would require that homes contaminated after a wildfire are properly evaluated and restored to a safe and habitable condition. It…
The Nashville, Tennessee-based academic health system said its board of directors will begin a national search for its next president and CEO.