In 2015, CMS issued a final rule that established a prior authorization process for certain Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) items, with the goal of reducing the use of items that had been frequently subject to unnecessary utilization. Initial implementation began March 20, 2017, and items have been added and subtracted to the list over the following years through subsequent rulemaking. As of January 13, 2026, the DMEPOS items prior authorizations list includes over 70 items, including for pressure reducing support surfaces, power mobility devices, and lower limb prosthetics. Additionally, in December 2025, CMS issued a rule…
Author: Awais
AUB Group Ltd., the Sydney, Australia-based brokerage and underwriting agency group, announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire 95.9% of Prestige Insurance Holdings Ltd. for $432 million (US$300.1 million). Founded in 1973, Prestige is a diversified insurance broking and underwriting platform in the UK with more than A$300 million (US$208.4 million) in gross written premiums, employing approximately 650 people. Prestige comprises a retail broking business placing £170 million (US$233.5 million) of premium across 18 branches and a portfolio of specialist managing general agents writing approximately £140 million (US$192.2 million) of premium supporting more than 550 broking partners in…
Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt this week testified in favor of a bill that would create an Insurance Savings Account (ISA). The Kansas Department of Insurance introduced the bill to give Kansans a state tax free way to save for property and casualty insurance expenses. If passed, the bill will allow Kansas tax filers to open up an ISA at a financial institution and make contributions up to a set amount, depending on their tax filing status. Account holders can then use the money contributed to pay for any property and casualty insurance expense including home and auto insurance premiums…
Thousands of East Texans remain without power days after a winter storm paralyzed most of the state over the weekend. Many may be without power until Sunday as utility workers traverse icy roads in dense forests to restore power. Winter Storm Fern spread across the U.S. from New Mexico to the Northeast over the weekend, leaving thick layers of ice and snow in its wake. Residents across Texas saw temperatures drop below freezing and power outages that lasted anywhere from a few minutes to days. East Texas was the only region in Texas to lose power for an extended period…
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Jan. 22 Arielle Zionts reads the week’s news: Some states are cutting public funding for a type of autism therapy, and older adults are more likely than younger ones to stop taking GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic. Jan. 15 Jackie Fortiér reads the week’s news: Parents are confused by an overhaul of U.S. childhood immunization guidelines, and while people 65 and older make up the fastest-growing homeless population in the country, traditional homeless shelters often can’t accommodate them. Jan. 8 Zach Dyer reads the week’s news: Instead of extending extra Affordable Care Act subsidies that would keep monthly premiums more affordable, some Republicans are pushing health savings accounts. Plus, people seeking…
Novi Underwriters has named Jason Binette, James Cinque and Cody Ruggirello to its newly launched management liability offering. Featuring modern forms for a variety of risks and quick points of sale, coverage will benefit auto dealers, fintechs, manufacturers, retailers, foundations, biotech, staffing, entertainment, restaurants, start-ups and more. Binette has over 20 years of management liability underwriting experience, combining technical precision with product innovation and deep broker relationships. Prior to joining Novi, Binette led the Employment Practices Liability division at AmTrust Financial, where he managed underwriting operations for both standalone and integrated EPLI products across commercial lines. Cinque adds another two…
Texas Mutual Names Cullison as SVP of Talent and Brand Strategy Texas Mutual Insurance Company, the state’s leading provider of workers’ compensation insurance, recently announced Brittany Cullison as its senior vice president of talent and brand strategy, effective January 12. In this role, Cullison will be responsible for aligning Texas Mutual’s people, brand and purpose to strengthen the company’s position as an employer of choice and trusted partner to Texas businesses. Cullison brings more than 15 years of experience driving transformation in enterprise organizations and leading both human resources and brand functions. She most recently served as chief people officer…
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Listen to the article 3 min This audio is auto-generated. Please let us know if you have feedback. The federal government announced the next 15 medicines for which it will seek price reductions with the help of Medicare’s new negotiating power, including the breast cancer drugs Kisqali and Verzenio and the HIV treatment Biktarvy. Those cuts, which are allowed through the Inflation Reduction Act, will go into effect in 2028. Also included in the third annual round of price negotiations were the rheumatoid arthritis medicines Orencia, Cimzia and Xeljanz, as well as Botox when it’s used for therapeutic purposes like…
A federal judge has allowed the manager of the cargo ship Dali involved in the tragic collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge in March 2024 to proceed for now with its claims under an 1851 maritime law that limits liability for shipowners. The state of Maryland and wrongful death claimants had sought to prevent Synergy Marine from invoking the Shipowners’ Limitation of Liability Act on the basis that Synergy does not meet the requirements as an owner of the ship and thus is not entitled to limited liability protection granted by the law. Under the maritime law, a shipowner’s…
Matt Coy The MEMIC Group, headquartered in Portland, Maine, hired Matt Coy as chief information officer (CIO), succeeding Jack Yao, who retired at the end of 2025 after more than nine years of service. Coy leads MEMIC’s technology strategy, rejoining MEMIC after serving as CIO at Montana State Fund, where he led enterprise-wide modernization and strategic technology initiatives. His career includes senior leadership roles such as vice president of information technology at MEMIC, director of application development for Aetna, and key positions at Optum and Coventry Health Care. Was this article valuable? Yes No Here are more articles you may…
A California seafood is paying $248,000 to resolve allegations it sold frozen seafood products with elevated levels of lead and cadmium without the required warnings. California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office settled with Pacific American Fish Company Inc., a seafood distributor and processor based in Vernon, California, for a violation of Proposition 65 and California’s Unfair Competition Law. Under the settlement, PAFCO must implement practices to minimize the introduction of lead and cadmium during processing, provide legally required warnings and pay $248,000 in penalties. The settlement also includes provisions that will enable other sellers of fresh or frozen seafood products…
Fourth quarter 2025 net income at Progressive Corp. increased 25% compared to the same period a year ago to nearly $3 billion. Progressive reports results monthly. Net income for December was up 22% to about $1.15 billion. Full-year net income was about $11.3 billion, up from about $8.5 billion a year ago. The Mayfield Village, Ohio-based insurer’s Q4 2025 combined ratio was an even 88—nearly flat compared to Q4 2024’s result of 87.9. Net premiums written (NPW) in Q4 were about $21.1 billion, an increase of 10% compared to the same time period the prior year. For the year, Progressive…