Bertha Coombs
Retired CNBC Senior Health Care Reporter; National Hispanic Health Research Institute Advisory Board Member
#RedSoxFan #Cubana #HealthcareNerd
nhhri.org
- The folks who designed @cnbc.com made it much more convenient to take the stairs than the elevator in the building, so it was easy to get steps in at work. #takethestairs
- My barista really nailed $SBUX CEO Brian Niccol’s new policy of writing a phrase on the cup — clever and perfect handwriting. When I said, “Ugh, you have to that now.” She replied, “I get to do that,” and smiled. She’s good, that one.
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- As of 2022 “Black females had the highest age-standardized prevalence of obesity in 2022 (56.9%), followed by Hispanic females (49.4%)” That makes me wonder about their current coverage for and access to weight loss meds. Even at $200/month for the new GLP-1 pills, it’s a heavy lift for many.
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- This is just the advance notice. They final rates aren't determined until later this year.
- Talk about eye-teeth: The patient "had noticed a swelling on his left upper eyelid for a couple of months, which was painless and was not troubling him in any way until about a month prior to presentation, when he noticed two sharp, whitish projections protruding out," Tanwar said.
- That’s enough, now Broncos. #GoPats
- Well, that’s how you establish your presence. #broncos
- Well, that’s how you establish your presence. #broncos
- Trying to revive and justify eugenics in this day and age. Mind boggling.
- In Spanish, maduro means ripe. The joke these days among Cuban-Americans is that Diaz-Canale is pintón, or slightly ripe. Stabilization has to be central to any plan. With chronic power failures, right now Cubans desperately need a system that can literally keep the lights on, along with freedom.
- UHC to rebate profits to ACA enrollees this year, to help make up for lack of tax credits. Given high MLR trends, even with high prices, that could be less than 10% of premiums. Folks in NY, CA, NJ, RI, PA, VA have until the end of the month to sign up; MA until this Friday.
- SCOTUS punts on tariff ruling
- We pay for tariffs? No kidding. meantime, SCOTUS is expected to rule on Trump’s tariffs later this morning… ahead of the Lisa Cook case hearing later this week, where Powell is expected to sit in.
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- Reposted by Bertha CoombsHealth care one year into the Trump administration: A trillion dollars in health care cuts. Expiration of enhanced ACA premium subsidies. Narrowing vaccine recommendations. Cutting off funds to Planned Parenthood. Deals with drug companies with unclear reductions in prices.
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- True, they didn’t fight back physically against Bull Connor’s goons’ vicious racist attacks. Donalds’ observation makes for an interesting comparison…
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- How can it still be snowing in Foxboro when the #Patriots are so hot?!! No need for review- that was an amazing catch!
- The “Great Healthcare” (concept of a) Plan: - pay Americans via HSAs so that they can then pay insurers - “fully funds long-neglected… Cost Sharing Reduction program” to cut premiums 10%-15% - bring drug prices down 500% via MFN cash market - “unprecedented accountability and transparency”
- ‼️‼️‼️ F.B.I. Searches Home of Washington Post Journalist for Classified Material ‼️‼️‼️
- I’m just a retiree, but it’s funny how when you’re talking about a grand jury probe of the Fed, a 10% cap on credit cards, running/not running Venezuela, giving Greenlanders $100K, etc…. you overshadow No Tax Credits for Americans to buy health coverage with 3 days left to enroll. (and Epstein)
- Nikki Glaser opens Golden Globes with a jab at CBS News, calling it now the home of BS news. Ouch!
- Farewell to @pbsnews.org weekend. Just so sad to see public media under so much financial pressure.
- Incredible story: Hessy Levinsons Taft, Jewish Baby on Cover of Nazi Magazine, Dies at 91
- I can't help thinking of the woman I interviewed last month who was waiting until the last minute to sign up; her husband was debating leaving their business to take a retail job with benefits. They and millions more have one more week to sign up, while Congress can't seem to agree to help them.
- What the heck was that call at the end of that Detroit Pittsburgh game?!
- Going to miss the amazing @bowenyang.bsky.social on SNL! Can’t wait to see what fantastic things he does next! Such a talented performer!
- It’s not just the $43K in premiums, the Bronze plan has a $21K deductible. Washington needs to stop the politicking, the health industry needs to stop the blame game on high prices, and we all need to do our part to maintain our health… to create a sustainable system for this country.
- It's my last day at @cnbc.com and last day as a working journalist. Retiring makes me think of this line from a Robert McCloskey children's book: "You're a little bit sad about the place you are leaving, a little bit glad about the place you are going. It is a time of quiet wonder."
- The Trump admin's reclassification of cannabis opens the door for Boomers on Medicare getting covered for medical marijuana. There's a CMMI pilot with Hemp-wellness provider Charlotte's Web launching in January. prn.to/4s567Ev
- Obamacare subsidies extension to get a House vote in time for the final enrollment deadline in January. Rep. Mike Lawler on Tuesday said that not holding a vote on the subsidies would be “political malpractice.”
- Learned a new word: inflammaging. Now I won't curse my trainer Francesca tonight for today's leg workout.
- Inconceivable.... didn't mean to Rob Reiner what it meant to everyone else...
- Two days after today's enrollment deadline for most people, House GOP set to vote a on a health care bill that would not include enhanced tax credits...
- Insurers mixed. Today is the last day to sign up for ACA coverage starting on Jan 1. Anecdotal data from eHealth points to more folks trading down to enhanced Bronze plans this year, while state exchange officials say more folks are waiting on pulling the trigger on coverage.
- You can ask ChatGPT, but I believe those represent presents, ornaments and twinkly stars arranged in the form of a Christmas tree... #BerthaAI🤖
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- Self-employed middles class folks are the only ones left out of the tax subsidy loop. And with no deal on enhanced subsidies having contributed to the spike in premiums, it's even more unfair for those folks now looking at 2026 premiums. Today's the deadline to enroll for coverage starting Jan. 1.
- Frank Lutz summarizes problem on health care. Says Americans don’t trust Dem’s government solution. GOP proposes insurance market solution, and Americans don’t trust insurers. So that leaves…🤷🏽♀️
- ¡Feliz Navidad 🎄 to my favorite Cubiche on SNL! Marcelo Hernandez hilariously nails the spirit of Noche Buena.
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- Dude, those are some wicked highs on the cannabis stocks...
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- @sangerkatz.bsky.social on the outlook for ACA enrollees with no action by Congress to extend subsidies.
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- I wonder why they chose to cut off Fe-Fe Li in the picture.
- Actually the tax credit cliff kicks in Monday for those who want to start their coverage Jan. 1. Others may risk going without for one month and decide by the final deadline Jan 15 whether they’ll sign on at all.
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- I don't get it. What in the world are they using to train these LLMs? And if they're so "intelligent" why can't they be trained to refrain from such talk with children?
- No creo que lo van hacer, dejando muchos con el dilema de esperar hasta Enero y empazar 2026 sin seguro, or pagar los nuevos tarifas alto y rogar que alla un acuerdo en el nuevo año.
- I’m old enough to remember when they first donned Dow 10,000 hats on the floor of the NYSE…
- So, does this mean I could get ChatGPT to speak to me like Moana?
- Fantastique!
- I woke up with Feed the World playing my head. This holiday season do help in any way you can, and consider starting with the needs in your own community. You don’t need to be a gazillionaire to contribute. We all have a stake in to the wellbeing of our communities.
- Reposted by Bertha CoombsUnder the Senate Republican ACA plan, premium payments would still more than double next year. Healthy people could be better off in a high deductible plan with a health savings account. People who are sick would face big premium increases or a deductible they can't afford.
- This is actually CVS Tech Chief Tilak Mandadi, getting set to unveil the company's new engagement platform.
