Clark County teachers learned that their health insurance company has no funds to cover claims made before July. In other news, Washington State kills its first “murder hornet’s nest”; Florida didn’t spend $ 820 million helping low-income children; Rejection of San Francisco’s homeless plan; and more.
Las Vegas Review-Journal: Teachers Health Trust: No Money for Previous Claims
The health insurance company, which covers thousands of Clark County teachers and their families, does not have the funds to cover claims made before July, according to a recent letter to medical service providers. “In order to be completely transparent, these demands are currently not being financed,” the letter says. “We’re working tirelessly, examining every option available to resolve this situation.” THT Health, formerly the Teachers Health Trust, is a teacher-run nonprofit that serves 18,000 educators and their families with a total of approximately 34,000 people. The plan, known as the “Self-Financing Health Fund,” was introduced in 1983 and is overseen by the Clark County Education Association. Under the union’s most recent collective agreement with the Clark County School District, much of the trust’s funding comes from the district’s weighted contributions. (Lacanlale, Aug. 26)
In news from Washington, Florida and California –
Reuters: Washington State removes first Murder Hornet nest of the year
Washington state wiped out its first Asian giant hornet nest of the year by vacuuming 113 worker hornets and removing bark and rotted wood near the nest, officials from the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) said Thursday. The so-called stinging “murder hornets”, the largest hornets in the world, can be up to 5 cm long and prey on domestic bees and wasps, consume honey beehives and threaten agriculture. (8/26)
WUSF Public Media: $ 820 million on table for low-income children, food aid groups warn
Florida has yet to file an application for a federal program that will provide $ 820 million to the state’s low-income children. The Summer Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer Program provides free federal funding to the states to provide food grants to children who missed free or discounted meals while their schools or childcare facilities were closed. “During the first onslaught of the pandemic in March and April when schools closed, one of the unintended results was that many children suddenly had no place to eat,” said Thomas Mantz, President and CEO of Feeding Tampa Bay . (Miller, Aug. 26)
San Francisco Chronicle: SF plans to open homeless hotels across the city. These are the neighborhoods that are pushing back
Many community leaders, business owners, and residents of Japantown are opposed to San Francisco’s plan to buy a tourist hotel in the neighborhood and convert it into permanent, affordable, social serviced housing for people affected by homelessness. Locals say their opposition is not “anti-homeless,” pointing out that many supported using the Buchanan Hotel to house the homeless during the pandemic. But they worry about the end of tourism if one of the neighborhood’s two hotels is permanently lost, and criticize what they consider to be a rushed process in a historically marginalized community. (Monk, August 26th)
KHN: Democrats say abortion is at stake in the recall election. But resetting rights would not be easy.
As the election to recall California Governor Gavin Newsom draws nearer, abortion rights groups warn that California’s right to abortion is on the ballot. Newsom, a Democrat, tweeted himself that it was about “access to abortion”. “If a Republican is elected, there is no question that access to abortion will be restricted in California,” said Jodi Hicks, president of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, at a news conference in July. But that message is strategic and it’s more about cheering left-wing voters than politics, said Rob Stutzman, a Republican political strategist. (Bluth, August 22nd)
This is part of the KHN Morning Briefing, a round-up of health coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.
