Employer-Paid

The Golden State is trying to protect its standards for vaccines and birth control from any changes that might come out of Washington.

Not unlike many issues affecting public health, socio-economic factors play an important role in improved health.

The precise impacts the shutdown will have on employers remain to be seen, but past shutdowns and recent agency guidance issued in preparation for the shutdown provide some insight on what we should expect.

"Understanding the characteristics and health burdens of high-cost claimants is essential for employers, insurers and policymakers aiming to design targeted strategies for care management, cost containment and improved health outcomes," said the report.

The move comes as Cigna advances with new rules for patient evaluation claims.

Enrollment in "noncompliant nongroup" plans could climb by 119,000, or 5.2%, to 2.3 million.