health care plans

A third of Americans could have had data stolen in big health care hack

09/09/2024 - by zebra

CNN
—

A third of Americans may have had their personal data swept up in a February ransomware attack on a UnitedHealth Group subsidiary that disrupted pharmacies across the US, UnitedHealth CEO Andrew Witty estimated in testimony to Congress on Wednesday.

It will likely take “several months” before UnitedHealth is able to identify and notify Americans affected by the hack because the company is still combing through the stolen data, Witty said in written testimony.

In hours of hearings in the Senate and House Wednesday, Witty apologized to patients and doctors, admitted that hackers broke into the subsidiary through a

Health Care

Cannabis health care classes begin at University of Lynchburg as DEA considers reclassifying substance

07/07/2024 - by zebra

LYNCHBURG, Va. (WFXR) – The University of Lynchburg’s cannabis health care and medicine program kicked off this week, just days after the Associated Press reported that the DEA is moving to reclassify the substance.

“By changing the scheduling status, it’s going to open up a tremendous amount of opportunity,” said Max Simon, CEO of Green Flower, a partner in the program.

The program focuses on medicinal uses for the plant. Legal medical marijuana spending has quadrupled in the past decade according to data from Statista. Simon says reclassification could only boost interest in this already fast-growing industry.

Health Care

WHO-OHCHR launches new guidance to improve laws addressing human rights abuses in mental health care

01/07/2024 - by zebra

Ahead of World Mental Health Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR) are jointly launching new guidance, entitled “Mental health, human rights and legislation: guidance and practice”, to support countries to reform legislation in order to end human rights abuses and increase access to quality mental health care.

Human rights abuses and coercive practices in mental health care, supported by existing legislation and policies, are still far too common. Involuntary hospitalization and treatment, unsanitary living conditions and physical, psychological, and emotional abuse characterize many mental health services across the world.