Health plans are making voluntary commitments to support patients and…
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
S’pore researchers to go on deep sea expedition with non-profit OceanX in October: Vivian
Researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) are planning to embark on a deep sea biodiversity expedition to the high seas in the eastern Indian Ocean in October. The expedition will also bring together scientists from the region, especially other small island developing states. The Indian Ocean is the body of water between South-east Asia and the African continent. The high seas, which make up about two-thirds of the ocean, refer to ocean areas outside national jurisdictions. Singapore helped to broker an agreement under Unclos on the conservation and use of marine biodiversity outside of national jurisdictions in 2023. The agreement is underpinned by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos), said Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan. He said Singapore would be renewing past commitments it made to support ocean health, and undertaking new ones to be conserved and sustainably used in the future. He urged other countries to ratify the agreement, which will enter into force after it is ratified in September 2024.
S’pore researchers to go on deep sea expedition with non-profit OceanX in October: Vivian
– Researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) are planning to embark on a deep sea biodiversity expedition to the high seas in the eastern Indian Ocean in October , said Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan on June 10.
The expedition, in collaboration with US-headquartered non-profit OceanX, will also bring together scientists from the region, especially other small island developing states, Dr Balakrishnan said as he delivered Singapore’s national statement at the UN Ocean Conference taking place in Nice, France.
“This will give (researchers) an opportunity to document and to survey deep sea biological material,” he said, adding that the findings will help to deepen understanding of the oceans.
The Indian Ocean is the body of water between South-east Asia and the African continent. The high seas, which make up about two-thirds of the ocean, refer to ocean areas outside national jurisdictions.
Dr Balakrishnan on June 9 said, on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States (Aosis), that it was important for small island developing states to lead, and not just participate in, ocean-related scientific expeditions.
Aosis is a grouping of 39 small-island and low-lying coastal developing states including Singapore, Palau, the Maldives and Belize.
Mr Mark Dalio, founder and co-chief executive of OceanX, told The Straits Times that its partnership with NUS “reflects OceanX’s ongoing commitment to advance ocean science in South-east Asia”.
“This mission will generate vital data on deep sea biodiversity and ecosystem health, strengthen the region’s scientific knowledge base, and support informed decision-making for ocean stewardship,” he said. “We are proud to enable this next chapter of exploration into one of the region’s least studied environments.”
NUS’ Professor Peter Ng, the chief scientist for the upcoming expedition, said the collaboration between NUS and OceanX will involve researchers from the university’s Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum and Tropical Marine Science Institute (TMSI).
They will be joined by researchers from Nanyang Technological University, as well as scientists from South-east Asia and other small island states, whom the NUS team is collaborating with, said Prof Ng, the former head of the museum and TMSI.
The scientists will explore and study deep sea biodiversity, environmental DNA and microbial ecosystems in the international waters of the Christmas Island Seamount Province, located in the eastern Indian Ocean.
“This expedition is intended to generate scientific baselines that support future conservation and ocean management,” said Prof Ng. “This project, funded by the National Research Foundation and NUS, will enhance our knowledge of the deep sea, strengthen regional ties and provide opportunities for capacity building.”
Dr Balakrishnan said Singapore believes the expedition will contribute to the shared global goals of advancing ocean science education and capacity building.
Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan delivers a speech at the Third United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France, on June 10. PHOTO: MFA
In his address to the summit, which brings together 193 UN member states, the minister said the ocean is under severe threat from rising temperatures, acidification, overfishing and plastic pollution. “As a low-lying coastal city state, Singapore is at risk due to rising sea levels, coastal erosion and the risk of flooding,” he added.
These challenges demand a multilateral solution – one that is underpinned by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos), said Dr Balakrishnan.
Unclos sets out the legal framework for all activities carried out in the oceans and seas.
In 2023, Singapore helped to broker an agreement under Unclos on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity outside national jurisdictions.
The High Seas Treaty, officially called the Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement, will enter into force after 60 countries ratify it.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on June 9 that 55 countries have done so. Singapore ratified the agreement in September 2024.
Dr Balakrishnan said it was crucial for this treaty to enter into force if the ocean and marine resources are to be conserved and sustainably used, and urged other countries to ratify the agreement.
He also said that Singapore would be renewing 15 of the past voluntary commitments it made to support ocean health, and undertaking 12 new ones.
Past commitments include environmental research programmes such as the Marine Climate Change Science Programme and efforts to promote green financing in the maritime industry.
It also conducted ocean-related courses for fellow developing countries, such as on how coastal biodiversity can be managed under urban pressures.
On the new commitments, Dr Balakrishnan pointed to Singapore’s first seagrass restoration project, launched in September 2024, saying these ecosystems will contribute to global climate efforts, given that these habitats are the “lungs of the sea”.
He also cited the 100k Corals Initiative, which was launched in December 2024 with the aim of planting 100,000 corals in Singapore’s waters in the next decade and beyond.
“We believe this effort will support marine biodiversity and protect us from coral erosion in the seas around Singapore,” he added.
Singapore will also continue to provide capacity building assistance to developing countries to address ocean-related challenges, Dr Balakrishnan said. The Republic has conducted over 60 courses for more than 1,600 foreign officials under the Singapore Cooperation Programme Sustainability Action Package.
“Over the next year, we will conduct more of such courses on the state of blue carbon science, policy, finance and achieving high-quality outcomes,” he said.
Dr Balakrishnan added: “Singapore commits to working with all our partners to restore the health and to enhance the resilience of our oceans. The choices we make today will define the legacy we leave behind for our future generations.”
Audrey Tan is an assistant news editor overseeing sustainability coverage. She has reported on the environment for more than a decade and hosts the Green Pulse podcast series.
Find out more about climate change and how it could affect you on the ST microsite here.
Health Insurers Vow To Simplify And Reduce Pre-Approval Process
The biggest names in health insurance, including Cigna, CVS Health’s Aetna, UnitedHealthcare and Humana are among more than 50 health insurers committing to “streamline, simplify and reduce” prior authorization. The effort is the latest and biggest so far among health insurers. The issue of prior authorization has been at the forefront of legislative efforts in Washington and state capitals across the country. The voluntary effort announced Monday could blunt some legislative actions that would mandate health insurer changes.“The health care system remains fragmented and burdened by outdated manual processes, resulting in frustration for patients and providers alike,” Mike Tuffin, president and chief executive of AHIP, said in a statement. “Health plans are making voluntary commitments to deliver a more seamless patient experience and enable providers to focus on patient care while also helping to modernize the system,’” he said. The insurers are committed to the changes in all health plans that they sell including commercial coverage, Medicare Advantage for seniors and Medicaid health plans.
The biggest names in health insurance, including Cigna, CVS Health’s Aetna, UnitedHealth Group’s UnitedHealthcare and Humana are among more than 50 health insurers committing to “streamline, simplify and reduce” prior authorization, the process of insurers reviewing hospital admissions and medications.
The sweeping commitments were announced Monday by America’s Health Insurance Plans, also known as AHIP, and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. These groups and their health plan members, which provide health benefits to more than 250 million Americans, say they “aim to accelerate decision timelines, increase transparency and expand access to affordable, quality care.”
Doctors complain prior authorization has delayed needed treatment and put patient health in jeopardy while wasting physician and patient time to jump through hoops. Over the past several years, prior authorization increasingly has become a concern for patient access to needed services, according to almost 30% of physicians responding to an American Medical Association survey in 2023.
The issue of prior authorization has been at the forefront of legislative efforts in Washington and state capitals across the country. The voluntary effort announced Monday could blunt some legislative actions that would mandate health insurer changes.
The scrutiny of health insurers became even more intense after an outpouring of public anger at the health insurance industry following the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on Dec. 4 of last year. Thompson’s death unleashed a barrage of scrutiny on health insurer denials of medical care and certain other business practices from social media trolls and industry critics including some in Congress who say they’d like to see reform.
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“For patients, these commitments will result in faster, more direct access to appropriate treatments and medical services with fewer challenges navigating the health system,” the groups said in a statement. “For providers, these commitments will streamline prior authorization workflows, allowing for a more efficient and transparent process overall, while ensuring evidence-based care for their patients.”
The effort is the latest and biggest so far among health insurers. Earlier this year, The Cigna Group announced a new multi-year effort to improve accountability. And UnitedHealthcare said Monday the insurer has “reduced the number of CPT codes that require prior authorization and recently introduced a first-of-its-kind national Gold Card program.”
Health insurers admit their approval processes have been lacking and, in some cases, wasn’t keeping with advancements in technology and healthcare delivery.
“The health care system remains fragmented and burdened by outdated manual processes, resulting in frustration for patients and providers alike,” said Mike Tuffin, president and chief executive of AHIP, which includes Centene, Cigna, CVS Health’s Aetna and Humana among its health plan membership. “Health plans are making voluntary commitments to deliver a more seamless patient experience and enable providers to focus on patient care while also helping to modernize the system.”
The insurers are committed to the changes in all health plans that they sell including commercial coverage, Medicare Advantage for seniors and Medicaid health plans that they administer for low-income Americans via contracts with states.
“These measurable commitments – addressing improvements like timeliness, scope and streamlining – mark a meaningful step forward in our work together to create a better system of health,” Blue Cross Blue Shield Association president and chief executive Kim Keck said. “This is an important foundation to address bigger problems together, at a time when technology and interoperability can deliver real improvements to patient experience.”
Health insurers participating broke down their commitments in six areas. They are:
Standardizing Electronic Prior Authorization. “ Participating health plans will work toward implementing common, transparent submissions for electronic prior authorization,” the insurers said. “This commitment includes the development of standardized data and submission requirements … that will support seamless, streamlined processes and faster turn-around times.” The goal is to have electronic prior authorization by Jan. 1, 2027.
Participating health plans will work toward implementing common, transparent submissions for electronic prior authorization,” the insurers said. “This commitment includes the development of standardized data and submission requirements … that will support seamless, streamlined processes and faster turn-around times.” The goal is to have electronic prior authorization by Jan. 1, 2027. Reducing the Scope of Claims Subject to Prior Authorization. “ Individual plans will commit to specific reductions to medical prior authorization as appropriate for the local market each plan serves, with demonstrated reductions by January 1, 2026,” the insurers said.
Individual plans will commit to specific reductions to medical prior authorization as appropriate for the local market each plan serves, with demonstrated reductions by January 1, 2026,” the insurers said. Ensuring Continuity of Care When Patients Change Plans. Effective Jan. 1, 2026, “when a patient changes insurance companies during a course of treatment, the new plan will honor existing prior authorizations for benefit-equivalent in-network services as part of a 90-day transition period,” the health plans involved say. “This action is designed to help patients avoid delays and maintain continuity of care during insurance transitions.”
Effective Jan. 1, 2026, “when a patient changes insurance companies during a course of treatment, the new plan will honor existing prior authorizations for benefit-equivalent in-network services as part of a 90-day transition period,” the health plans involved say. “This action is designed to help patients avoid delays and maintain continuity of care during insurance transitions.” Enhancing Communication and Transparency on Determinations. “ Health plans will provide clear, easy-to-understand explanations of prior authorization determinations, including support for appeals and guidance on next steps,” the health plans say. Such changes will be operational for “fully insured and commercial coverage by January 1, 2026, with a focus on supporting regulatory changes for expansion to additional coverage types,” the health plans say.
Health plans will provide clear, easy-to-understand explanations of prior authorization determinations, including support for appeals and guidance on next steps,” the health plans say. Such changes will be operational for “fully insured and commercial coverage by January 1, 2026, with a focus on supporting regulatory changes for expansion to additional coverage types,” the health plans say. Expanding Real-Time Responses. “ In 2027, at least 80 percent of electronic prior authorization approvals (with all needed clinical documentation) will be answered in real-time,” the health plans say.
In 2027, at least 80 percent of electronic prior authorization approvals (with all needed clinical documentation) will be answered in real-time,” the health plans say. Ensuring Medical Review of Non-Approved Requests. “Participating health plans affirm that all non-approved requests based on clinical reasons will continue to be reviewed by medical professionals – a standard already in place,” the health plans say. “This commitment is in effect now.”
An entire list of health insurers is here.
Community investment
In 2024, we provided more than $10.4 million in product donations for disaster relief and as a response to public health crises. We also donate medicines free-of-charge through patient assistance and access programmes, the largest of which is AZ&Me in the US.
Our global product donation partners include Direct Relief, and International Health Partners UK.
In 2024, we provided more than $10.4 million (2023: $7.5 million) in product donations for disaster relief and as a response to public health crises (included in disaster relief donations).
We also donate medicines free-of-charge through patient assistance and access programmes, the largest of which is AZ&Me in the US, and to support our rare disease community through the Alexion Access Foundation, also in the US.
Our processes are aligned to the World Health Organisation (WHO) Guideline for Medicines Donation, Revised 2010, with regard to the selection, quality assurance, presentation, packing and labelling and the management of appropriate distribution of donated medicines. We only donate product as a response to an expressed need.
We are also members of the Partnership for Quality Medical Donations (PQMD) and coordinate global product donations through established partners which adhere to the PQMD Guidelines for Quality Medical Donations and that have experience working and responding in humanitarian settings.
Duty of care
Law imposes a duty of care on a health care practitioner in situations where it is ‘reasonably foreseeable’ that the practitioner might cause harm to patients. This is the case regardless of whether that practitioner is a nurse, midwife, nursing associate, health care assistant or assistant practitioner.
To discharge the legal duty of care, health care practitioners must act in accordance with the relevant standard of care. This is generally assessed as the standard to be expected of an ‘ordinarily competent practitioner’ performing that particular task or role. Failure to discharge the duty to this standard may be regarded as negligence.
When harm has come to a patient, the law examines who has a duty of care to that patient – and whether there was negligence – in order to attribute responsibility/liability for that harm.
A newly qualified nurse would be expected to deliver safe care in the same way as a more experienced nurse when performing the same task. The standards to be expected are not generally affected by any personal attributes, such as level of experience.
Volunteer or Donate
Monetary donations are used to support a variety of patient activities and services throughout San Francisco VA Health Care System. All monetary donations are tax deductible and there are no administrative costs, so 100 percent of your donation will go directly to support the needs of Veteran patients. For those who want to donate to CDCE, the office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at Building 7, Room 120 on the VA Medical Center campus. Donations can also be made online at: http://www.vahc.org/donate/CDCE-Donations-Are-Tax-Deductible.html. To donate by mail: VA Center for Development and Civic Engagement, Bldg. 7, room 120, San Francisco, CA 94121.
To donate by mail:
San Francisco VA Health Care System
VA Center for Development and Civic Engagement, Bldg. 7, Room 120
4150 Clement st
San Francisco, CA 94121
The following are a few of the donated fund accounts that are always in need of support:
Hospital Non-Designated Funds (GPF 1015)- – Used to support a variety of patient needs and activities throughout San Francisco VA Health Care System.
– Used to support a variety of patient needs and activities throughout San Francisco VA Health Care System. General Recreation Fund (GPF 1007) – Used to support Veteran recreation therapy needs.
Used to support Veteran recreation therapy needs. Transportation Fund for Veterans in need (GPF 1091) – Used to pay for the transportation to and from Veterans health care appointments
– Used to pay for the transportation to and from Veterans health care appointments Grant Aid to Veterans in Need (GPF 1001) – Used to provide homeless and at-risk Veterans with meals, clothing, transportation, comfort items, laundry supplies, education, job assistance resources, and starter kits for new apartment .
– Used to provide homeless and at-risk Veterans with meals, clothing, transportation, comfort items, laundry supplies, education, job assistance resources, and starter kits for new apartment . Hoptel (GPF 1094) – Used to support Veterans a variety of patient needs during their health care stay at the SFVA helping with breakfast, snacks, towels, and hygiene items.
Used to support Veterans a variety of patient needs during their health care stay at the SFVA helping with breakfast, snacks, towels, and hygiene items. CLC Community Living Center (GPF 1446 ) – Used to support Veterans may stay for a short time or, in rare instances, for the rest of their life. It is a place where Veterans can receive nursing home level of care, which includes help with activities of daily living and skilled nursing and medical care.
) – Used to support Veterans may stay for a short time or, in rare instances, for the rest of their life. It is a place where Veterans can receive nursing home level of care, which includes help with activities of daily living and skilled nursing and medical care. Coffee Service Fund (GPF1013) – Used to supply coffee and snacks during Veterans appointments.
Used to supply coffee and snacks during Veterans appointments. Veterans & Spouse Support (GPF 1044)- Assisting Veterans, spouse, and caregivers help navigate life during financial, human, and health struggles.
For those who want to donate to CDCE, the office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Building 7, Room 120 on San Francisco VA Medical Center campus.
Donations are accepted between 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and can also be made online.
If you know of any outside organizations that would like to partner with CDCE or know of any volunteers who would like to donate their time, contact our team at 415-750-2144.
Source: https://www.ahip.org/health-plans-are-making-voluntary-commitments-to-support-patients-and-providers