TELE-HEALTH: The “Smile Direct Club” Frowns

By Staff Reporters

***

7.2 The Skull – Anatomy and Physiology

***

SmileDirectClub is the latest casualty of what some have dubbed a startup Mass Extinction Event.

The telehealth company that attempted to revolutionize traditional orthodontics just announced that it was winding down operations less than three months after it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. At its peak, SmileDirectClub was valued at $8.9 billion and had raised $427 million as a private company before going public in 2019.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource/Title/082610254

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

***

***

DAILY UPDATE: “Soft Economic Landing” and Paramount Pictures Corporation

By Staff Reporters

***

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

***

The S&P 500 heads into the week at its highest level of the year after Friday’s solid jobs report suggested that the Fed could be all clear for a “soft landing”—bringing inflation back to normal without sending the economy into a recession. The S&P and Dow have posted gains for six straight weeks, their longest streak since 2019.

***

But, the week’s big winner was Paramount, which spiked on reports that Shari Redstone might sell the entertainment giant.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Refer a Colleague: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com

Your referral Count: 0

Thank You

***

***

PODCAST: Physician Performance Reviews

By Eric Bricker MD

***

***

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

***

The Perfect Holiday Gift [The “Business of Medical Practice”]

Third Edition of Classic Text Now Available

[Transformational Health 2.0 Skills for Savvy Doctors]

By Ann Miller RN MHA [Executive-Director]

Product Details

For the first time anywhere, we offer our loyal ME-P readers and subscribers an exclusive first look at the new book: The “Business of Medical Practice” from the Institute of Medical Business Advisors Inc, in Atlanta, GA www.MedicalBusinessAdvisors.com

Synopsis

Now in its 3rd edition, the book explores a variety of issues and seeks to answer these questions:

  • Does Health 2.0 enhance or detract from traditional medical care delivery, and can private practice business models survive?
  • How does transparent business information and reimbursement data impact the modern competitive healthcare scene?
  • How are medical practices, clinics, and physicians evolving as a result of rapid health- and non-health-related technology change?
  • Does transparent quality information affect the private practice ecosystem?

A Tool for all Stakeholders

Answering these questions and more, this newly updated and revised edition is an essential tool for doctors, nurses, and healthcare administrators; management and business consultants; accountants; and medical, dental, business, and healthcare administration graduate, doctoral students and virtually all stakeholders of the healthcare industrial complex.

Management and Operational Strategies for Private Practice

Written in plain language using nontechnical jargon, the text presents a progressive discussion of management and operation strategies. It incorporates prose, news reports, and regulatory and academic perspectives with Health 2.0 examples, and blog and internet links, as well as charts, tables, diagrams, and Web site references, resulting in an all-encompassing resource. It integrates various medical practice business disciplines-from finance and economics to marketing to the strategic management sciences-to improve patient outcomes and achieve best practices in the healthcare administration field. With contributions by a world-class team of expert authors, the third edition covers brand-new information, including:

  • The impact of Web 2.0 technologies on the healthcare industry
  • Internal office controls for preventing fraud and abuse
  • Physician compensation with pay-for-performance trend analysis
  • Healthcare marketing, advertising, CRM, and public relations
  • eMRs, mobile IT systems, medical devices, and cloud computing
  • and much more!

Front Matter: Front Matter BoMP – 3

Assessment

Please send any question/and or comments directly to us at: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com

Conclusion

Your thoughts and comments on this ME-P are appreciated. Feel free to review our top-left column, and top-right sidebar materials, links, URLs and related websites, too. Then, subscribe to the ME-P. It is fast, free and secure.

Speaker: If you need a moderator or speaker for an upcoming event, Dr. David E. Marcinko; MBA – Publisher-in-Chief of the Medical Executive-Post – is available for seminar or speaking engagements. Contact: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com

OUR OTHER PRINT BOOKS AND RELATED INFORMATION SOURCES:

HOSPITALS: http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781466558731
CLINICS: http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781439879900
BLOG: www.MedicalExecutivePost.com
FINANCE: Financial Planning for Physicians and Advisors
INSURANCE: Risk Management and Insurance Strategies for Physicians and Advisors

Product DetailsProduct DetailsProduct Details

Why CERTIFIED MEDICAL PLANNERs™ Will Thrive in 2024?

Think Different – Be Different  – Thrive

[By Ann Miller RN MHA]

Letterhead CMP

http://www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org

Dear Physician Focused Financial Advisors

Did you know that desperate doctors of all ages are turning to knowledgeable financial advisors and medical management consultants for help? Symbiotically too, generalist advisors are finding that the mutual need for knowledge and extreme niche synergy is obvious.

***

planning

***

But, there was no established curriculum or educational program; no corpus of knowledge or codifying terms-of-art; no academic gravitas or fiduciary accountability; and certainly no identifying professional designation that demonstrated integrated subject matter expertise for the increasingly unique healthcare focused financial advisory niche … Until Now! 

***

CMP logo

http://www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org

Enter the CMPs

“The informed voice of a new generation of fiduciary advisors for healthcare”

Think Different

 [Think Different – Be Different – Thrive]

InfoGraphic

http://e.infogr.am/enter_the_certified_medical_planner?src=embed

CMP logo

http://www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org

***

So, if you are looking to supplement your knowledge, income and designations; and find other qualified professionals you may want to consider the CMP® program.

Enter the Certified Medical Planner™ charter professional designation. And, CMPs™ are FIDUCIARIES, 24/7.

Channel Surfing the ME-P

Have you visited our other topic channels? Established to facilitate idea exchange and link our community together, the value of these topics is dependent upon your input. Please take a minute to visit. And, to prevent that annoying spam, we ask that you register. It is fast, free and secure.

Conclusion

Your thoughts and comments on this ME-P are appreciated. Feel free to review our top-left column, and top-right sidebar materials, links, URLs and related websites, too. Then, subscribe to the ME-P. It is fast, free and secure.

***

Become a CMP

***

Speaker: If you need a moderator or speaker for an upcoming event, Dr. David E. Marcinko; MBA – Publisher-in-Chief of the Medical Executive-Post – is available for seminar or speaking engagements. Contact: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com

OUR OTHER PRINT BOOKS AND RELATED INFORMATION SOURCES:

 Comprehensive Financial Planning Strategies for Doctors and Advisors: Best Practices from Leading Consultants and Certified Medical Planners(TM)* 8

WHY: Your Medical Internet Marketing Campaign Still Isn’t Effective?

THE THREE VITAL ELEMENTS

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

***

***

A strong online presence is crucial for any medical or healthcare businesses, but many are struggling to figure out where to invest their marketing dollars. It is important to diversify marketing efforts and not rely solely on one channel, as changes in the industry are inevitable. Search marketing, direct marketing, and social media are three key components that healthcare organizations should incorporate in their marketing campaigns.

  1. Search marketing has evolved over the years with changes in Google’s algorithms and the saturation of the market, requiring a focus on quality content and the expertise of an expert.
  2. Direct marketing is becoming more popular, with lead generation companies and email marketing being effective and budget-friendly tactics. Social media is constantly evolving and increasing in price, with networks like Facebook and Twitter pushing paid advertisements.
  3. While social media should not be the focal point of a healthcare organization’s marketing campaign, it is an integral component that can contribute to search engine rankings.

***

***

Overall, a well-rounded marketing strategy that incorporates these three elements is crucial for success. A strong online presence is crucial for healthcare businesses, and diversifying marketing efforts across search marketing, direct marketing, and social media is important for success. Search marketing has changed with Google’s algorithms and increased ad costs, while direct marketing and social media have become more popular. Social media also affects search engine rankings.

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

***

DAILY UPDATE: Economy Modest, Sickle Cell CRISPR Therapy Approved and Stock Markets Rise

By Staff Reporters

***

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

***

According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s November economic outlook report, global growth is on track to stay modest this year and into 2024. And, while gross domestic product growth has been stronger than anticipated in 2023 so far, it’s now “moderating on the back of tighter financial conditions, weak trade growth and lower business and consumer confidence,” the report’s authors noted. The OECD anticipates global GDP growth of 2.9% in 2023, and a dip to 2.7% in 2024. 2025 looks better, with predicted global growth of 3%.

***

The Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved a powerful treatment for sickle cell disease, a devastating illness that affects more than 100,000 Americans, the majority of whom are Black. The therapy, called Casgevy, from Vertex Pharmaceuticals and CRISPR Therapeutics, is the first medicine to be approved in the United States.

CRISPR: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2022/08/06/crispr-play-by-play-of-an-experiment/

Here is where the major benchmarks ended:

The S&P 500® Index (SPX) was up 0.41% at 4,604.46, up marginally for the week; the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) was up 130 points (0.36%) at 36,247.87, up marginally for the week; the NASDAQ Composite® (COMP) was up 63.98 points (0.45%) at 14,403.97, up 0.7% for the week.The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up 10 basis points at 4.235%. The CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) was down 5.44% at 12.35.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Refer a Colleague: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com

Your referral Count: 0

Thank You

***

***

BONDS: Are Best Right Now?

By Staff Reporters

***

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

***

The bond market just finished its best month since 1985, according to the Financial Times, with investor optimism creating a surge in bond prices and a plunge in yields (reminder: they move in opposite directions). The yield on the benchmark 10-year US Treasury note dipped below 4.3% for the first time since September. And other economic measures are looking good:

  • The bond rally spilled over to stocks, where the S&P 500 and Dow just clinched their best months since July 2022 and October 2022, respectively.
  • Mortgage rates dropped for the fifth consecutive week, to 7.22%.

Traders are optimistic that the FOMC may be done hiking interest rates. With recent data showing both consumer spending and the job market cooling down—but not too much—economists see the once-aspirational economic soft landing as achievable, which is great news for Wall Street and to avoid a recession).

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource/Title/082610254

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

***

CAREER: Physician Coaching and Development in 2024

MARCINKO ASSOCIATES, Inc.

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

***

***

Did you Know?

Experts estimate that it can cost more than $1 million to recruit and train a replacement for a doctor who leaves the profession because of burnout. But, as no broad calculation of burnout costs exists, Dr. Tait Shanafelt [Mayo Clinic researcher and Stanford Medicine’s first Chief Physician Wellness Officer] said Stanford, Harvard Business School, Mayo Clinic and the American Medical Association (AMA) are further cost estimating the issue. Nevertheless, Shanafelt and other researchers have shown that burnout erodes job performance, increases medical errors, and leads doctors to leave a profession they once loved.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

Fortunately, we can help. From formal coaching to second career opinions, mentoring and advising, we can help with our remediation executive career programs. Regardless of what is happening in your life, it is wonderful to have a non-partial, confidential and informed career coach and sounding board on your side.

CITE: JAMA Internal Medicine [Effect of a Professional Coaching Intervention on the Well-Being and Distress of Physicians].

NCBI: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6686971/

THANK YOU

COACH: https://marcinkoassociates.com/process-what-we-do/

CONTACT US: https://marcinkoassociates.com/process-what-we-do/

***

DAILY UPDATE: Deflation Pending as Stock Markets Gain

By Staff Reporters

***

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

***

After grappling with high inflation for more than two years, American consumers are now seeing an economic trend that many might only dimly remember: falling prices — but only on certain types of products. 

Deflation is impacting so-called durable goods, or products that are meant to last more than three years, Wall Street Journal reporter David Harrison told CBS News. As Harrison noted in his reporting, durable goods have dropped on a year-over-year basis for five straight months and dropped 2.6% in October from their September 2022 peak.

These items are products such as used cars, furniture and appliances, which saw big run-ups in prices during the pandemic. Used cars in particular were a pain point for U.S. households, with pre-owned cars seeing their prices jump more than fifty percent in the first two years of the pandemic.

Here is where the major benchmarks ended:

  • The S&P 500 Index was up 36.25 points (0.8%) at 4,585.59; the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 62.95 points (0.2%) at 36,117.38; the NASDAQ Composite was up 193.28 points (1.4%) at 14,339.99.
  • The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 2 basis points at 4.144%.
  • The CBOE® Volatility Index (VIX) was up 0.09 at 13.06.

Tech sector strength was highlighted by the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX), which gained nearly 3%. Financial shares were also among the strongest performers, as the KBW Regional Banking Index (KRX) rose 2% and ended at a four-month high. In other markets, WTI crude oil futures (/CL) posted the market’s first gain in six days after earlier dropping to its lowest level since late June.

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Refer a Colleague: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com

Your referral Count: 0

Thank You

***

***

CVS PHARMACY: Rx Drug Price Overhaul

By Staff Reporters

***

***

CVS is overhauling how it prices prescription drugs

In a recent announcement, the company CVS promised that its new model would be more transparent than the current setup, which prices drugs based on complex reimbursement formulas that can make the costs of prescriptions confusing for consumers.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource/Title/082610254

The new model, called CVS CostVantage, is based on a simple equation: Drugs will cost what CVS paid for them, plus a limited markup and a flat fee to cover the services of fulfilling the prescriptions. That’s similar to a plan proposed by billionaire Mark Cuban, founder of Cost Plus Drugs, to bring accountability to drug pricing in the US.

MORE: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2022/06/23/mark-cubans-cost-plus-drugs-com/

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

***

GEMINI: Google’s Large Language Model Released

LLM

By Staff Reporters

***

Gemini: Google's Latest AI Challenging GPT-4 - YouTube
  • About a year after OpenAI’s launch of ChatGPT brought the simmering artificial intelligence race to a boil, Google’s highly anticipated AI model, Gemini, has finally joined the competition. Released yesterday, Gemini is a large language model (LLM) that Google CEO Sundar Pichai and executives at the company’s DeepMind AI division say will revolutionize generative technology for business and daily life.

The tech is a family of three models that Google is slowly looping into its suite of services:

  • Gemini Nano is mainly for mobile devices. As of yesterday, Google Pixel 8 Pro owners could enlist Gemini Nano to summarize audio recordings or draft automatic message replies.
  • Gemini Pro is a midsize offering designed for more complex tasks. Pro now powers Google’s chatbot, Bard, but the AI tech isn’t available to Google Cloud customers until Dec. 13.
  • Gemini Ultra, the powerhouse version geared toward data centers and large companies, will launch next year and underpin “Bard Advanced,” a new chatbot that will be able to simultaneously process text, images, audio, and video, according to Google’s prerecorded demonstrations.

If Gemini can do what Google promises, it could chip away at OpenAI’s lead in the LLM space.

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

***

DAILY UPDATE: Apple Market Cap Up as Major Stock Indexes Ease

By Staff Reporters

MEDICARE ANNUAL ENROLLMENT ENDS

***

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

***

Apple regains a $3 trillion market cap and is on track to end the year as the world’s most valuable company for the 5th time in a row.

Today marks the 82nd anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor that drew the US into WWII.

Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

  • The S&P 500® index (SPX) was down 17.84 points (0.4%) at 4,549.34; the Dow Jones Industrial Average® (DJI) was down 70.13 points (0.2%) at 36,054.43; the NASDAQ Composite® (COMP) was down 83.20 points (0.6%) at 14,146.71.
  • The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was down about 5 basis points at 4.117%.
  • The CBOE® Volatility Index (VIX) was up 0.10 at 12.95.

Energy shares were again among the market’s weakest performers as crude oil futures extended a slump, closing below $70 per barrel for the first time since late June on concerns over slowing global demand. And, Liz Ann Sonders of Schwab said a “somewhat stealthy” rotation continued under the market’s surface, with the S&P 500® Equal Weight (SPXEW) and Russell 2000®(RUT) indexes outperforming both the S&P 500 and NASDAQ over the past month or so. She also noted a defensive tone to Wednesday’ trading, illustrated by strength in utilities and weakness in technology.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Refer a Colleague: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com

Your referral Count: 0

Thank You

***

***

CAPITAL REQUIREMENT BANK RISKS: Basel III Endgame?

By Staff Reporters

***

**

The heads of Wall Street’s eight biggest banks will warn lawmakers today that the “Basel III Endgame” proposal will hurt the economy and hamper lending, according to each of their prepared testimonies. Regulators in July proposed strengthening regulations by requiring large U.S. banks to set aside more capital to absorb potential losses. Banks repeatedly slammed the proposal, saying this is not justified as they are well-capitalized.

The CEOs of the top banks will appear before the Senate Banking Committee today to make their case – Wells Fargo’s (NYSE:WFC) Charles Scharf, Bank of America’s (NYSE:BAC) Brian Thomas Moynihan, JPMorgan’s (NYSE:JPM) Jamie Dimon, Citigroup’s (NYSE:C) Jane Fraser, State Street’s (NYSE:STT) Ronald O’Hanley, BNY Mellon’s (NYSE:BK) Robin Vince, Goldman Sachs’ (NYSE:GS) David Solomon, and Morgan Stanley’s (NYSE:MS) James Gorman.

“The proposed Basel III Endgame rule would unjustifiably and unnecessarily increase capital requirements by 20%-25% for the largest banks,” according to Jamie Dimon’s prepared testimony. “Banks would be limited in their ability to deploy capital in the times we’re most needed, and the rule will have a harmful ripple effect on the economy.”

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

***

DAILY UPDATE: Non-Physician Practice Ownership Quality Down as Stock Markets Slip

By Staff Reporters

***

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

***

Nearly 60% of doctors who practice as employees of hospitals and other corporate entities say that non-physician practice ownership results in lower quality patient care, per a new survey commissioned by the Physicians Advocacy Institute. Loss of face time with patients and greater focus on finances negatively impact quality, they say.

Here is where the major benchmarks ended:

Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

  • The S&P 500 index was down 2.60 points (0.1%) at 4,567.18; the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 79.88 points (0.2%) at 36,124.56; the NASDAQ Composite® (COMP) was up 44.42 points (0.3%) at 14,229.91.
  • The 10-year Treasury note yield was down about 11 basis points at 4.18%.
  • The CBOE® Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.23 at 12.85.

Energy shares were among Tuesday’s weakest performers on pressure from slumping crude oil futures, which dropped for a fourth consecutive day and hit a five-month low amid concern over global demand. Retail and transportation sectors were also soft. Technology and consumer discretionary shares were among the few gainers.

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Refer a Colleague: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com

Your referral Count: 0

Thank You

***

***

VALUATION OF MSOs: Introduction and Competitive Environment

MANAGEMENT SERVICE ORGANIZATION

By Health Capital Consultants, LLC

***

Valuation of MSOs: Introduction & Competitive Environment

DEFINITION: A management services organization is an outside entity that can help with the non-medical parts of running a medical practice, out-patient facility or clinic; etc.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource/Title/082610254

Management service organizations (MSOs) can be defined as “a healthcare specific administrative and management engine that provides a host of administrative and management functions necessary to be successful in the ever changing healthcare environment.” MSOs are primarily utilized by non-physicians as a vehicle to legally owning an entity that provides administrative support to a medical practice’s operations.

Most states only allow medical practices to be owned by physicians, which can limit the number of investors in a medical practice, as well as the financial value of the practice. (Read more…) 

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

***

INCOME: It Depends on the Meaning of the Word?

By Staff Reporters

***

Incomes Keep Rising| Concrete Construction Magazine

***

DEFINITION: Income is the money you receive in exchange for your labor or products. Income may have different definitions depending on the context—for example, taxation, financial accounting, or economic analysis. For most people, income is their total earnings in the form of wages and salaries, the return on their investments, pension distributions, and other receipts. For businesses, income is the revenue from selling services, products, and any interest and dividends received with respect to their cash accounts and reserves related to the business. Economists have different definitions of income and different ways of measuring it, from focusing on earnings, savings, consumption, production, public finance, capital investment or other topics … Maybe?

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Supreme Court is set on Tuesday to consider a challenge to the legality of a tax targeting owners of foreign corporations that could undermine efforts at imposing a wealth tax on the very rich in a case that has already sparked controversy over a call for Justice Samuel Alito to recuse.

The justices are due to hear arguments in an appeal by Charles and Kathleen Moore – a retired couple from Redmond, Washington couple – of a lower court’s decision rejecting their challenge to the tax on foreign company earnings, even though those profits had not been distributed.

The one-time “mandatory repatriation tax” (MRT), which applied to taxpayers owning at least 10% of certain foreign corporations, was part of a 2017 Republican-backed tax bill signed into law by former President Donald Trump.

At issue in the case is whether this levy on unrealized gains is allowed under the U.S. Constitution’s 16th Amendment, which enabled Congress to “collect taxes on incomes.” The Moores, backed by the Competitive Enterprise Institute and other conservative and business groups, contend that “income” means only those gains that are realized through payment to the taxpayer, not a mere increase in the value of property.

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

***

DAILY UPDATE: Stock Indexes Pull Back

By Staff Reporters

***

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

Here is where the major benchmarks ended yesterday:

  • The S&P 500® index (SPX) was down 24.85 points (0.5%) at 4,569.78; the Dow Jones Industrial Average® (DJI) was down 41.06 points (0.1%) at 36,204.44; the NASDAQ Composite (COMP) was down 119.54 points (0.8%) at 14,185.49.
  • The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 4 basis points at 4.264%.
  • The BOE® Volatility Index (VIX) was up 0.45 points at 13.08.

Technology and communications services shares were among the weakest performers Monday, with the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) dropping 1.2%, its lowest level since mid-November.

By contrast, many smaller companies held up better. The small-cap-focused Russell 2000® Index (RUT) rose 1% and ended at a three-month high, extending a recent upswing. In other markets, gold futures (GC) plunged after earlier posting an intraday record above $2,152 an ounce.

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Refer a Colleague: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com

Your referral Count: 0

Thank You

***

***

PODCAST: “Open Enrollment” Best Practices

By Eric Bricker MD

***

***

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

***

***

SCOTUS: “Quadrillion-Dollar” IRS Tax Code Question?

By Staff Reporters

SPONSOR: http://www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org

***

***

SCOTUS will hear the “quadrillion-dollar” question?

Kicking off the Supreme Court this week will hear oral arguments today for a case that could upend the US tax code.

In Moore v. United States, the justices will be asked to decide whether the federal government can tax certain “unrealized gains”—assets that have yet to be sold.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource/Title/082610254

***

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

***

DAILY UPDATE: IRS Ups Interest Rate Penalty with Economic Soft Landing?

By Staff Reporters

***

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

***

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is raising the stakes for those who underpay their taxes by ratcheting up the interest penalty that will be assessed in next spring’s tax filing season. Earlier this fall, the IRS increased its interest penalty on estimated tax underpayments to 8% – a notable jump from 3% just two years ago. The IRS indicated that the interest rate penalty is determined every quarter and that for taxpayers other than corporations the assessed rate is the federal short-term rate plus three percentage points.

***

Speaking of a possible US economic “soft-landing“, the S&P 500 closed at a 2023 high on Friday, the VIX (Wall Street’s “fear gauge”) has fallen to a nearly four-year low, and December has been the third-best month for the S&P since 1928. Even crypto is on a roll as bitcoin topped $40,000 for the first time since May 2022.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Refer a Colleague: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com

Your referral Count: 0

Thank You

***

***

JEROME POWELL: Speaks On “Premature” Interest Rate Cuts

By Staff Reporters

***

What Is Money Factor for SMB? : On Auto Monthly Lease Payment

***

With the Fed’s aggressive rate hikes to curb inflation looking like they’ve finally come to an end thanks to encouraging data on prices falling, investors are starting to look forward to when the central bankers start slashing rates again.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource/Title/082610254

But Jerome Powell sought to pour some cold water on the rate cut hype cycle during a speech at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia yesterday, saying that it was too soon “to speculate on when policy might ease.” However, investors still think he’ll come around: Markets are putting the odds that the Fed will cut rates in March above 50% and are totally convinced it’ll happen by May, according to Bloomberg.

***

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

***

DAILY UPDATE: Stock Markets Rally and IPOs

By Staff Reporters

***

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

***

As we reported, the S&P 500 had its best day of the year on Friday as stocks kept their November rally rolling right into December. Pfizer, however, fell to its lowest since March 2020 after announcing that it’s pulling the plug on its experimental twice-a-day weight loss pill because it caused too many negative side effects even as pharmaceutical companies are rushing to serve the growing weight loss market.

***

And, Panera Bread filed IPO paperwork, the Financial Times reported. And it’s not the only household name that’s anticipated to hit brokerage apps next year as more companies are once again considering going public. The past two years have been an IPO stale mate as rising interest rates led to a tepid market for newcomers. Last year, Panera itself aborted a public listing it was planning via a special purpose acquisition company [SPAC] due to harsh market conditions.

CITE: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2022/06/13/spac-v-direct-listing-v-ipo/

But, things might be different in 2024. Fast-fashion behemoth Shein also recently filed paperwork for what could be a blockbuster IPO that raises as much as $90 billion, per Bloomberg. The publication says that more companies are rumored to be thinking about joining the potential IPO bonanza. For example:

  • Kim Kardashian might list her $4 billion undergarment brand, Skims.
  • Reddit is supposedly flirting with the idea of going public. It would be the first major social media IPO in years, and it’s been in the offing since last year, when Reddit was valued at $15 billion.

However, all IPOs have not done well:

  • The Birkenstock and Instacart IPOs fell short of expectations according to investment data from Dealogic
  • Three out of four companies that IPOed this year were trading below their offer prices as of the middle of last month.
  • Companies debuting on the public markets raised a meager $20 billion so far this year, a slight rebound from 2022 but a ~90% decline from 2021.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Refer a Colleague: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com

Your referral Count: 0

Thank You

***

***

MEDICARE [dis] ADVANTAGE Plans?

By Staff Reporters

***

***

Leading hospital trade groups are accusing some Medicare Advantage plans, including giant UnitedHealthcare, of flaunting coverage requirements recently codified by CMS. The American Hospital Association is now petitioning the Biden administration to crack down.


However … the Medicare Advantage market is booming but investment in cancer care continues to lag.

***

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

***

DAILY UPDATE: Sidelines Awash with Cash in Up Markets

By Staff Reporters

***

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

***

There’s almost $6 trillion of cash sitting on the sidelines in money-market funds, with the potential for some portion of it to be reallocated into “carefully selected risk assets.”

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

This is according to Ali Dibadj, chief executive of London-based Janus Henderson Investors, which had $308.3 billion in assets under management as of September. About $187.9 billion, or 61%, of that was in equity strategies.

***

Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:

  • The S&P 500 index was up 26.83 points (0.6%) at 4,594.63, up 0.8% for the week; the Dow Jones Industrial Average® (DJI) was up 294.61 points (0.8%) at 36,245.50, up 2.4% for the week; the NASDAQ Composite was up 78.81 points (0.6%) at 14,305.03, up 0.4% for the week.
  • The 10-year Treasury note yield was down about 14 basis points at 4.213%.
  • The CBOE® Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.27 at 12.65.

Friday’s gains followed the market’s strongest month of the year, as the S&P 500 and NASDAQ surged 8.9% and 10.7% in November, respectively, their best monthly performances since July 2022. Among sectors, the KBW Regional Bank Index (KRX) jumped 5.3% Friday, and retail shares were also among the top gainers.

Shares of smaller companies extended a recent rally as the small-cap-focused Russell 2000® Index (RUT) gained 3.1% for the week and ended at a 2-1/2-month high.

***

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

***

MPFS Final Rule Cuts Physician Payments

Medicare Physician Fee Schedule

By Health Capital Consultants

***

***

DEFINITION: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) uses the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) to reimburse physician services. The MPFS is funded by Part B and is composed of resource costs associated with physician work, practice expense and professional liability insurance.

Under the MPFS, each of these three elements is assigned a Relative Value Unit (RVU) for each Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) code. These RVUs are then adjusted based on the Geographical Practice Cost Index associated with various geographic areas for different medical costs and wage differentials. The conversion factor is the national dollar amount that is multiplied by the total geographically adjusted RVU to determine the Medicare-allowed payment amount for a particular physician service.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

***

MPFS Final Rule Cuts Physician Payments

On November 2nd, 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its finalized Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) for calendar year (CY) 2024. While the finalized fee schedule cuts payments to physicians, there are a number of other (more positive) provisions in the final rule.

This Health Capital Topics article explores the various changes and updates included in the MPFS final rule. (Read more…)

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

***

HEALTHCARE Innovation and Practice Management on the Move

By Staff Reporters

***

Online therapy company Talkspace will provide free virtual mental health services to more than 400,000 adolescents and teens in New York City after inking a deal with the city. The new program, dubbed TeenSpace, will connect teens to a licensed therapist through phone, video and text.

***

***


The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) has announced funding awards of $80.5 million to support four new studies focused on disparities in maternal health. They will take into account clinical and social factors that contribute to inequities and will compare interventions in various settings.


And … Ayble Health, a digital health platform for patients with chronic gastrointestinal conditions, is working with the Mayo Clinic Complex Care Program to offer a hybrid care model that matches patients with the appropriate virtual and in-person care based on acuity and need.

***

***

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

***

INFLATION: Cools Down!

By Staff Reporters

SPONSOR: http://www.MARCINKOASSOCIATES.com

***

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

Inflation continues to cool

The Fed’s preferred inflation measure increased 3% in October, down from 3.4% in September and getting closer to the central bank’s much-ballyhooed target of 2%. A drop in gas prices—down 4.9% from the previous month—was a major factor. Increases in core prices, which strip out food and energy costs, also slowed last month. In the last six months, core inflation has grown at a 2.5% annual rate—down significantly from 5.1% last year.

The news means the Fed will likely keep interest rates unchanged at its final 2023 meeting on December 12t and 13th.

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

***

DAILY UPDATE: DJIA Rockets Upward!

By Staff Reporters

***

SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com

***

***

Here is where the major benchmarks ended:

  • The S&P 500 index was up 17.22 points (0.4%) at 4,567.80, up 8.9% for the month; the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 520.47 points (1.5%) at 35,950.89, up 8.8% for the month; the NASDAQ Composite was down 32.27 points (0.2%) at 14,226.22, up 10.7% for the month.
  • The 10-year Treasury note yield (TNX) was up about 6 basis points at 4.33%.
  • CBOE® Volatility Index (VIX) was down 0.07 at 12.91.

The Dow’s gain Thursday was driven in part by Salesforce (CRM), which soared nearly 9% after the cloud software company reported stronger-than-expected quarterly results. The technology sector was otherwise soft, with the NASDAQ-100® (NDX) down 0.7% but still up 10.7% for the month. Small-cap stocks also posted a firm November, illustrated by a monthly gain of nearly 9% in the Russell 2000® Index (RUT).

And, Nathan Peterson, director of derivatives analysis at the Schwab Center for Financial Research, said the weakness in tech shares likely reflected consolidation after firm gains earlier this month. The NASDAQ Composite may also face some technical resistance around 14,350, a level where sellers stepped in back in July.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource

COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

***

***