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By Eric Bricker MD
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By Staff Reporters
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DEFINITION: Section 179 of the U.S. IRS code is an immediate expense deduction that business owners can take for purchases of depreciating business equipment instead of capitalizing and depreciating the asset over a period of time. The Section 179 deduction can be taken if the piece of equipment is purchased or financed and the full amount of the purchase price is eligible for the deduction.
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Not understanding parameters – Eligible property and annual limits
Medical practices may make mistakes by not fully understanding which types of property qualify for a Section 179 deduction. Section 179 is applicable only to assets used for business purposes. Failing to allocate assets properly can lead to improper deductions.
Eligible property for Section 179 may include:
Section 179 limits are updated annually, so it is important for doctors and practice owners to be aware of these limits and to plan accordingly.
Source: Natalie Westfall, Physicians Practice [12/4/23]
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Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", "Doctors Only", Accounting, Ethics, Taxation | Tagged: Accounting, deductions, IRS, IRS tax, Section 179, tax, tax deductions physicians, tax mistakes, tax mistakes physicians | Leave a comment »
Micro-Credentials on the Rise
KNOWLEDGE RICHES IN NICHES
DR. DAVID EDWARD MARCINKO MBA CMP™
SPONSOR: http://www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org
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Do you ever wish you could acquire specific information for your career activities without having to complete a university Master’s Degree or finish our entire Certified Medical Planner™ professional designation program? Well, Micro-Certifications from the Institute of Medical Business Advisors, Inc., might be the answer. Read on to learn how our three Micro-Certifications offer new opportunities for professional growth in the medical practice, business management, health economics and financial planning, investing and advisory space for physicians, nurses and healthcare professionals.
Stock-Brokers, Financial Advisors, Investment Advisors, Accountants, Consultants, Financial Analyists and Financial Planners need to enhance their knowledge skills to better serve the changing and challenging healthcare professional ecosystem. But, it can be difficult to learn and demonstrate mastery of these new skills to employers, clients, physicians or medical prospects. This makes professional advancement difficult. That’s where Micro-Certification and Micro-Credentialing enters the online educational space. It is the process of earning a Micro-Certification, which is like a mini-degree or mini-credential, in a very specific topical area.
Once you’ve completed all of the requirements for our Micro-Certification, you will be awarded proof that you’ve earned it. This might take the form of a paper or digital certificate, which may be a hard document or electronic image, transcript, file, or other official evidence that you’ve completed the necessary work.
Micro-Certifications may be used to demonstrate to physicians prospective medical clients that you’ve mastered a certain knowledge set. Because of this, Micro-Certifications are useful for those financial service professionals seeking medical clients, employment or career advancement opportunities.
Here are the three most popular Micro-Certification course from the Institute of Medical Business Advisors, Inc:
Other Topics include: economics, finance, investing, marketing, advertising, sales, start-ups, business plan creation, financial planning and entrepreneurship, etc.
Now that you’re familiar with Micro-Credentialing, you might consider earning a Micro-Certification with us. We offer 3 official Micro-Certificates by completing a one month online course, with a live instructor consisting of twelve asynchronous lessons/online classes [3/wk X 4/weeks = 12 classes]. The earned official completion certificate can be used to demonstrate mastery of a specific skill set and shared with current or future employers, current clients or medical niche financial advisory prospects.
Mini-Certification Tuition, Books and Related Fees
The tuition for each Mini-Certification live online course is $1,250 with the purchase of one required dictionary handbook. Other additional guides, white-papers, videos, files and e-content are all supplied without charge. Alternative courses may be developed in the future subject to demand and may change without notice.
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Contact: For more information, or to speak with an academic representative, please contact Ann Miller RN MHA CMP™ at: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com [24/7] -OR- 770-448-0769[9:00 – 5:00 EST].
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Filed under: "Advisors Only", "Ask-an-Advisor", Career Development, CMP Program, Experts Invited, Financial Planning, Glossary Terms, Health Economics, Health Insurance, Health Law & Policy, Healthcare Finance, iMBA, iMBA, Inc., Information Technology, Investing, Op-Editorials | Tagged: accountants, certifications, certified medical planner, CMP, financial advisors, financial planners, Investing, investment advisors, Marcinko, micro, micro-certifications, micro-credentials | Leave a comment »
By Staff Reporters
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SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com
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“We kept hearing nightmare stories about Americans not getting the treatment that they needed because insurance companies were denying them care. But we didn’t have enough data to show just how extensive and deep the problem was.”—
Bill Smith, founder of mental health advocacy coalition Inseparable, on patients with mental health diagnoses not receiving care (NPR)
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The NASDAQ closed at an all-time high yesterday, breaking the record it set in November 2021, as technology stocks continued to rally on the news that the Fed may cut interest rates next year.
DocuSign shot up following reports that the $11 billion company whose tech lets you use your signature without a pen could be up for sale.
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By Staff Reporters
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In a significant breach of privacy, hackers gained access to the DNA relatives data of 6.9 million users on 23andMe, posing serious questions about the security measures in place for our most personal data.
Meanwhile, Neuralink, the brain-computer interface company, faced disturbing reports about its clinical trials. Allegedly, up to a dozen monkeys suffered severe adverse effects, including brain swelling and partial paralysis, after being implanted with the Neuralink device.
Neuralink Corp. is an American company that is developing brain computer interfaces (BCIs) as of 2022. Founded by Elon Musk and a team of seven scientists and engineers, Neuralink was launched in 2016 and was first publicly reported in March 2017.
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Filed under: "Doctors Only", Health Insurance, Healthcare Finance, Information Technology | Tagged: 23andMe, bci, DNA, Elon Muask, HIT, IT, Neuralink | Leave a comment »
By Staff Reporters
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SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com
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Twenty-eight healthcare companies, including CVS Health , are signing U.S. President Joe Biden’s voluntary commitments aimed at ensuring the safe development of artificial intelligence (AI), a White House official said yesterday. The commitments by healthcare providers and payers follow those of 15 leading AI companies, including Google, OpenAI and OpenAI partner Microsoft to develop AI healthcare models responsibly.
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Health insurance company Humana is being accused of allegedly wrongfully denying care to elderly patients, who are enrolled in Medicare Advantage Plans, using an augmented intelligence model “to override” physicians’ orders on “necessary care patients require,” according to a new lawsuit.
The lawsuit, filed by two Humana Medicare Advantage Plan customers on December th 12 in Kentucky, claims that Humana uses an AI model called nH Predict, and it allegedly has a high error rate. And allegedly, despite knowing that it’s inaccurate, the company still uses it.
Related: CVS, Kroger and Rite Aid face unsettling medical privacy concerns
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
The S&P 500 index was up 12.46 points (0.3%) at 4,719.55; the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 158.11 points (0.4%) at 37,248.35; the NASDAQ Composite® (COMP) was up 27.59 points (0.2%) at 14,761.56.
Financial shares remained among the market’s strongest post-FOMC gainers, reflecting ideas that lower interest rates will boost profit margins for banks. Goldman Sachs (GS) rallied nearly 6%, the second-best gain among Dow companies, and hit a 23-month high. The KBW Bank Index (BKX), which includes major companies like Bank of America (BAC) and Citigroup (C) as well as several regional lenders, surged 5% to a nine-month high.
Also, the small-cap Russell 2000® Index (RUT) continued to outgain large-cap counterparts, rising 2.7% to a 4 ½-month high.
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Filed under: Alternative Investments, Ethics, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, Health Economics, Health Insurance, Health Law & Policy, Information Technology, Investing, Touring with Marcinko | Tagged: AI, AI companies, BAC, banks, BKX, c, ChatGPT, COMP, CVS Health, DJIA, energy, FOMC, gold, google, GS, Healthcare AI, Human Medicare Advantage, Humana, inflation, Marcinko, markets, Medicare C, Medicare Part C, metals, MSFT, NASDAQ, nH Predict, oil, Open AI, Part C, real-estate, Russell Index 2000, RUT, S&P 500, stock markets, TNX, utilities, VIX | Leave a comment »
By Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA CMP™
SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com
First – a little “insider expert” background on the confusion. It exists largely because of the influence that large financial institutions (who earn revenue through the sale of financial products) have on legislators.
The Investment Advisors Act of 1940 requires that anyone giving investment advice must be acting in a fiduciary capacity. The intent was to separate the financial salespeople, who had significant conflicts of interest, from the investment advisors, who had few to none. If you know very little about financial products, would you rather be educated as the customer of a commissioned salesperson or the client of a fee-for-service advisor? Hands down, you’d want the fee-for-service advisor.
Of course, the financial institutions selling products understood this. They were able to influence the drafting of the 1940 Investment Advisors Act, to exclude “any broker or dealer whose performance of such [advisory] services is solely incidental to the conduct of his business as a broker or dealer.” So if salespeople just happen to give some financial advice that is “incidental” to the sale of a product, they and their companies are not held to the fiduciary standard. Our U.S. Congress allows financial companies to advertise as if they are fiduciaries while their sales forces are not held to a fiduciary standard.
Now, according to Rick Kahler CFP®, the same conflict arises in some professional designations, like the Certified Financial Planner® designation conferred by the CFP® Board. The designation initially certified the completion of training in financial planning. In 2008 the Board added a fiduciary requirement to the designation.
However, CFP®’s are only held to a fiduciary requirement when they are doing what the CFP® Board defines as financial planning. If a CFP® professional is giving advice to a client, the fiduciary standard applies. Yet the same professional can sell the same client an annuity with high fees and high commissions, even if the product may not be in the client’s best interest, as long as no “financial planning” is part of the transaction. The result is significant confusion for consumers.
The bottom line is this: when you look for financial advice or financial products, don’t assume the advisor is looking out for you. It’s your responsibility to find out whether any financial professional owes you a fiduciary duty.
So, I suggest you ask directly, “Am I a customer or a client?” The answer is almost always “a client,” as most financial services salespeople honestly don’t know the difference. After you explain that difference, ask them to verify their fiduciary duty in writing. That five-minute solution may have a lasting impact on your financial well-being.
Better yet, consider speaking to your fiduciary focused and fee-only Certified Medical Planner® professional colleagues at D.E. Marcinko & Associates.
“By Doctors – For Doctors”
CMP: http://www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org***
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Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", "Doctors Only", Career Development, CMP Program, Ethics, Experts Invited, Industry Indignation Index, Insurance Matters, Interviews, Investing, Marcinko Associates | Tagged: certified financial planner, Certified Medical Planner™, CFP, CFP Board, CMP, Investment Advisor Act, Marcinko Associates, Rick Kahler CFP® | Leave a comment »
By Staff Reporters
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The Dow hit an all-time high yesterday after the Federal Reserve hinted at plans to make multiple rate cuts next year. Not having such a good day was Pfizer, which touched a 10-year low after releasing disappointing projections for 2024 because people just aren’t buying Covid products like they used to.
CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource/Title/082610254
Fed rate cuts may come in threes next year
The Federal Reserve had investors popping bottles yesterday, not just because it made the expected move of holding interest rates steady for now but also for signaling that there may be multiple interest rate cuts in 2024. Most Fed officials penciled in three quarter-percentage-point cuts in their projections. Fed Chair Jerome Powell said inflation had “eased” but still did his best to keep everyone from getting too excited, saying, “No one is declaring victory. That would be premature.” Even so, markets started pricing in even more aggressive cuts than the projections.
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Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Breaking News, Experts Invited, Glossary Terms, Investing | Tagged: fed, Federal Reserve, FOMC, interest rates, IRS, Jerome Powell, Pfizer | Leave a comment »
By Staff Reporters
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MANY THANKS E.R. HEROES
The holidays can be a stressful time for many, especially emergency healthcare workers, as Emergency Departments and ERs tend to get crowded. Holiday-related injuries spike in December, from slipping in the snow or falling while decorating to overindulging in holiday cocktails. So, to all the emergency healthcare providers working on holidays this year, the ME-P thanks you very much.
Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:
Financial shares led Wednesday’s gainers, reflecting ideas that lower interest rates will boost profit margins for banks. The KBW Regional Banking Index (KRX) surged nearly 6% and ended at its highest level in over four months. The Fed’s outlook for slower growth in 2024, but no recession, also appeared to drive optimism among smaller companies, which are considered to have greater exposure to economic downturns. The small-cap Russell 2000® Index (RUT) outpaced its bigger counterparts, gaining 3.5% and ending at a four-month high.
Treasury yields fell sharply, with the 10-year note dropping to a four-month low just above 4%.
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Filed under: Alternative Investments, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, Investing, Touring with Marcinko | Tagged: banks, DJIAm, emergency department, emergency room, energy, ER, FED IRs, FOMC, gold, inflation, KBW, KRX, Marcinko, markets, metals, NASDAQ, oil, real-estate, Russell Index 2000, RUT, S&P 500, stock markets, TNX, Treasury yields, utilities | Leave a comment »
BUILD A HEALTHCARE SALES MACHINE
By Eric Bricker MD
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Filed under: "Doctors Only", Experts Invited, Health Economics, Health Insurance, Healthcare Finance, iMBA, Inc., Marketing & Advertising, Videos | Tagged: digital health marketing, digital health sales, Eric Bricker MD, Health Insurance, health insurance marketing, health insurance sales, health sales and marketing, healthcare sales | Leave a comment »
By Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA
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DEFINITION: A general review of research on frailty defined it more specifically as “a state characterized by reduced physiological reserve and loss of resistance to stressors caused by accumulated age-related deficits.”
CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource/Title/082610254
Between 10 and 15% of older adults are considered frail. But how do doctors measure frailty? One tool is called the Frailty Index for Elders (FIFE) and consists of 10 items that are scored zero to 10, with zero indicating no frailty, one to three indicating that there is a risk of frailty, and four or above indicating that the individual is considered frail in that item.
Another frailty index, used by Dalhousie University in Canada, requires 30 variables to be measured and is regarded more as a comprehensive measure of one’s overall health.
It’s important to understand that maintaining good health and fitness is not just about avoiding illness and injury, reaching overhead for that jar of peanut butter on the top shelf, and walking the dog farther than just around the block. It’s also about recovering more quickly when you get sick or injured, which everyone does eventually.
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Filed under: "Advisors Only", Ethics, LifeStyle, Retirement and Benefits, Risk Management, Touring with Marcinko | Tagged: Dalhousie, fie, fragility, fraility, frailty index, frailty index elders, human, human fragility, HUMAN FRAGILITY: Standardized for Financial Advisors and Medical Professionals, human frailty | Leave a comment »
By Staff Reporters
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QUESTION: Why are doctors leaving their practices?
For many it’s about demographics. Just like the rest of us, doctors are aging too. Already the average physician age is about 53 years old. The Association of American Medical Colleges reports that about half of doctors are over the age of 55. Over the next decade, an estimated 40% of physicians will be over 65 years old. This means more than two of every five active physicians will reach age 65 within the next 10 years.
Moreover, compared with their boomer colleagues who were more likely to work past retirement, a robust 60% of younger Generation X doctors are reporting that they plan to retire by age 60.
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Doctors cite poor quality of life and stress as reasons for their early departure. The pandemic certainly crushed many providers and has led to burnout. Generation X physicians in their 40s and early 50s were more likely than boomers to report that their current work life was not making the grade. In short, 43% of middle-aged doctors, compared with 31% of doctors over age 55, were reporting lower levels of professional fulfillment. Moreover, 47% of mostly Gen X doctors indicated dissatisfaction with their level of personal fulfillment compared with 36% of practicing boomer physicians.
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Filed under: "Doctors Only", Career Development, CMP Program, Health Economics, Health Insurance, Research & Development, Retirement and Benefits | Tagged: AMA, Association of American Medical Colleges, boomerdoctors, doctors, doctorsleaving practice, gen x doctors, medical practice, physicians, physicians leaving practice, retirement doctors | Leave a comment »
By Staff Reporters
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SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com
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Kentucky-based healthcare provider Norton Healthcare has confirmed that it has suffered a significant ransomware attack that may have put the data of millions of its patients at risk. In a filing to the Maine Attorney General on December 8th, the healthcare giant said that 2.5 million individuals had been affected by the breach.
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Meanwhile, the nation’s largest pharmacy chains have handed over Americans’ prescription records to police and government investigators without a warrant, a congressional investigation found, raising concerns about threats to medical privacy. Though some of the chains require their lawyers to review law enforcement requests, three of the largest — CVS Health, Kroger and Rite Aid, with a combined 60,000 locations nationwide — said they allow pharmacy staff members to hand over customers’ medical records in the store.
The policy was revealed in a letter sent to Xavier Becerra, the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Reps. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) and Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.).
HIPAA anyone?
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Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:
Technology shares were among Tuesday’s strongest performers despite a 12% drop in Oracle (ORCL), which plunged after reporting lighter-than-expected quarterly revenue late Monday. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) posted its highest close since January 2022.
Financial shares were also firm. Energy shares were under pressure because WTI Crude Oil futures (/CL) extended a slump below $70 per barrel and settled at its lowest price since late June.
Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
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Filed under: Alternative Investments, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, Information Technology, Investing, Touring with Marcinko | Tagged: banks, COMP, crude, DHHS, DJIAm, EHRs, electronic medical records, EMRs, energy, gold, HIPAA, HIT, inflation, iol, IT, Marcinko, markets, medical records, metals, NASDAQ, norton, norton hacked, oil, ORCL, Pramila Jayapal, real-estate, Ron Wyden, Russell Index 2000, RUT, S&P 500, Sara Jacobs, SOX, stock markets, TNX, utilities, WTI, Xavier Becerra | Leave a comment »
By Health Capital Consultants, LLC
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FTC Lawsuit Targets Private Equity
On September 21, 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sued U.S. Anesthesia Partners (USAP), a Texas-based anesthesia provider, and Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe (Welch Carson), a private equity firm. The FTC alleged that the two companies executed an anti-competitive scheme for multiple years to consolidate anesthesiology practices in Texas, boost their profits, and drive up the price of anesthesia services rendered to patients.
CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource/Title/082610254
This Health Capital Topics article will discuss the lawsuit and how it appears to fit in with the FTC’s recent moves to crack down on anti-competitive actions in healthcare. (Read more…)
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Filed under: "Doctors Only", Career Development, Experts Invited, Health Economics, Healthcare Finance, Investing | Tagged: anesthesia partners, FTC, FTC Lawsuit Targets Private Equity, HCC, Health Capital Consultants LLC, Private Equity, USAP, Welch Carson | Leave a comment »
YET- HEALTH CARE IS GROWING!
By Staff Reporters
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The US economy is looking like it could avoid a downturn and achieve a soft landing after all. US employers added a more-than-expected 199,000 workers to their payrolls last month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said recently. The solid result calmed many analysts’ fears that a steeper economic slowdown is imminent due to the Federal Reserve’s earlier interest rate hikes. And, it brings us closer to the coveted “soft landing” scenario, in which the Fed tames inflation on the economy. For example:
Last month’s 199-k jobs created were below the average of 240,000 added in the preceding 12 months. Plus, November hiring was confined to just a handful of industries:
Finally, in another sign that employers might be pulling back from on-boarding new people, the Labor Department reported earlier this week that job openings in late October were at their lowest since March 2021.
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Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, Health Economics, Healthcare Finance, Investing | Tagged: automakers, BLS, Bureau Labor Statistics, fed, Federal Reserve, FOMC, health care, healthcare, job markets, labor, soft landing, US economy | Leave a comment »
By Staff Reporters
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SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com
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In healthcare, legislators could vote next week on a major health reform package that includes a ban on spread pricing in Medicaid and a push toward site-neutral payments.
In more news from the Hill, a bipartisan bill was introduced that seeks to cancel a 3.4% Medicare pay cut to docs, which has drawn plenty of ire from the industry.
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The final FOMC meeting of the year will take place this week, and like most work meetings in mid-December, not a whole lot is going to happen. Chair Jerome Powell is widely expected to leave interest rates unchanged as inflation continues its descent to a 2% target. But 2024 planning is in full swing, and investors are desperate to learn when the Federal Reserve thinks it will need to cut rates next year.
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Here is where the major stock index benchmarks ended:
In addition to retailers, semiconductor company shares also posted outsized gains Monday, boosted in part by a jump of nearly 10% in Broadcom (AVGO). The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) gained more than 3% and ended near a two-year high. Transportation companies were also strong.
In other markets, Natural Gas futures (/NG) plunged more than 6% to a six-month low, reflecting warmer-than-normal U.S. temperatures and excess supplies.
Finally, the so-called Magnificent Seven stocks of Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon.com, Nvidia, Tesla and Meta Platforms each fell at least 0.8%. Meta led the declines, dropping 2.2%. But only one out of 11 S&P 500 sectors fell. Even the information technology sub-index ticked higher, reflecting gains outside of the largest companies in the sector.
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Filed under: Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, Health Economics, Health Insurance, Healthcare Finance, Investing, Touring with Marcinko | Tagged: /NG, Alaphabet, Amazon, Apple, banks, DJIA, DJIAm, energy, FOMC, gold, google, healthcare, inflation, interest rates, IRS, Marcinko, markets, Medicaid, medicare, Meta, metals, MSFT, NASDAQ, Nvidia, oil, Powell, real-estate, Russell Index 2000, RUT, S&P 500, SOX, stock markets, Tesla, TNX, utilities | Leave a comment »
By Staff Reporters
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United Kingdom Regulators Looking into Microsoft’s Partnership with OpenAI
A British watchdog is asking for feedback on whether Microsoft’s $13 billion, 49% stake in the ChatGPT-maker’s for-profit division constitutes a merger, the WSJ just eported. So, if the agency decides to launch a formal investigation into whether the partnership creates an unfair advantage in the artificial intelligence industry, it could eventually force the companies to change how they operate.
And, following OpenAI’s dramatic firing and rehiring of CEO Sam Altman last month, Microsoft was given a “nonvoting observer” seat on the OpenAI board.
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Aetna Better Health of Georgia has invested $510,000 in 17 local organizations that offer services for individuals experiencing food insecurity and homelessness across the state of Georgia.
“A holistic approach to health care starts with ensuring each individual has stable and consistent access to healthy, nutritious foods, as well as a safe place to live,” said Sonya Nelson, division president at Aetna Medicaid. “By partnering with local organizations committed to improving the quality of life for all Georgians, we can help ensure people’s most basic needs are fulfilled and they’re able to prioritize care for themselves and their families.”
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By Staff Reporters
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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.
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Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", "Doctors Only", Accounting, Breaking News, CMP Program, Ethics, Funding Basics, Health Economics, Health Insurance, Healthcare Finance, Information Technology | Tagged: bankruptcy, Chapter 11, mass extinction event, smile direct, smiledirectclub, Tele-Health | Leave a comment »
By Staff Reporters
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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.
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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
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Filed under: Alternative Investments, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, Investing, Touring with Marcinko | Tagged: DJIA, DOW, economic landing, Marcinko, Paramount, paramount pictures, Russell Index 2000, S&P 500, Shari Redstone, stock markets, stocks, US economy | Leave a comment »
By Eric Bricker MD
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[Transformational Health 2.0 Skills for Savvy Doctors]
By Ann Miller RN MHA [Executive-Director]
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:
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:
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
Filed under: Book Reviews, Breaking News, Experts Invited, Health Economics, Information Technology, Managed Care, Practice Management, Practice Worth, Quality Initiatives, Recommended Books | Tagged: business appraisals, Business Medical Practice, Marcinko, medical clinics | 1 Comment »
[By Ann Miller RN MHA]
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.
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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!
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“The informed voice of a new generation of fiduciary advisors for healthcare”
http://e.infogr.am/enter_the_certified_medical_planner?src=embed
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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
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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:
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THE THREE VITAL ELEMENTS
SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com
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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.
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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.
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Filed under: "Doctors Only", Career Development, Information Technology, Marcinko Associates, Marketing & Advertising, Practice Management, Touring with Marcinko | Tagged: digital marketing, internet marketing, Marcinko, medical advertising, medical internet marketing, medical marketing, Medical Sales, search marketing, social media | Leave a comment »
By Staff Reporters
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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%.
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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
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Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", "Doctors Only", Breaking News, Drugs and Pharma, Experts Invited, Financial Planning, Investing, LifeStyle | Tagged: banks, CASGEVY, CBOE, CRISPR, energy, FDA, gold, inflation, Marcinko, markets, metals, NASDAQ, OECD, oil, real-estate, Russell Index 2000, RUT, S&P 500, sickle cell disease, SPX, stock markets, TNX, utilities, Vertex | Leave a comment »
By Staff Reporters
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CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource
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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:
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
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Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, iMBA, Inc., Investing | Tagged: bond prices, bond rates, bonds, fed, Federal Reserve, FOMC, inflation, interest rates, IR, IRS, US Treasury. Financial Times, Wall Street | Leave a comment »
MARCINKO ASSOCIATES, Inc.
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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/
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By Staff Reporters
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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:
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.
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Filed under: Alternative Investments, Experts Invited, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, Investing, Touring with Marcinko | Tagged: banks, cars, CBS, crude, david harrison, deflation, DJIA, energy, falling prices, gold, inflation, KRX, Marcinko, markets, metals, NASDAQ, oil, real-estate, Russell Index 2000, RUT, S&P 500, SOX, stock markets, TNX, used cars, utilities, VIX | Leave a comment »
By Staff Reporters
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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/
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Filed under: "Doctors Only", Accounting, Drugs and Pharma, Ethics, Health Economics | Tagged: Cost plus Drugs, CVs, CVS cost advantage, drug prices, Mark Cuban, PBM, prescription drugs, prescriptions, Rx drugs | Leave a comment »
LLM
By Staff Reporters
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The tech is a family of three models that Google is slowly looping into its suite of services:
If Gemini can do what Google promises, it could chip away at OpenAI’s lead in the LLM space.
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Filed under: Breaking News, Career Development, Experts Invited, Glossary Terms, Information Technology | Tagged: AI, artificial intelligence, ChatGPT, DeepMind, Gemini, google, large language model, LLM, openAI, Pichai, Sundar | Leave a comment »
By Staff Reporters
MEDICARE ANNUAL ENROLLMENT ENDS
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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:
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.
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By Staff Reporters
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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.”
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Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Accounting, Breaking News, Financial Planning, Funding Basics | Tagged: Basel III, big banks, capital requirements, Jamie Dimon | Leave a comment »
By Staff Reporters
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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:
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.
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Filed under: Alternative Investments, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, Investing, Quality Initiatives, Touring with Marcinko | Tagged: CBOE, COMP, energy, gold, inflation, Marcinko, markets, metals, NASDAQ, non physician ownership, oil, Private Equity, Russell Index 2000, RUT, S&P 500, stock markets, TNX, VIX | Leave a comment »
MANAGEMENT SERVICE ORGANIZATION
By Health Capital Consultants, LLC
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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…)
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Filed under: Career Development, Experts Invited, Health Economics, Healthcare Finance, Managed Care, Professional Liability, Research & Development | Tagged: Health Capital Consultants, management service organization, MSO, MSOs | Leave a comment »
By Staff Reporters
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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.
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Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Accounting, Glossary Terms, Industry Indignation Index, Investing, Taxation | Tagged: Accounting, CEI, Competitive Enterprise Institute, CPA, Income, income tax, Investing, mandatory repatriation tax, Moore, MRT, SCOTUS, Taxation | Leave a comment »
By Staff Reporters
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SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com
Here is where the major benchmarks ended yesterday:
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.
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Filed under: Alternative Investments, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, Investing, Touring with Marcinko | Tagged: banks, COMP, energy, GC, gold, inflation, Marcinko, markets, metals, NASDAQ, oil, real-estate, Russell 2000 Index, Russell Index 2000, RUT, S&P 500, SOX, SPX, stock markets, TNX, utilities, VIX | Leave a comment »
By Eric Bricker MD
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Filed under: Drugs and Pharma, Ethics, Events-Planner, Experts Invited, Health Economics, Health Insurance, Health Law & Policy, Healthcare Finance, Videos | Tagged: best practices, Eric Bricker MD, Health Insurance, medicare, open enrollment, open medicare enrollment | Leave a comment »
By Staff Reporters
SPONSOR: http://www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org
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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
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Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Accounting, CMP Program, Financial Planning, Glossary Terms, Investing, Taxation | Tagged: Accounting, Certified Medical Planner™, CMP, Moore v. United States, SCOTUS, Supreme Court, tax, tax code, Taxation, unrealized gains | Leave a comment »
By Staff Reporters
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SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com
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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.
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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
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Filed under: Alternative Investments, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, Investing, Touring with Marcinko | Tagged: Bitcoin, crypto, fear gauge, inflation, interest rate penalty, Internal revenue service, IRS, IRS interest rate penalty, Marcinko, S&P 500, soft landing, tax underpayments, VIX | Leave a comment »
By Staff Reporters
RPM CONSUMER ALERT
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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General is alerting the public about a fraud scheme involving monthly billing for remote patient monitoring. This scam involves signing up Medicare enrollees for remote patient monitoring (RPM). Legitimate RPM involves using medical devices such as scales, glucose monitors, blood pressure cuffs, cardiac rhythm devices, and other equipment to remotely monitor for anomalies in patients with chronic medical conditions. This new treatment is beneficial for those whose condition might deteriorate quickly, where monitoring can reduce complications, hospitalizations, or death.
CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource/Title/082610254
Unscrupulous companies are signing up Medicare enrollees for this service, regardless of medical necessity. Scammers have several ways to make contact. It may involve phone solicitations (“cold calling”), internet ads (“click bait”), or television advertising. These contacts may originate from a Durable Medical Equipment Company (DME) or pharmacy. Equipment may or may not be sent or is equipment that is not FDA-approved.
Billing then occurs for set-up, patient teaching, and monthly monitoring of data. Most often, the monthly monitoring never happens, but the enrollee is billed monthly anyway.
Source: OIG
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Filed under: Alerts Sign-Up, Book Reviews, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, Health Economics, Health Insurance, Healthcare Finance, Information Technology, LifeStyle, Quality Initiatives, Risk Management | Tagged: alert, click bait, cold calling, consumer alert, DHHS, DME, durable medical equipment, FDA, medicare, OIG, remote patient monitoring, RPM | Leave a comment »
By Staff Reporters
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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.
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Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Breaking News, Experts Invited, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, Investing, LifeStyle | Tagged: Bloomberg, deflation, fed, Federal Reserve, FOMC, inflation, interest rate cuts, interest rates, IRS, Jerome Powell, Powell, premature interest rate cuts | Leave a comment »
By Staff Reporters
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SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com
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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.
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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:
However, all IPOs have not done well:
CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource
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Filed under: Alternative Investments, Drugs and Pharma, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, Investing, Touring with Marcinko | Tagged: Birkenstock, Bloomberg, Dealogic, Financial Times, inflation, instacart, IPOs, Marcinko, markets, NASDAQ, Panera Bread, Pfizer, public markets, Reddit, Russell Index 2000, RUT, S&P 500, Shein, Skims, SPAC, stock markets | Leave a comment »
By Staff Reporters
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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.
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Filed under: "Doctors Only", Accounting, Drugs and Pharma, Ethics, Experts Invited, Health Economics, Health Insurance, Healthcare Finance | Tagged: CMS, Fierce Healthcare, Medicare Advantage, Part C, Part C Medicare, UnitedHealthcare | Leave a comment »
By Staff Reporters
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SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com
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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.
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Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:
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.
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Filed under: Alternative Investments, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, Investing, Touring with Marcinko | Tagged: banks, CASH, DJIA, inflation, KBW, KRX, Marcinko, markets, money market funds, money market mutual funds, Mutual Funds, NASDAQ, Russell Index 2000, RUT, S&P 500, stock markets, TNX, utilities | Leave a comment »
Medicare Physician Fee Schedule
By Health Capital Consultants
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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
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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…)
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Filed under: "Doctors Only", Career Development, Experts Invited, Health Economics, Health Insurance, Health Law & Policy, Healthcare Finance, Op-Editorials | Tagged: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, CMS, CPT, current procedural terminology, CY, Geographical Practice Cost Index, Health Capital Consultants, Health Capital Topics, Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, MPFS, relative value units, RVU | Leave a comment »
By Staff Reporters
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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.
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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.
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Filed under: "Doctors Only", Career Development, Drugs and Pharma, Ethics, Experts Invited, Health Economics, Health Insurance, Healthcare Finance, iMBA, Inc., Information Technology, mental health, Research & Development | Tagged: Ayble Health, Fierce Healthcare, healthcare innovation, Mayo clinic, medical management, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, PCORI, Practice Management, talkspace, TeenSpace | Leave a comment »
By Staff Reporters
SPONSOR: http://www.MARCINKOASSOCIATES.com
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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.
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Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Accounting, Investing, LifeStyle, Touring with Marcinko | Tagged: de-flation, fed, FOMC, gas prices, inflation, inflation cools, inflation down | Leave a comment »
By Staff Reporters
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SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
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.
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Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Alternative Investments, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, Investing, Portfolio Management, Touring with Marcinko | Tagged: banks, CBOE, DJIAm, energy, gold, inflation, Marcinko, markets, metals, NASDAQ, Nathan Peterson, oil, real-estate, Russell Index 2000, RUT, S&P 500, Schwab, stock markets, TNX, utilities, VIX | Leave a comment »
By Staff Reporters
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Consumer confidence rose for the first time in four months
The Consumer Conference Board’s index rose from 99.1 in October to 102 in November thanks to US consumers’ optimism around short-term income, hiring prospects, and the slowdown in inflation. The perceived likelihood of a recession also fell to the lowest level of 2023—though two-thirds of Americans still think one is either “somewhat” or “very likely” to happen in the next year.
The improved economic outlook comes after home prices rose to a new record in September, even as mortgage rates remained elevated.
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Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Financial Planning, LifeStyle | Tagged: Consumer Confidence, consumer confidence board, Consumer Confidence Index, consumers | Leave a comment »
By Staff Reporters
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SPONSOR: http://www.MarcinkoAssociates.com
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A ransomware attack has caused a health care chain, which operates 30 hospitals in six states, to move patients from some of its emergency rooms to other hospitals, while putting certain procedures on pause, the company announced.
According to a statement from Ardent Health Services, the attack happened on November 23rd. The company said as a result of the attack, it took its network offline and suspended user access to its information technology applications, including the software used to document patient care.
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Here is where the major benchmarks ended:
Here’s where the major benchmarks ended:
CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource
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Filed under: Alternative Investments, Financial Planning, Funding Basics, Glossary Terms, Health Economics, Information Technology, Investing, Touring with Marcinko | Tagged: Ardent Health, CBOE, energy, inflation, Marcinko, markets, NASDAQ, RansomWare, Russell Index 2000, S&P 500, stock markets, TNX, VIX | Leave a comment »
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