www.ditl.org

IMPORTANT: My former colleagues in the health insurance industry claim they’re waiving all costs of testing & treatment for #COVID19. This is a lie. In reality, this promise doesn’t apply to everyone & there’s no enforcement mechanism to ensure they do. Here’s the truth: (1/10)

When insurers & the Trump admin say insurers are doing their part to end the pandemic, they’re counting on Americans to be fooled by industry lingo & believe #COVID19 health expenses are covered. When I worked for Cigna I'd have gotten a bonus for achieving this deception. (2/10)

In reality, this is world-class propaganda on display. To see how the industry is pulling the wool over our eyes, go to the website of its trade group, AHIP. It's intentionally close to impossible to follow what each company is actually doing. (3/10)

Here's a secret: the main purpose of insurers' web sites & documents is to provide a space to crow about their "charitable" donations, which are a tiny % of their revenues. I know firsthand: one of my roles at Cigna was heading the company’s meagerly endowed foundation. (4/10)

To see how they mislead re: #COVID19 costs, Aetna claims it "will waive co-pays for all diagnostic testing related to COVID-19... That includes all member costs associated with diagnostic testing for Commercial, Medicare, & Medicaid lines of business.” But there's a catch. (5/10)

The next 2 sentences have a hidden caveat: “Self-insured plan sponsors will be able to opt-out at their discretion. Aetna is also offering zero co-pay telemedicine visits for any reason & extending [additional benefits] to all fully insured members.” Here's why it's BS... (6/10)

Notice they mention “self-insured” plans. Nearly 80% of Aetna’s health plan members are in them (if you get your coverage through your employer, you likely are). Aetna doesn't consider these "fully insured." Which means their promises may only apply to 20% of its members. (7/10)

Of course, most folks probably have no idea whether they’re in a "fully insured" or "self-insured" plan, but it makes a world of difference, especially during this pandemic. And believe me, these companies are thrilled by your confusion. It could save them millions. (8/10)

Maybe we should expect private insurers to be dishonest, at this point. But the other problem is: There is no watchdog at any level of government monitoring this deceptive practice. In other words, there are no consequences for the insurers' deceit. And they know it. (9/10)

The answer? All insurers should state exactly what % of their members actually benefit from their promise to fully cover #COVID19 testing & treatment. And Congress should look into this ASAP. It'd be a great chance for @katieporteroc to embarrass the insurers yet again. (10/10)

Does sweat from someone infected with COVID-19 have a unique scent? Researchers in Paris, and elsewhere, believe it does—and we now know dogs can sniff it out.

A new study from researchers at the national veterinary school in Alfort, outside Paris trained 8 Belgian Malinois shepherds to identify the smell of COVID-19 in the sweat of infected individuals.

The dogs’ overall success rate was near-perfect, correctly guessing an average of 95% of samples. Four dogs successfully identified a positive COVID sweat sample 100% of the time.

Many of the countries which have had the greatest success maintaining low numbers of Covid case numbers have done so with widespread use of testing. Using dogs, according to the scientists, would greatly increase the speed at which people could be tested, and they resolved to move forward with subsequent studies in case of resurgent numbers as lockdowns throughout the Northern Hemisphere end.

BREAKING 1 OF 3: Florida announced yesterday they're not counting the icu bed availability anymore, a key element in keeping things open, so the state can proceed to the next phase by July 4.
BREAKING 2 OF 3: I have multiple sources at DOH who have just told me they have been instructed this week to change the numbers and begin slowly deleting deaths and cases so it looks like Florida is improving next week in the leadup to July 4, like they've "made it over the hump."
BREAKING 3 OF 3: I've independently verified they've deleted at least 1200 cases in the last week.They're only reporting all these cases now so they can restrict reporting next week to make everyone think it's over. I've had two DOH employees in different offices confirm

Every year, Saudi Arabia plays host to millions of Muslims from around the world taking part in the pilgrimage to Mecca known as the hajj. It is a sacred rite for Muslims and a reliable source of income for the Saudi economy and of prestige for its monarchy.

But not this year.

The kingdom announced on Monday that the hajj, which is taking place next month, would welcome “very limited numbers” of pilgrims to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

In a statement published by the state-run Saudi Press Agency, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, which oversees the pilgrimage, said the event would allow only Saudi pilgrims and those from other countries already inside the kingdom.

The ministry did not specify the target attendance, but the limitations will surely make this year’s pilgrimage much smaller than those in recent years, which have been vast.

In 2019, 2.49 million pilgrims took part in the hajj, according to the Saudi General Authority for Statistics, and 1.86 million of them came from abroad.

The reduced numbers could strike a big financial blow to a kingdom already reeling from low oil prices and an economic slowdown caused by the lockdown. The holy cities of Mecca and Medina are likely to be especially hard hit.

0011101[quote][/quote]0 01000100 wrote: ↑Wed Jun 24, 2020 5:57 am “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." ~ George Santayana.

“Those of us who are 70 plus, we’ll take care of ourselves. But don’t sacrifice the country,” Patrick said on Fox News’ “Tucker Carlson Tonight.”

His comments followed President Donald Trump’s statements about the country returning to business in weeks rather than months.

Patrick, who said he will turn 70 next week, said that he did not fear COVID-19, but feared that stay-at-home orders and economic upheaval would destroy the American way of life.

“No one reached out to me and said, 'As a senior citizen, are you willing to take a chance on your survival in exchange for keeping the America that America loves for its children and grandchildren?' And if that is the exchange, I'm all in,” Patrick said.

AUSTIN — Gov. Greg Abbott sternly warned Texans of “rampant” spread of coronavirus that took the state to a new high Tuesday of more than 5,000 new cases in a single day.

Saying Texans should stay home unless they have a good reason to venture out, Abbott late Tuesday afternoon gave local officials more powers to limit public gatherings during the upcoming Fourth of July weekend.

He expanded the ability of mayors and county judges to restrict outdoor gatherings of more than 100 people -- down from the previous limit of more than 500 people in outdoor gatherings.

On KENS-TV in San Antonio late Tuesday, Abbott made it clear it will be up to cities and counties to decide whether face coverings will be required at mass gatherings.

“I did authorize local officials to have the authority to establish regulations in gatherings of 100 or more people,” he said. “This was intended to allow local authorities in particular to regulate gatherings for Fourth of July celebrations. We did not specify what restrictions or regulations they could impose. It’s possible they could require masks in such an environment. It’s going to be up to local officials in that regard.”

Updated at 5:38 p.m.: to include Abbott comment that while local officials may require masks at large outdoor gatherings, he’s not ordering it.

AlexMcpherson79 wrote: ↑Wed Jun 24, 2020 4:35 pm What if... the "Football carrier" isn't actually a thing, in that the briefcase is just filled with that day's newspapers? And when the guy goes on his mandatory morning toilet break, that's when the open it, put the day's papers in it (and throw the previous days) and it's all just an elaborate prank?

...

More likely than the pandemic being fake.

Nutso wrote: ↑Wed Jun 24, 2020 9:36 pm Mask Mandate Passed in Palm Beach, Florida. Stupid people have opinions.