Industry Updates

BenefitMall Expands California Team

 

Neil Crosby Appointed Director of Business Development for California 

Neil Crosby Appointed Director of Business Development for California

–BenefitMall, the largest employee benefits general agency in the U.S., announces the addition of Neil Crosby to its team as the new Director of Business Development for California. The appointment marks a significant step in the company’s commitment to serving its California brokers and enhancing its presence in the region.

Crosby brings more than 40 years of experience in the employee benefits industry to his new role. Prior to joining BenefitMall, Crosby spent 17 years leading group benefits sales at a general agency, where he recruited and trained sales professionals, built relationships with industry partners, developed sales strategy, and consistently exceeded sales goals.

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UCSF Favors Pricey Doctoral Program for Nurse-Midwives Amid Maternal Care Crisis 

One of California’s two programs for training nurse-midwives has stopped admitting students while it revamps its curriculum to offer only doctoral degrees, a move that’s drawn howls of protest from alumni, health policy experts, and faculty who accuse the University of California of putting profits above public health needs. 

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University of California campuses rise to the top in two new rankings

The Wall Street Journal and Forbes magazine both agree: The University of California’s nine undergraduate campuses are among the best in the nation.

In a ranking released this week by the Wall Street Journal in partnership with College Pulse and Statista, all nine UC undergraduate campuses were named among its 2025 Best Colleges in the U.S., an assessment that focused on how well colleges set up their graduates for future financial success.

2024-25 Wall Street Journal rankings by campus

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Saline drops reduce duration of common cold in kids, study finds

New research from a randomized controlled trial presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress in Vienna, Austria, this week suggests that simple saline nasal drops can reduce the length of the common cold in children by 2 days, according to an ERS news release.

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MEDICARE 

UCLA Health Medicare Advantage Plans – AGA Announcement

We are happy to provide you the first opportunity to contract to sell UCLA Health Medicare Advantage Plans. As one of California’s leading providers of high-quality care and distinguished with national accolades and accreditations, UCLA Health Medicare Advantage Plan is primed to be a leader in the MAPD space.

Get Contracted

Please contact your RSM for additional information

Agent Friendly

UCLA Health Medicare Advantage Plan respects and needs independent agents to promote their plans!

  • Top Commissions & Renewals
  • Agency Overrides
  • Full-Service Agent Support
  • Online-Enrollment Technology

Comprehensive Coverage

Available in Los Angeles County, California with over 1.6 million Medicare beneficiaries!

  • Two HMO MAPD Plans provide:
  • Low Monthly Premiums, Prescription Drug Coverage, Dental, Vision, and Hearing benefits
  • Smart Card Benefits
  • Exclusive Care Concierge
  • Transportation, Fitness Memberships, Nutrition Education and more!

Access to Care

Network built on UCLA Health’s world class care, strengthened by best-in-class community medical groups!

  • 7000+ in-network Providers, including over 5 local IPAs
  • Extensive Hospital Network including 4 award-winning UCLA
  • Health Hospitals
  • 400+ Medical Office Locations

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Feds Killed Plan To Curb Medicare Advantage Overbilling After Industry Opposition

A decade ago, federal officials drafted a plan to discourage Medicare Advantage health insurers from overcharging the government by billions of dollars — only to abruptly back off amid an “uproar” from the industry, newly released court filings show.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services published the draft regulation in January 2014. The rule would have required health plans, when examining patient’s medical records, to identify overpayments by CMS and refund them to the government.

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