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Bertha Coombs

@berthacoombs.cnbc.com

4.2K followers 79 following 970 posts

CNBC Senior Health Care Reporter #RedSoxFan #Chocoholic #HealthcareNerd https://www.cnbc.com/bertha-coombs/

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Bertha Coombs @berthacoombs.cnbc.com · Nov 19

#CNBC #LiveAmbitiously started for me around age 7. I though then that I wanted to be President of the U.S. when I grew up. I subsequently thought being born in Cuba was my only disqualifier.
When I worked on a campaign, I realized journalism was more my speed.
www.cnbc.com/video/2024/0...

Bertha Coombs: There are so many possibilities

"My ambition is to pay it forward and help other people achieve their goals." CNBC Senior Health Care Reporter Bertha Coombs shares what ambition means to her and how her family's sacrifices helped he...

www.cnbc.com

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Bertha Coombs @berthacoombs.cnbc.com · 17h

Maybe its a Prime Day special?

Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 17h

> @mikezaccardi.bsky.social

$XRT

Bertha Coombs @berthacoombs.cnbc.com · 20h

From CNBC's @erindoherty.bsky.social: 'Collins told reporters Monday that she has a draft of a proposal to get out of the shutdown, which she has shared “selectively”...
Her draft “suggests that there be a conversation on the ACA extension ... after we reopen government,” she said...'

Republicans face pressure to consider Democrats' health care demands as shutdown drags on

Democrats have refused to vote for any funding legislation unless it includes an extension of Obamacare subsidies, which are due to expire before January.

cnb.cx

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Bertha Coombs @berthacoombs.cnbc.com · 22h

Watch this space: Novo Nordisk shares lower today. Ozempic is right now under IRA Medicare price negotiations for 2027.
I can't help but wonder whether Dr. Oz is trying to leverage that negotiated price beyond Medicare in the same way the Trump admin. pushed for $35 insulin in the first term...

Bertha Coombs @berthacoombs.cnbc.com · 1d

I got a chance to speak with Dr. Oz about his priorities at CMS at @aspeninstitute.bsky.social on Monday.
We talked about a lot of things, but it got really interesting when we talked about GLP-1s for weight loss in Medicare...

CMS Administrator Dr. Oz on GLP-1 for weight loss in Medicare: You’ll be hearing more soon | Bertha Coombs

CMS administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz has an ambitious list of things he wants to accomplish at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid to help improve the nation’s health system. Tackling drug prices is near...

www.linkedin.com

Bertha Coombs @berthacoombs.cnbc.com · 1d

Coming up from @aspeninstitute.bsky.social I’ll be chatting with CMS administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. The session will be available live on C-SPAN.

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Bertha Coombs @berthacoombs.cnbc.com · 3d

The irony of these pictures. Everyday people in real life standing in stark contrast to the status bags they’re holding, which cost more than most people’s mortgages.

Doctor Bags Are the Cure for Your Fall Style Rut

Elegant yet utilitarian, doctor bags can go anywhere—including the Swiss Alps.

www.wsj.com

Reposted by Bertha Coombs

The Wall Street Journal @wsj.com · 4d

A healthcare-staffing business and labor unions are suing the Trump administration over huge new fees for H-1B visas, saying the president doesn’t have the authority to demand $100,000 for every new application in the popular program for foreign professionals.

Healthcare and Education Groups Sue Over Trump’s $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee

The lawsuit marks the first major challenge to the new worker-visa fees and argues that the president doesn’t have the power to impose them.

on.wsj.com

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Bertha Coombs @berthacoombs.cnbc.com · 4d

‘‘Tis the season: #AEP
Watched 90s SNL reruns on cable and saw adds for
- Aetna MA plans
- Oak Street Health
- eHealth MA navigation
- Humana MA plans to
- an online GLP-1 compounder

Bertha Coombs @berthacoombs.cnbc.com · 5d

Here’s the math: Shutdown Day 3 vs 28 days to ACA OEP.
“aides are discussing proposals to extend the enhanced subsidies for Affordable Care Act health-insurance plans, the officials said…Republicans say they will only hold negotiations with Democrats on the matter after the government is reopened.”

White House Senses Political Risk on Healthcare Despite Shutdown Bravado

Aides to President Trump are discussing proposals to extend enhanced Obamacare subsidies on which millions of Americans rely.

www.wsj.com

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Bertha Coombs @berthacoombs.cnbc.com · 6d

An amazing woman. A life well-lived.

NBC News @nbcnews.com · 6d

Dr. Jane Goodall, who will be remembered as an advocate for animals and a renowned chimpanzee researcher, died due to natural causes, the Jane Goodall Institute announced.
nbcnews.to/48bAFgj

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Bertha Coombs @berthacoombs.cnbc.com · 6d

But overall, UNH shares have to make up the losses since April, when the health care giant slashed guidance, announced a CEO change along with other management changes, and undertook an overhaul of the company's business.

Bertha Coombs @berthacoombs.cnbc.com · 6d

For UnitedHealth, the stakes are high to get open enrollment right as it tries to get its Medicare program back to profitability.
UNH shares rebounded in Q3 with Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway buying a stake in the company...

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Bertha Coombs @berthacoombs.cnbc.com · 7d

That should say taking a page FROM its peers' playbooks...

Bertha Coombs @berthacoombs.cnbc.com · 7d

Medicare insurers are lifting the veil on their 2026 MA plans. Taking a page fomr CVS & Humana's playbooks last year, UnitedHealth is exiting 16 markets and cancelling 100 plans which impact 600K members. Will offer new HMO plans in 2/3 of those markets.

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Bertha Coombs @berthacoombs.cnbc.com · 7d

UHC's Hunter says “This is in response to the funding cuts and medical cost pressures that are significantly impacting the program, and the industry will struggle to sustain more without direct and necessary impacts on the benefits."

Bertha Coombs @berthacoombs.cnbc.com · 7d

UnitedHealthcare's Robert Hunter, chief of the insurer's Medicare and Medicaid business, says "2026 is a pivotal moment for the Medicare Advantage Program."
Says the company and its peers are shifting to more HMO from PPO plans to contend with multiple pressures on their MA programs.

Bertha Coombs @berthacoombs.cnbc.com · 7d

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Bertha Coombs @berthacoombs.cnbc.com · 7d

Sen. Peter Welch on shutdown: The real battle here is about Obamacare. Says on @cnbc.com Squawk that the shutdown is the only tool Democrats have to force a negotiation… to stop “wicked premium increases” for next year.

Bertha Coombs @berthacoombs.cnbc.com · 7d

But give yourself some time to rest, when you get the Shingles vaccine. It packs a whallop!

Jo at MNB @joatmnb.bsky.social · 7d

It’s coming up for vaccine season, and if you are over 50 why not opt for a shingles vax at the same time? It does more than what it says on the tin! medicalnewsbulletin.com/shingles-vac... #dementia 🩺📊 #immunosky medsky, 🩺,⚕️ #Neuroskyence #virology 🧪

Shingles Vaccine Protects Against Dementia | Medical News Bulletin

Getting a shingles vaccine to protect you from this painful condition should be a no-brainer, but what if we told you it could reduce your risk of dementia too?

medicalnewsbulletin.com

Bertha Coombs @berthacoombs.cnbc.com · 7d

President Trump announcing MFN agreement with Pfizer says some drug prices will come down 1000 or 1400 percent.

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Bertha Coombs @berthacoombs.cnbc.com · 7d

#ACA 👀

Larry Levitt @larrylevitt.bsky.social · 7d

New, and a big deal: Based on updated data and changes made by the Trump administration, we now estimate that ACA enrollees would see their out-of-pocket premiums increase by 114% if enhanced premium tax credits are allowed to expire.
www.kff.org/affordable-c...

ACA Marketplace Premium Payments Would More than Double on Average Next Year if Enhanced Premium Tax Credits Expire | KFF

KFF estimates that, if Congress allows the enhanced premium tax credits to expire at the end of this year, ACA Marketplace enrollees on average would see their premium payments more than double next y...

www.kff.org

Bertha Coombs @berthacoombs.cnbc.com · 7d

President Trump's address was wide-ranging...

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 7d

Trump: "The ones that are run by radical left Democrats -- what they've done to San Francisco, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles. They're very unsafe places & we're gonna straighten them out one by one. This is gonna be a major part for some people in this room. That's a war too. It's war from within"

Bertha Coombs @berthacoombs.cnbc.com · 8d

Congrats to them both!

NBC News @nbcnews.com · 8d

After Kieran Culkin went viral with his Oscars speech saying his wife pledged to have another baby with him if he won, Jazz Charton announces she lived up to her end of the bargain as the couple awaits their third child.

Kieran Culkin's wife says she's pregnant after 'Succession' star revealed baby pact in Oscars speech

Jazz Charton announced she's 9 months pregnant following Culkin's viral acceptance speech.

nbcnews.to

Bertha Coombs @berthacoombs.cnbc.com · 8d

The curtain rises on Medicare Advantage open enrollment season Wednesday.
Nevermind a shutdown, brokers say this is shaping up to be the most disruptive AEP in years with insurers cutting benefits, eliminating commissions and trying to find the right mix for more sustainable profitiability in MA.

Medicare Advantage enrollment expected to fall in 2026 as insurers cut back on unprofitable plans

CMS sees Medicare Advantage enrollment falling in 2026, as insurers facing lower profits cut back on unprofitable plans

cnb.cx

Bertha Coombs @berthacoombs.cnbc.com · 9d

No joke: the up escalator at TJ’s just… stopped. #Escalatorgate

Bertha Coombs @berthacoombs.cnbc.com · 10d

Wow. When you embark on a career switch after “retiring” and start your last big job at 93… talk about finding purpose at every stage of your life.
RIP Mr. Nelson.