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Feds expect to collect $4.7B in insurance fraud penalties

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration estimated Monday that it could collect as much as $4.7 billion from insurance companies with newer and tougher penalties for submitting improper charges on the taxpayers' tab for Medicare Advantage care.
Data on B.C.'s drug decriminalization plan to be publicly available on dashboard

Data on B.C.'s drug decriminalization plan to be publicly available on dashboard

VANCOUVER — British Columbia's plan to decriminalize small amounts of illicit drugs for personal use starting Tuesday will include a dashboard of information that will be available to the public and updated quarterly, the federal mental health and ad
Canadian doctors spend 18.5 million hours on unnecessary paperwork, says new report

Canadian doctors spend 18.5 million hours on unnecessary paperwork, says new report

HALIFAX — Canadian doctors spend 18.5 million hours per year on unnecessary administrative work — the equivalent of more than 55 million patient visits — a report published Monday by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business says. Dr.
WHO decided the COVID-19 global emergency isn't over. What happens next?

WHO decided the COVID-19 global emergency isn't over. What happens next?

OTTAWA — The World Health Organization decided Monday not to end to the COVID-19 global public health emergency it declared three years ago, even though the pandemic has reached what the international body calls an "inflection point.
Ontario hospital nurses start contract talks, plan 'escalating actions'

Ontario hospital nurses start contract talks, plan 'escalating actions'

TORONTO — The Ontario Nurses' Association started negotiating a new contract Monday for hospital nurses and the union is planning to take its push for higher wages beyond the bargaining table.

Doctor gets nearly 17 years in prison for vast opioid scheme

DETROIT (AP) — A Detroit-area doctor was sentenced Monday to nearly 17 years in prison and ordered to pay $30 million for leading a scheme to bill Medicare and private insurers for unnecessary painkiller injections and write prescriptions for million
What to know about B.C. decriminalizing possession of drugs for personal use

What to know about B.C. decriminalizing possession of drugs for personal use

VANCOUVER — British Columbia is introducing a policy of decriminalization on Tuesday as part of what it says is an overall plan to prevent overdose deaths from illicit drugs. The pilot project will continue until Jan.

WHO: COVID still an emergency but nearing 'inflection' point

GENEVA (AP) — The coronavirus remains a global health emergency, the World Health Organization chief said Monday, after a key advisory panel found the pandemic may be nearing an “inflexion point” where higher levels of immunity can lower virus-relate
Federal departments failed to spend $38B on promised programs, services last year

Federal departments failed to spend $38B on promised programs, services last year

OTTAWA — The federal government failed to spend tens of billions of dollars in the last fiscal year on promised programs and services, including new military equipment, affordable housing and support for veterans.
Russian embassy says North Korea lifted lockdown in capital

Russian embassy says North Korea lifted lockdown in capital

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Russia’s embassy in North Korea says the country has eased stringent epidemic controls in capital Pyongyang that were placed during the past five days to slow the spread of respiratory illnesses.