Facing Death But Fighting The Aid-In-Dying Movement Stephanie Packer was 29 when she found out she has a terminal lung disease. It’s the same age as Brittany Maynard, who last year was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. Maynard, of Northern California, opted to end her life via physician-assisted suicide in Oregon last fall. Maynard’s quest for control over the end of her life continues to galvanize the “aid-in-dying” movement nationwide, with legislation pending in California and a dozen other states. The Packer family gathers in the kitchen to cook dinner. From left: Jacob, 8; Brian Sr. ; Brian Jr., 11; Savannah, 5; Scarlett, 10; and Stephanie. (Photo...
Out-of-Network, Out of Luck? A Growing Body of Caselaw Addressing… It's become a common scenario for medical providers: a provider treats a patient covered by employer-provided health insurance for which the provider is out-of-network, receives an assignment of benefits from the patient and is reimbursed by the benefits plan administrator at a rate much lower than the amount charged, if at all. The provider then embarks upon the often Sisyphean journey of navigating the plan's lengthy and nebulous appeals process....