#medical billing market size

[healthcaremarketanalysis]

Medical Billing Market worth $27.7 billion by 2029

The global medical billing market is projected to grow significantly, reaching USD 27.7 billion by 2029 from USD 16.8 billion in 2024, growing at a CAGR of 10.5% from 2024 to 2029, driven by factors such as increasing patient numbers, the complexity of billing procedures, expanding healthcare insurance coverage, and rising healthcare expenditure. Key trends include the integration of electronic health records (EHR), adoption of AI and automation, and the shift towards cloud solutions. Challenges like high deployment costs and data security concerns are prevalent, while opportunities lie in AI-driven solutions and cloud-based deployments. The market is segmented by component (software and services), facility size (large, mid, small), end users (hospitals, specialty centers, ambulatory surgical centers), and region (North America leading in market share). Major players include Oracle, McKesson Corporation, and Athenahealth, Inc., with recent developments focusing on enhancing patient support and operational efficiencies through technology integration.

Download PDF Brochure:

Browse in-depth TOC on "Medical Billing Market"

360 - Tables

48 - Figures

300 - Pages

Deployment Landscape

The medical billing market is categorized into three deployment segments: cloud-based, on-premise, and SaaS-based solutions. As of 2023, the on-premise segment holds the largest market share. This preference is driven by healthcare institutions' stringent data security requirements and the need for customization capabilities. On-premise solutions enable direct control over sensitive patient data and seamless integration with existing systems like Electronic Health Records (EHRs), making them particularly favored among larger healthcare facilities.

End User Dynamics

Hospitals, specialty clinics, ambulatory surgery centers, and other end users constitute the core of the medical billing market. In 2023, hospitals dominated this segment due to their extensive range of medical services and high volume of billing transactions. The complexity of their billing requirements, involving intricate coding and insurance claims, positions hospitals as key drivers of market growth.

Regional Insights

The Medical Billing market is segmented across five major regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. In 2023, North America held the largest market share, driven by its advanced healthcare facilities, robust infrastructure, and widespread adoption of healthcare IT systems. The region's diverse healthcare payer landscape, encompassing private insurers, government programs like Medicare and Medicaid, and self-paying individuals, necessitates sophisticated billing solutions to navigate complex reimbursement processes and ensure prompt payments.

Request Sample Pages:

Key Players and Market Dynamics

The Medical Billing market is characterized by a diverse ecosystem of key players. Leading companies such as Oracle (US), McKesson Corporation (US), Veradigm LLC (US), and Athenahealth, Inc. (US) play pivotal roles by offering comprehensive solutions tailored to meet the intricate needs of billing companies and healthcare providers. Oracle leverages its robust database management systems and cloud infrastructure to enhance operational efficiencies, seamlessly integrate billing systems with EHR platforms, ensure accurate coding, and facilitate timely claims submission. McKesson Corporation provides extensive billing services and solutions aimed at optimizing revenue cycles and improving financial performance for healthcare organizations. Veradigm LLC utilizes advanced analytics and streamlined administrative processes to enhance revenue cycle management, mitigate billing errors, and ensure regulatory compliance. Athenahealth, Inc. specializes in cloud-based services that streamline revenue cycle management, automate coding and claims processing, and reduce billing inaccuracies, thereby accelerating payment cycles and enhancing financial outcomes for healthcare providers.

Innovations and Technology Integration

Innovations in technology are driving advancements within the Medical Billing market. Companies like Oracle, McKesson, and Athenahealth are integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning algorithms into their billing solutions to automate repetitive tasks, enhance accuracy in coding and billing, and improve overall efficiency. These technological advancements not only streamline administrative processes but also enable healthcare providers to focus more on patient care. Cloud-based solutions offered by companies such as Athenahealth enable seamless integration of EHR, medical billing, and practice management functionalities, providing healthcare organizations with a unified platform to manage patient records and financial operations efficiently.

For more information, inquire now! Inquire Now

Get access to the latest updates on Medical Billing Companies and Medical Billing Market Share

About MarketsandMarkets™:

MarketsandMarkets™ has been recognized as one of America's best management consulting firms by Forbes, as per their recent report.

MarketsandMarkets™ is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients.

Earlier this year, we made a formal transformation into one of America's best management consulting firms as per a survey conducted by Forbes.

The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing.

Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore™ (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry.

Contact:

Mr. Rohan Salgarkar

MarketsandMarkets™ INC.

630 Dundee Road

Suite 430

Northbrook, IL 60062

USA: +1-888-600-6441

Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com

Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/

Content Source:

[karan777]

[laxmandige05]

The medical billing outsourcing market, initially valued at USD 15.15 billion in 2022, is projected to soar to approximately USD 44.43 billion by 2032, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.7% from 2023 to 2032.

[luckydige45]

In the rapidly growing field of U.S. Medical Billing Outsourcing Market size was valued at USD 6.08 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 15.99 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 11.35% from 2023 to 2032 according to a new report by Nova One Advisor.

[parnasaha]

Medical Billing Outsourcing Market Market 2022 Rising Trend, Demand, Global Opportunity And Global Outlook

Medical Billing Outsourcing Market Market Description – Global Medical Billing Outsourcing Market size was valued at USD 11.1 billion in 2021 and is poised to grow from USD 12.2 billion in 2022 to USD 30.2 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 12.03% in the forecast period (2023-2030).

Get Sample Copy of This Research Report Here: https://www.skyquestt.com/sample-request/medical-billing-outsourcing-market Medical Billing Outsourcing Market Market includes Market Analysis Report Top Companies:

Genpact

McKesson Corporation

Accenture

Cognizant

HCL Technologies

TCS Healthcare Technologies

GE Healthcare

Quest Diagnostics

R1 RCM Inc.

Conifer Health Solutionsaa

Medusind

AGS Health

Healthcare Administrative Partners

Avadyne Health

PracticeMax

CureMD

Etransmedia Technology Inc.

Kareo

Mphasis

Wipro Technologies

Regional Analysis for Medical Billing Outsourcing Market Market:

The key manufacturers in the market are mentioned in this section of the report. It helps the reader in grasping the tactics and alliances that participants are adopting to resist market competition. The extensive research offers an important microscopic view of the market. Analyzing the regional revenue of manufacturers during the predicted period will enable the reader to locate their geographic footprints.

Read This Medical Billing Outsourcing Market Market Full Report Here: https://www.skyquestt.com/report/medical-billing-outsourcing-market

The base on geography, the world market of Medical Billing Outsourcing Market Market has been segmented as follows:

 North America includes the United States, Canada, and Mexico

 Europe includes Germany, France, the UK, Italy, Spain

 South America includes Colombia, Argentina, Nigeria, and Chile

 The Asia Pacific includes Japan, China, Korea, India, Saudi Arabia, and Southeast Asia

Important Features that are under Offering and Medical Billing Outsourcing Market Market Highlights of the Reports:

 A brief description of the Medical Billing Outsourcing Market Market

 Modifications to industry market dynamics

 A complete segmentation of the market by type, application, etc.

 Market size in terms of volume and value in the past, present, and future

 Current market trends and expansion

 The competitive environment in Medical Billing Outsourcing Market Market

 Prominent companies and product policies

 A potential niche market or territory that is growing quickly.

#Customization Service of the Report:

Medical Billing Outsourcing Market Market offers customized reports based on your requirements. To meet your specific needs, this report can be customized. Contact our sales team, who will ensure that you receive a report that meets your specifications.

About Us:

SkyQuest Technology is leading growth consulting firm providing market intelligence, commercialization and technology services. It has 450+ happy clients globally.

Address:

1 Apache Way, Westford, Massachusetts 01886

Phone:

USA (+1) 617-230-0741

Email: sales@skyquestt.com

[newstfionline]

Friday, May 10, 2024

Biden Says the U.S. Will Not Supply Israel With Weapons to Attack Rafah (NYT) President Biden acknowledged on Wednesday that American bombs have been used to kill Palestinian civilians as he warned that the United States would withhold certain weapons if Israel launches a long-threatened assault in southern Gaza. In some of his strongest language to date on the seven-month war, Mr. Biden said the United States would still ensure Israel’s security, including the Iron Dome missile defense system and Israel’s “ability to respond to attacks” like the one Iran launched in April. But he said he would block the delivery of weapons that could be fired into densely populated areas of Rafah, where more than a million Palestinians are sheltering. The president had already halted the shipment of 3,500 bombs last week out of concern that they might be used in a major assault on Rafah—the first time since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7 that Mr. Biden has leveraged U.S. arms to try to influence how the war is waged. On Wednesday, he said that he would also block the delivery of artillery shells.

With inflation soaring, Argentina will start printing 10,000 peso notes (AP) Prices in Argentina have surged so dramatically in recent months that the government has multiplied the size of its biggest bank note in circulation by five—to 10,000 pesos, worth about $10. The central bank announcement Tuesday promised to lighten the load for many Argentines who must carry around giant bags—occasionally, suitcases—stuffed with cash for simple transactions. Argentina’s annual inflation rate reached 287% in March, among the highest in the world. The new denomination note—five times the value of the previous biggest bill—is expected to hit the streets next month in a bid to “facilitate transactions between users,” the central bank said. The 10,000 peso note is worth $11 at the country’s official exchange rate and $9 at the black market exchange rate.

A grand Olympic plan. But first, the tent camps have to go. (Washington Post) He’d been living in the tent for nine days when the police arrived. “Bonjour, monsieur!” an officer shouted. “Reveille!” Ba Dak crawled out of his sleeping bag, unzipped the tent flap and stepped into the frigid February air. The camp, tucked beneath the Charles de Gaulle Bridge on the northern bank of the Seine River, bustled with movement in the windy pre-dawn darkness. Police officers in neon green vests marched between rows of tents, whose inhabitants rose from slumber to pack their belongings. The government was seeking to remove unhoused people from its streets before the Olympic Games shines a global spotlight on Paris this summer. Officials billed it as an innovative effort to ease Paris’s housing crisis, by relocating people to newly constructed facilities around the country rather than hotels in the city’s emergency shelter system. But advocates for refugees claim the government had more specific motives: to clear Paris of its tent villages, free up thousands of hotel rooms before the Games and identify people who aren’t eligible to legally remain in the country.

The mothers and wives of missing Russian servicemen have become some of the war effort’s biggest critics. (WSJ) Tens of thousands of relatives and friends use social media to swap information in the hopes of learning their loved ones’ fates. Under Russian law, soldiers aren’t declared dead without a recovered body, a death certificate from a medical examiner or a court ruling. In Ukraine, many troops are unaccounted for including deserters and prisoners of war. The Kremlin hasn’t released the number of MIAs. Russian antiwar commentators accuse the military of abandoning dead fighters to avoid compensating their families. President Vladimir Putin ordered them to get the equivalent of $54,600, plus the previously set compensation of around $26,000. Russian officials didn’t respond to a request for comment.

Ukrainians are using the cover of war to escape taxes (Economist) Since Russia invaded in 2022, Ukraine’s economy has shrunk by a quarter. But the ravages of war are not the only reason for the government’s reduced tax take. Businesses are also making use of the chaos to dodge paying their fair share. This is particularly true in agriculture, which before the war was responsible for 40% or so of Ukraine’s exports by income. The sector has been transformed by a scramble to find export routes safe from Russian attack. As Taras Kachka, Ukraine’s deputy minister for agriculture, notes, this disturbance has provided plenty of opportunity for farmers to “optimise taxes”. Around 6.5m Ukrainians—or 15% of the country’s pre-war population—have left the country, shrinking the domestic food market. At the same time, Russia is targeting transport infrastructure, grain silos and other agricultural equipment, which has driven up costs. Many workers have been recruited by the armed forces, and are at the front. Farmers therefore not only have new opportunities to dodge taxes, they are also increasingly desperate. The result is that two of every five tonnes of grain harvests now avoid contributing to state coffers, according to Mr Kachka’s estimates.

Myanmar: A hidden war (NYT) A people take to arms and fight for democracy. A military terrorizes civilians with airstrikes and land mines. Tens of thousands are killed. Millions are displaced. Yet it is all happening almost completely out of view in the Southeast Asian nation of Myanmar. Now, for the first time, the rebels claim control of more than half of Myanmar’s territory. In recent weeks they have overrun dozens of towns and Myanmar military bases. Even without foreign intervention, or much Western aid at all, the Myanmar resistance has pushed back the junta. Rebels are now within 150 miles of the capital, Naypyidaw. But that may have been the easy part. The resistance is—perhaps hopelessly—splintered. More than a dozen major armed ethnic groups are vying for control over land and valuable natural resources. Much of Myanmar is fractured between different groups, all heavily armed. Crime is flourishing. The country is now the world’s biggest producer of opium. Jungle factories churn out meth and other synthetic drugs that have found their way to Australia. Myanmar’s civil war may be overshadowed by other global conflicts. But to the Burmese who live with uncertainty and chaos, the war has never been more urgent or real.

In rapidly ageing China, millions of migrant workers can’t afford to retire (Reuters) After three decades selling homemade buns on the streets of the Chinese city of Xian, 67-year-old Hu Dexi would have liked to slow down. Instead, Hu and his older wife have moved to the edge of Beijing, where they wake at 4 a.m. every day to cook their packed lunch, then commute for more than an hour to a downtown shopping mall, where they each earn 4,000 yuan ($552) monthly, working 13-hour shifts as cleaners. The alternative for them and many of the 100 million rural migrants reaching retirement age in China over the next 10 years is to return to their village and live off a small farm and monthly pensions of 123 yuan ($17). The generation that flocked to China’s cities at the end of last century, building the infrastructure and manning the factories that made the country the world’s biggest exporter, now risks a sharp late-life drop in living standards.

Rafah and humanitarian aid (Washington Post) By Tuesday, Israeli forces had seized the pivotal Rafah border crossing that links Gaza to Egypt’s Sinai peninsula. Israel intensified bombardments on parts of the city, hitting houses and residential towers, and prompted more than 100,000 people into a panicked evacuation. The Rafah border crossing was closed, though Israeli authorities said another crossing at Kerem Shalom remained open to funnel critical supplies into Gaza—a claim questioned by aid groups. “The crossing area has ongoing military operations and is an active war zone,” Louise Wateridge, a spokeswoman for UNRWA, the U.N.’s agency for Palestinians, currently in Rafah, said Wednesday. “We are hearing continued bombardments in this area throughout the day. No fuel or aid has entered into the Gaza Strip, and this is disastrous for the humanitarian response.” “All the fuel that entered Gaza went through Rafah crossing,” said Jeremy Konyndyk, president of Refugees International, at a joint news briefing Wednesday of prominent humanitarian organizations. “The whole aid operation runs on fuel, so if the fuel is cut off, the humanitarian operation collapses. Water can’t be pumped. Lights cannot be kept on in hospitals. Vehicles cannot distribute aid.”

“Annihilation Prevention”—Why Some Gaza Families Choose To Split Up (Zumadaraj/English edition) Umm Raja Barbakh, a Gazan woman in her 60s, had a particular request to her children and grandchildren amid Israel’s relentless bombing campaign: when we flee, let’s choose different destinations. The reason is as simple as it is grim: She doesn’t want all her progeny in the same place for fear that the whole family could be annihilated. “The decision to disperse my children and grandchildren is a way to limit the chance that the whole family is gone in case of a bombing on a single place,” she explained. “Their presence in more than one place will reduce the risk of the family disappearing completely.” Indeed, that’s what happened with her sister, who was killed in an Israeli bombing along with her children and grandchildren. Barbakh’s family has instead scattered in different locations in the cities of Khan Younis and Rafah in southern Gaza. The oldest of her four children has sheltered in a tent in the Mawasi area in Rafah along with his seven children. A second son and daughter were living with their children in different locations in Rafah. The fourth lives with his five children in Khan Younis.

Smile! (Les Echos/France) It’s amazing to think that this slight movement of the lips and facial muscles, which sometimes lights up an entire face, can resonate so deeply within us and awaken a whole range of emotions—even if it comes from a complete stranger. Neuroscience has established that smiling feels good, and it starts very early. Fetal ultrasound scans have shown that, from the 26th week, babies smile to express a form of satisfaction, particularly after their mother has eaten a certain type of food. We now know that smiling stimulates the areas of the brain associated with reward circuits. And that it lowers levels of cortisol, the stress hormone. It slows the heart rate and lowers blood pressure. Two recent studies have even shown that this beneficial effect holds true even when we smile mechanically, though more modestly—it’s as if the simple act of mobilizing one of the 15 muscles involved in smiling sends a positive signal to the brain.       Another older study from Wayne State University suggests that smiling increases life expectancy. It was based on photographs of 230 American baseball league players taken in 1952. The sportsmen who did not smile in the photographs died at an average age of 72.9. Those who had big smiles lived to 79.9. Smiles also open doors. Traveler Charly Guérin has had many opportunities to verify this. He met a Bolivian grandmother in Sucre on her front doorstep who, simply on the strength of an impromptu smile, invited him into her home, where he ended up spending the afternoon chatting. “If you take the time to meet someone, a smile is a real open sesame,” the globetrotter says. On his blog, he also tells the story of Sarah, a French woman who set off around the world on a shoestring budget and who, when she wanted to attend a concert or sporting event, didn’t hesitate to stand in front of the entrance to the venue with a sign: “Exchange a free ticket for a smile.” And incredible as it may seem, it worked on many occasions.

[thehearbeatofrealestate]

Experience the harmony of life at 𝐀𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐃𝐌𝐂𝐈 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬, where every day feels like a vacation. Nestled in the heart of 𝐀𝐜𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐚 𝐄𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬, 𝐓𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐠 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲, it's your personal sanctuary amidst the bustling city life. With resort-inspired amenities and a variety of unit types to choose from, 𝐀𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 is not just a place to live, but a lifestyle to embrace.

🏙️ Andea - 18 storeys 🏙️ Manzuria - 18 storeys 🏙️ Oregon - 18 storeys 🏙️ Sylvan - 18 storeys

🎊𝑨𝒗𝒂𝒊𝒍 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏𝒑𝒂𝒚𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒎𝒐: 𝑂𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 1: 12% DP spread to 36mos. with 1% Discount 𝑂𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 2: 15% DP spread to 36mos. with 2% Discount 𝑂𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 3: 20% DP spread to 36mos. with 3% Discount

𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁:

𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝑬𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕: SM Savemore - 3mins Grace Mall - 5mins Vista Mall - 8mins SM Aura - 8mins Venice Grand Canal Mall - 10mins Market! Market! - 11mins Uptown Mall - 11mins Bonifacio High Street - 14mins

𝑬𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑰𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒕𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔: Mint College - 12mins Enderun Colleges - 12mins Treston International College - 11mins Integrated Montessori - 12mins The British School Manila - 11mins Colegio San Agustin - 16mins Assumption College - 18mins

𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒉 𝑰𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒕𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔: Medical Center, Taguig - 5mins St. Luke's Medical Center, BGC - 13mins Makati Medical Center, BGC - 13mins Makati Medical Center - 22mins

𝑺𝒆𝒄𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒚 & 𝑺𝒂𝒇𝒆𝒕𝒚: Taguig City Police Station - 8mins Makat City Police Station - 8mins PAO Ville Fire Station - 18mins

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀: ✅Bigger Unit Size - 2BR (64.50 to 84.50) ✅Exclusivity - Guarded community, privacy, private township ✅Value for Money - Premium amenities & features ▪️Swimming Pools ▪️Basketball Court ▪️Children's Play Area ▪️ Linear Park ▪️Picnic Area ▪️Entertainment Room ▪️Coworking Space. ✅Quality - PH's First Quadruple A Contractor, Design with Lumiventt Technology ✅Established Community - Additional Access Points

𝑰𝒏𝒅𝒐𝒐𝒓 𝑨𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔 - Lounge Area, Game Area, Fitness Gym, Entertainment Room, Snack Bar, Coworking Space.

𝑭𝒂𝒄𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔 - Convinience Store, Card Operated Laundry, Water Station

𝑰𝒎𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝑼𝒏𝒊𝒕 𝑺𝒊𝒛𝒆 - Bigger Windows, Provision for Split Type Aircondition Unit, Bigger Unit Size.

𝐑𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬: ✔️𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤: https://apps.dmcihomes.com/OnlineCRF/Main?ac=LI32958 ✔️2 Valid ID's and Tax Identification Number (TIN) ✔️Latest proof of billing address (electric, water, internet or card bill) ✔️Unit reservation: 20K ✔️Parking: 10K

𝐋𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐄𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 📩 𝗠𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿: 𝟎𝟗𝟔𝟔 𝟗𝟗𝟏 𝟖𝟕𝟔𝟑

𝐷𝑜𝑛’𝑡 𝑊𝑎𝑖𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝐵𝑢𝑦 𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑙 𝐸𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑒, 𝐵𝑢𝑦 𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑙 𝐸𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑊𝑎𝑖𝑡.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐁𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬!

💥𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐃𝐌𝐂𝐈 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐞-𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 & 𝐑𝐅𝐎 🔎 Taguig City | Pasig | Makati | Mandaluyong | Las Piñas | Parañaque | Manila | Pasay | Quezon City | San Juan, Batangas

[wolveria]

The Jedi’s Gambit - Ch. 12

Pairing: Obi-Wan Kenobi x Cad Bane

Summary: The day Cad Bane turned himself in caused quite a stir at the Jedi Temple.

Yes, Obi-Wan definitely had a bad feeling about this.

Series Warnings: Explicit sexual content, violence, medical procedures, Force shenanigans

AO3

The day was a torturous grind.

Obi-Wan had gone through enough sleepless nights to know what to expect from his taxed body and mind, and this wasn’t a grueling battlefield he was slogging through. And yet, it still felt like one. Bane was quiet, secluded even when he was in close proximity, resolutely ignoring the Jedi as he cleaned some weapon or tinkered with a piece of hardware.

They didn’t talk. Not about what had happened the night before, not about Bane’s mysterious employer, not about the purpose of the Sith artifact. Clearly, whoever had paid Bane to steal it from the Delano didn’t care about its monetary value on the black market. It was being used for a dangerous, malevolent purpose, and that told Obi-Wan whoever this employer was, they were well versed in the dark side of the Force. A Sith Lord would fit that bill perfectly. It would explain Bane’s description of being influenced and controlled by an outside party, one who might even know of Bane’s… affinity for the Force.

Obi-Wan watched the taciturn bounty hunter, focusing on his green-tinged fingers. He’d offered to treat them, but that offer had been denied by a silent threat of bared teeth.

By Bane’s daytime reticence, Obi-Wan knew it was going to be another rough night.

Surprisingly, it started out almost pleasant. Obi-Wan had insisted he tend to Bane’s injuries, citing that if they got infected, it could damage the sensitivity and flexibility of his fingers.

Bane might be a stubborn bastard, but he wasn’t a fool, and it wasn’t worth risking the parts of him that he relied on for his trade. He gave a terse “fine” and plopped onto the edge of the bed, his hands curled in his lap in a way that was not quite helpful.

Obi-Wan took up his usual chair, set the medkit on the bed beside Bane, and gently, very carefully, reached for that tightened fist.

Bane was as taut as a wire when Obi-Wan took his hand, but he allowed it. Even uncurled his fingers so Obi-Wan wouldn’t have to pry them open. Very considerate.

Obi-Wan assessed the damage, turning over the bounty hunter’s hand within his own. The skin had been rubbed raw, but compared to his other injuries the abrasions would heal quickly.

He set Bane’s hand on his leg, palm upward, and used the scissors in the medkit to cut gauze and medical pads to a useful size. Once finished, he applied a small amount of bacta ointment to a pad and started first with Bane’s thumb. Obi-Wan pressed the pad to his fingertip before securely wrapping it. He did this to each finger, holding his hand with the most delicate touch he could muster; Duros hands weren’t as sturdy as human ones.

Which reminded him—now that he was working on Bane’s hands, he reached for the other one, surprised when the bounty hunter actually let him take it. Bane’s eyes were half-lidded, his muscles relaxed, and if Obi-Wan didn’t know better, he would have thought Bane was in a meditative trance.

As soon as Obi-Wan stilled his movements, Bane’s eyes flickered, the neutral line of his lips turning downward.

“Are ye done yet?”

“Nearly.”

Obi-Wan wasn’t going to let him loose just yet. He held the hand that had struck his face, examining those swollen knuckles. The best treatment would be a bacta tank, but since that wasn’t an option, Obi-Wan would have to settle for topical ointment and rest.

“You really should get this looked at by a medical droid.”

“I got a—”

“One that was built within the past fifty years, preferably.”

Bane frowned but didn’t argue the point. His focus turned to Obi-Wan’s own hands as he gently worked the ointment over the bruised knuckles.

“Honestly, there are such things as portable bacta tanks,” Obi-Wan said. “I could purchase one and return with it.”

“Ye wouldn’t.”

Obi-Wan tilted his head.

“Of course, I would.”

The bounty hunter scowled, as if frustrated that Obi-Wan was slow to catch on to something.

“No, ye wouldn’t. Ye got yer jewel. What reason would ye have fer comin’ back?”

“To keep my promise.”

Bane expelled a sharp snort of air.

“What’s a Jedi’s promise worth in the face of duty. Hmm? Yer duty ain’t to me, that’s fer sure.”

Obi-Wan opened his mouth… and closed it. Bane’s smirk would have irked him any other day, but this one was edged in something like bitter humor.

Instead of engaging in this debate, Obi-Wan simply worked. After the ointment was carefully applied, he wrapped up the swollen knuckles, taking care with them even though the bounty hunter didn’t so much as bat an eye at the handling of his broken hand.

Once that was done, Obi-Wan released him with a warning before he could flex his fingers.

“Keep it still as much as you can. The less you use your fingers, the quicker those fractures can seal.”

“Sure, Doc. Whatever you say.”

Obi-Wan’s lips almost twitched into a smile, but he said nothing. He settled back in what he considered “his” chair, and prepared to settle in for a long, watchful night.

Bane had other ideas. He looked at the Jedi for a good, long moment, and then he tilted his head toward the empty space next to him.

“Go on. Might as well.”

Obi-Wan… stared.

“Sleep. In the. Bed,” Bane enunciated just to make Obi-Wan grit his teeth. “Yer gonna end up there, anyway.”

A flush crept up his cheeks, which was nearly as annoying as the bounty hunter smirk at this development.

“I do not believe that is a forgone conclusion.”

“No?”

The bounty hunter laid back, settling in and sprawling out with his hands behind his head as if he didn’t have a care in the world, his hat hung at one edge of the bedframe.

It was all for his benefit, Obi-Wan knew. Bane was proficient at putting on a composted air, when in reality he had a hair trigger ready to be pulled. Even now, as he watched Obi-Wan with half-lidded eyes, his energy in the Force was quivering.

And there was something else there, thrumming under the surface. Each passing hour, the bounty hunter’s signature became more entwined with the dark object currently sitting in Dex’s ship. It had taken Obi-Wan some time to notice, as subtle as it was, but close proximity with Bane was making it more obvious by the day.

By the shadows weaving around Bane’s inner light, the light that was within all beings of the Living Force, it was clear it would be a rough sleep cycle. And with Bane voluntarily allowing him to be close, Obi-Wan would be a fool not to take it.

Of course, he was a fool for being in the bounty hunter’s bed to begin with, but that was an error he was far too late in correcting.

Obi-Wan leaned down to unbuckle his boots, removing them first before pulling off the vest and hooded jacket beneath. It was strangely vulnerable, wearing nothing but a thin undershirt and trousers, all while planning to crawl into a bed with a deadly bounty hunter. And yet, Obi-wan never reconsidered.

Once that was done, he removed his lightsaber well outside the room and hidden to where Bane wouldn’t find it immediately before returning to the room. The bed was big enough for two, but barely, and Bane was already hunched on his side facing away from Obi-Wan.

It was curious. For a man whose trust was almost impossible to earn, who never turned his back on anyone for fear of a plunging dagger… he put his back to Obi-Wan fairly often. Most would have taken it as a sign of dismissal, but to Obi-Wan, it was suspiciously close to an acknowledgement. Bane knew Obi-Wan wouldn’t turn on him, at least, not in his sleep.

Obi-Wan did not turn his back to Bane. He faced toward him, both to monitor him and for the proverbial knife. As much as he would like to extend the same acceptance of a truce, Bane had already proven he was not in total control. He had admitted as much himself.

So, Obi-Wan would watch him. And he would protect Bane to the best of his ability, even if it was from himself.

Obi-Wan didn’t anticipate it was he who might need protection.

There was something heavy on his chest, a wet warmth at the side of his throat.

The scrap of teeth against his pulse point made Obi-Wan come awake in an instant. He shot upright, pulling up the weight with him, and found he now had a lapful of bounty hunter.

Obi-Wan blinked. It seemed all he was capable of doing as Bane straddled his hips, lips parted to expose his fangs. There wasn’t an ounce of shame in those lidded red eyes.

“’Bout time,” Bane said, voice oddly hoarse. “Ye sleep like the dead. Thought I was gonna have to slap ye awake.”

Obi-Wan was a light sleeper, actually, but that was hardly the point.

“What’s wrong?”

The question came without thought because something was wrong. The air tasted acrid on his tongue and the hairs on his arm stood upright, a physical response to that which couldn’t be seen.

The absent Sith artifact pulled at the bounty hunter like a hook through flesh. Bane’s entire being thrummed with need one moment, and then with pain the next, oscillating between the two in a pendulum of torment.

“Nothin’ wrong,” the bounty hunter crooned. “Lie back.”

When he pushed against Obi-Wan’s chest, he didn’t resist, letting Bane press him to the bed. He’d never heard Bane sound quite like that, all silky smoke and velvety roughness, and he realized two things far too late.

One, Bane was sitting in his lap, which allowed Obi-Wan to feel his hard length against his abdomen.

Two… Obi-Wan was also hard. Alarmingly so.

He was frozen, unmoving as Bane remained sprawled across his chest, face buried in his neck. He sucked at the skin, sending a jolt down Obi-Wan’s spine, a second shock going through him as Bane ground their hips together.

“Bane… what—”

The bounty hunter hushed him, his left hand reaching upward to run those long, graceful fingers through Obi-Wan’s hair. The gentle scratch of the bandages covering Bane’s fingertips partially brings Obi-Wan out of his stupor.

The other thing that brought him to alertness was Bane’s energy in the Force. It swung once more to the side of pain, and he held onto the Jedi for dear life, his breath almost a pant in Obi-Wan’s ear as he waited for it to subside.

And then the pendulum swung back to need, and Bane rubbed his length against him in a way that made him see stars.

Obi-Wan grabbed both of Bane’s wrists and forced him to sit upright, while the Jedi remained propped up on the pillows. At this juncture, having the bounty hunter put his full weight into Obi-Wan’s lap wouldn’t do either of them any favors.

“Bane, stop.”

The bounty hunter bared his teeth, but otherwise didn’t move.

“Was gonna wait for ye to be awake ‘fore I did anything,” he growled, a softness to the noise. “That ain’t somethin’ ye gotta worry about from me.”

“That’s… I appreciate that, but that is not the issue here.”

Bane squirmed, as if remaining still physically hurt, but he didn’t try to break free of Obi-Wan’s grip on his wrists.

“Then what’s the problem?”

“The… problem? Are you serious.”

“Ye know me to joke?”

“The problem is you! You and this… this artifact that has you in its snare.”

Bane narrowed his eyes at the start of the sentence, and they narrowed further at the completion of it.

“Don’t see how that’s relevant to me tryin’ to get us off.”

Something within Obi-Wan ached, and there was a sadness there the bounty hunter would despise. Despite Bane’s attitude that nothing was wrong, he wasn’t pushing. He waited, tension permeating throughout his muscles, proving that Bane saw just as clearly as he did what was really going on.

“It won’t work, Bane.”

“The hell do you know about it?”

“I know exchanging one vice for another is only a stopgap measure. It won’t address the underlying cause.”

Obi-Wan tried to meet his eye in the dim light, to get the bounty hunter to see what was happening, but Bane resolutely stared at the pillow next to his head.

“I know you’re in pain. You’ve been in pain every night, and it’s getting worse.”

Obi-Wan swallowed, distinctly aware of the place at his throat where Bane’s lips had been. It was still warm.

“And I know the temptation to seek a… distraction, but this is a mistake. One you realize just as much as I do.”

Bane’s expression went dark, his eyes narrowed to slits as his lips pulled back over those teeth that could have so easily ripped out his throat.

“Fuck you, ye karkin’ prick.”

Bane slid off of Obi-Wan faster than appropriate for the state of his injuries, and he curled up on his side facing away. Emotions broiled in the Force, most of it rage, but a considerable amount of it was a sort of pain not caused by the dark pull of the artifact.

The absence of Bane’s weight left a chill. Obi-Wan grew colder still at the bounty hunter’s next words.

“I never ask ye fer anything, Kenobi. Never. And now the one time I do, the one time I need ya—”

He choked on his words, but that didn’t stop him from forcing them out.

“Know what? Forget it. I don’t need yer fuckin’ help, ye piece of—ye Force-damned, useless, bastard—”

Bane’s teeth chattered too hard for the rest to come out. It was just as well, Obi-Wan didn’t need to hear the words to know what Bane was thinking. It reminded him all too well of that night on Takobo where Bane trembled and cursed, all because Obi-Wan had been oblivious to the hurt he’d caused.

Well, Obi-Wan wasn’t oblivious anymore. He reached out a hand and lightly settled it on Bane’s shoulder. He gave a twitch but didn’t shake it off.

“Bane. Look at me.”

Obi-Wan tugged at that shoulder, guiding the bounty hunter to roll over to face him. Bane gave token resistance, but he complied, the weight of his glare heavy in the dim light.

Obi-Wan attempted to soften that look by moving his hand from Bane’s shoulder to his cheek, gently cupping it.

Bane’s eyes narrowed, his gaze like two hard, glittering jewels.

“You misunderstand me,” Obi-Wan spoke quietly.

“Yeah? How’s that.”

“It’s not that… that I don’t want this. Or that I don’t want to provide you a measure of relief. But I do not wish to cause more harm down the line when you regret the decisions you make while in the throe of the Sith artifact.”

Bane wasn’t moved by this proclamation judging by his absolute non-expression.

“I really gotta spell it out for ye, don’t I? Here I thought ye were some kinda intellectual.”

Bane gripped Obi-Wan’s wrist, moving his fingers away from his face. Instead of tossing his arm away, Bane pulled, dragging the Jedi forward until there was barely a breath between them.

“It’s not the jewel makin’ me want to fuck ye, ya great, big idiot.”

Obi-Wan flushed, a wave of heat spreading over his skin in a pleasant shiver. Only Bane could be so insulting and flattering in the same sentence, and Force, somehow it worked.

“That is—” Obi-Wan swallowed. “—something I should like to revisit at a later time, when I wouldn’t feel as if I were taking advantage.”

Bane gave a dry, painful noise that might have been a laugh.

“Takin’ advantage? What, like foolin’ me with a false identity and trickin’ me into trustin’ ye so ye could throw me in prison? Nah. Ye already sang that pretty song. So, what is it really?”

Bane leaned in close, and Obi-Wan stopped breathing.

“The timing’s off, is that it? That is some bantha shit. Just say ye don’t want it, Kenobi. Be a man and stop makin’ excuses. Tell me to fuck off so I know where we stand.”

Even through the verbal venom dripping from Bane’s lips, there was only one line of dialogue that repeated itself in Obi-Wan’s mind, over and over.

If yer gonna kill him, do it like a man.

Bane hated cowards. He hated oath-breakers, liars, and funnily enough, Obi-Wan suspected he hated those with unending greed. He had his own kind of honor, and as skewed as it was, Bane had a kind of steadfastness that Obi-Wan could acknowledge. Perhaps, even admire.

Bane was a man of his word. And he was asking Obi-Wan to be a man of his.

Maybe it was guilt at refusing to name this thing between them. Maybe it was his own weakness at being unable to stay away from the bounty hunter.

But as Obi-Wan closed the last scant inches, he suspected it was something else.

It was a point of no return, meeting those lips. No hesitation as he opened his mouth to Bane, no second-guessing himself as he pulled the bounty hunter in with a careful firmness that was mindful of his injuries.

The sound Bane made deep in his chest was an incredible thing, like a dangerous beast tamed into temporary gentleness. Obi-Wan would have been happy like this, cradling the Duros to him and exploring the dangerous points of his mouth, but Bane had other ideas.

He rolled Obi-Wan onto his back, moving to assume his previous position lying on top of him, but Bane didn’t waste any time this round; he tugged at the fastenings of Obi-Wan’s trousers, pulling his cock free before Obi-Wan could assist him.

Obi-Wan leaned his head back against the pillow, breath in his throat as Bane’s long, graceful fingers worked across his length. Not one to be inefficient, Bane brought himself out with his other hand, lowering himself fully on the Jedi to rub their lengths together. Bane straddled either side of Obi-Wan’s hips, giving himself the leverage of weight to grind down.

Obi-Wan hissed, his hands gripping Bane’s hips, but not to stop him. He pulled Bane in tight, needing more friction, and the bounty hunter accommodated. His hands were braced on each side of Obi-Wan’s head, his expression both sharp with concentration and hazy with a relief that Obi-Wan himself experienced. The situation might be damned, Obi-Wan along with it, but he wouldn’t exchange this moment for any number of Sith artifacts across the galaxy.

They fall into a steady rhythm, slow but never straying from the end goal. Bane was eerily quiet, even the odd purring was gone, and Obi-Wan didn’t like that. He grabbed Bane’s ass, squeezing the flesh as he gave a gentle thrust of his hips.

Bane growled, a kind that was very different than the ones of warning Obi-Wan had heard before. The bounty hunter buried his face in Obi-Wan’s neck, the edges of his teeth grazing the skin.

Reckless, or perhaps too drunk on the bounty hunter’s heady scent and touch to care, Obi-Wan ground up into him again, wishing the layers of clothing were gone and he could bury himself up to the hilt. The intoxicating image of pulling Bane onto him, of sinking into him was enough to push Obi-Wan over the edge.

He rolled his head back and gasped out Bane’s name, gripping him tight and thrusting upward as he did so, mimicking the action he so desired to do.

Bane’s teeth gripped the flesh between Obi-Wan’s shoulder and neck, and even though he didn’t break the skin, it was enough to send a fresh spurt of cum from Obi-Wan’s cock, a choked groan in his throat.

And that was what finally drove Bane over the edge, his fangs holding on as he twitched and groaned. He opened his mouth almost immediately, letting Obi-Wan go but resting his head against his shoulder.

Neither of them moved, their labored breaths slowing and quieting in the dark room. It was… peaceful. Obi-Wan could easily fall asleep if not for the warm stickiness coating their stomachs.

As if any sort of intimate moment would cause an adverse reaction, Bane removed himself from the bed, going to the refresher to bring back two warm, damp washcloths.

He tossed one to the Jedi before wiping his own stomach down. No “that was nice” or “thanks for the good time,” just straight to business as if they’d taken part of a transaction.

Obi-Wan’s disappointment was tucked away as he took the cloth and attempted to clean himself, but his shirt was a lost cause. He pulled it over his head and tossed it to the floor, leaving only his trousers in place.

He remained in bed, figuring if Bane wanted him to leave he’d have to kick him out himself; Obi-Wan was too exhausted to migrate out onto the lounge, and he preferred to stay close. He wished he could say the only reason was so he could keep a closer eye on Bane’s wellbeing.

He had settled under the thin sheets ahead of the bounty hunter, noting with vague amusement that Bane had also needed to toss aside his shirt, but instead of going bare-chested like Obi-Wan, he had taken the time to get a new top. Obi-Wan wondered if he’d ever seen Bane entirely unclothed, and he honestly didn’t know the answer.

Bane’s expression was a smooth sabacc face, giving nothing away as he got under the covers. He stayed on his side of the bed, unobtainable and closed off.

Obi-Wan wasn’t having that.

“So, do I get that post-coital cuddle now, or are those only for special occasions?”

Bane snorted. Ah, good, so he did remember his mocking from the Delano.

“Ye serious?”

The question brought Obi-Wan up short.

“I… wasn’t expecting you to consider the question and not dismiss it out of hand.”

“Consider it considered.”

Obi-Wan’s skin warmed, which felt almost silly considering he’d been rutting up against the bounty hunter only a few minutes ago.

“Well, then yes. I am serious.”

“Turn around.”

The quickness with which he obeyed the demand should have been humiliating. But Bane said nothing, and Obi-Wan was rewarded by a cool weight against his back, and then the rest of his backside as Bane pulled flush against him.

“We’re doin’ it this way, or not at all,” the gravelly voice spoke directly in Obi-Wan’s ear.

“Oh, no, this is fine. More than fine. But only if you want to—”

“Stop talkin’.”

The sharp command was softened by Bane slipping his arm around Obi-Wan’s waist, the flat of his face pressed into the back of his neck.

“Only because you asked so nicely,” the Jedi said with a small smile. Bane responded with short huff.

He listened to the bounty hunter’s steady breathing while cautiously reaching out with the Force. Obi-Wan was startled to sense that the pendulum of pain and need had ceased its malicious arc. It was at a standstill, allowing Bane a respite before it swung once more.

And Obi-Wan didn’t doubt it would. As glad as he was to give Bane some relief, Obi-Wan couldn’t allow the artifact to continue this tormenting dance.

He had an idea on how to fix the problem permanently, and the bounty hunter wasn’t going to like it.

[healthcaremarketanalysis]

The "Medical Billing Market Size, Share & Trends by Product (Software, Service), Application (RCM, EHR, Practice Management), Type (Account receivable, Claim, Coding, Analytics), Service (Managed, Professional), End User (Hospital, Speciality), & Region- Global Forecast to 2029" report highlights substantial growth projections. It anticipates the market to escalate from $16.8 billion in 2024 to $27.7 billion by 2029, at a notable CAGR of 10.5%. The global medical billing market is experiencing significant growth, driven by increasing patient numbers, the rising complexity of medical billing and coding procedures, expanding healthcare insurance coverage, and growing healthcare expenditure. The need for regulatory compliance and the shift towards electronic health records (EHR) integration and digitalization also contribute to this growth. Outsourcing medical billing services for better revenue cycle management and adopting advanced technologies such as AI, cloud solutions, and automation further propel market expansion. The growing geriatric population and prevalence of chronic diseases increase the number of insurance claims, driving the demand for medical billing solutions. However, the high cost of deployment, including maintenance, software updates, and training, poses a restraint, particularly for small healthcare facilities. Opportunities in the market include the rising demand for AI and cloud-based deployment to optimize billing processes and reduce errors. Data security concerns and the risk of breaches remain significant challenges. The market is segmented by component, facility size, end users, and region, with North America holding the largest share in 2023. Key players in the market include Oracle, McKesson Corporation, Veradigm LLC, and others.

[coochiequeens]

The last days of 2022 had some good news for women

The U.S. Senate passed two acts that help working moms who are pregnant or breastfeeding. The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers Act (known as the PUMP Act) were added to the 2023 omnibus spending bill, which now passed the Senate and is headed for a House vote.

The PUMP Act

The PUMP Act for nursing mothers requires organizations to provide time and space for breastfeeding parents. The Affordable Care Act of 2010 already requires that employers provide reasonable time to express breast milk and provide a place for pumping, other than the bathroom, that is shielded from view and private.

But the previous pumping law excluded most salaried employees, and the PUMP Act will extend these rights to all breastfeeding employees for the first year of the baby’s life. In addition, the new bill states, “Further, time spent to express breast milk must be considered hours worked if the employee is also working.”

According to the Surgeon General, breastfeeding can help protect babies from illnesses like ear infections, diarrhea and pneumonia and longer-term conditions such as obesity and asthma. It also lowers mothers’ risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Three out of four mothers in the U.S. start breastfeeding at birth, but only 13% of babies are exclusively breastfed by the end of six months.

One study in the journal Pediatricsestimates that if 90% of U.S. families breastfed for six months, the U.S. would save $13 billion from reduced medical and other costs and prevent over 900 infant deaths. In addition, individual families would save up to $1500 per year in infant formula costs.

The complications involved with pumping at work may contribute to women’s decision to stop breastfeeding. Nearly half of moms have expressed concern that breastfeeding at work could impact their career growth, according to a survey by a breast pump maker. And almost half of these women have considered a job change because of their desire to pump at work. A whopping 62% said there is a stigma attached to moms who breastfeed at work, indicating that workplaces still have much room for improvement.

Even when an organization wants to help women pump, individual managers can make expressing milk at work challenging. In her book Bully Market, Jamie Fiore Higgins describes her experience working at Goldman Sachs after her children were born. “Goldman had a lactation center, an entire floor with hospital-grade pumps, private lockers, a full-size kitchen and lactation consultants available 24/7,” she writes. But when her boss noticed Fiore had signed up for the lactation rooms, he allegedly told her that she needed to be at her desk working, not pumping, if she wanted to be promoted to managing director.

The PUMP Act garnered bipartisan support with some pushback from the airline industry. Given the small space on board flights, airlines had legitimate concerns about finding private areas for breastfeeding employees. The current bill made accommodations for the airline and rail industry and was amended to include a hardship exemption for small businesses. The PUMP Act was approved in a 92-5 Senate vote, with Republican Senators Rand Paul, John Cornyn, Mike Lee, Ron Johnson and Patrick Toomey voting against it.

Pregnant Workers Fairness Act

The second bill which helps mothers is the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act which requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations for medical conditions related to pregnancy and childbirth. While this bill also had bilateral support, the Senate voted to include it in the spending bill with a vote of 73 to 24. The law states that employers can’t deny employment opportunities based on these pregnancy accommodations, and they can’t “require employees to take paid or unpaid leave if another reasonable accommodation can be provided.”

“If a woman requests a stool to sit on or bathroom breaks, or a water bottle, even accommodations that are that simple, that basic and the subject of so much consensus �� employers don’t have to provide those right now,” Senator Bob Casey said in an interviewafter the vote.

Although the bill has widespread bipartisan support, not everyone was in favor. Some felt the bill could force employers to make accommodations for abortions. Senator Thom Tillis told the Senate, “the legislation would subject pro-life organizations to potentially crippling lawsuits if they refuse to facilitate abortions in direct violation of their religious beliefs and their moral convictions.”

Tillis’ comments came after the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) had endorsed the bill and after the law had been revised to clarify that no employer would have to subsidize “any particular item, procedure or treatment.”

James Rogers, a spokesperson for the USCCB said the bill “helps advance USCCB’s goal of ensuring that no woman ever feels forced to choose between her future and the life of her child.”

This vital act comes at a time when one in five mothers is afraid to tell their employer about their pregnancy. And nearly one in four mothers (23%) have considered leaving their jobs due to a lack of reasonable pregnancy accommodations or fear of discrimination, according to a Morning Consult survey conducted in February 2022.

Working women should be able to choose to procreate and take steps to raise healthy children without jeopardizing their jobs. The PUMP Act and the pregnancy bill are steps in the right direction.

By

Kim ElsesserFollow

I cover women’s issues at work—including the wage gap, sexual harassment and female leadership. My prior careers include developing a quantitative hedge fund for Morgan Stanley and teaching about gender at UCLA. I hold a Ph.D. in Psychology from UCLA and two graduate degrees (management and operations research) from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and an undergrad degree in mathematics and computer science from Vassar College. Follow me on Twitter

[karan777]

[arithecreatorsstuff]

Random Bits of Emails Sent By Brian Reynolds, Budgeting, Umbrella Corporation

Derek,

While we agree there would be a market for such... services, we must deny your request to clone Ada Wong. Again. Yes, Ms. Wong is attractive. Yes, the revenue boost from selling the clones would offset the disaster that was the Nemesis Program. That being said, we are in the bioweapon industry, not the adult entertainment industry, not to mention all the headaches Legal brought up. You have one clone, Derek. Be grateful and for the love of God get a life. Order a custom RealDoll like the other guys.

Regards,

Brian.

To All Members, Research and Development, Bioweapon Sector

We've gotten some awkward questions from Upper Management. Would someone please explain why in the wide world of bad ideas, do people still insist on playing around with the T-Virus? Yes, the kill rate is great. However, so is the expenditure to cover up the eventual outbreak into civilization populations. Furthermore, would someone explain why we've gotten a bill for $6,000 from someplace called "Harry's Haberdashery", listing roughly 500 grey fedora hats in the 4xl size?

On a final note... any proposal involving "a metric fuckton" or a "buttload" of virus/steriods/hormones/etc is immediately rejected for the foreseeable future. First, that language is unprofessional in the office. Second, we're still paying off the colossal screw up that was Raccoon City. Third, stop trying to make Giant Mommy Milkers happen, we're supposed to be scientists, not perverts. Wesker excluded. Not like we don't all know the Golden Knobhead has a crush on Bravo Team's medic.

Regards,

Brian

To Albert Wesker

Albert, we've had this discussion before. While you may think you have the right to be a "god", that does not mean it's your "sacred duty" to "check new disciples to see if they 'measure up'", especially not among the younger female staffers. Poor Serafine was so traumatized by your "examinations" that she's threatening to sue. Due to... multiple incidents, Legal has decided the Corporation cannot afford yet another class action lawsuit. So, maybe just go ahead and expense that Rebecca Chambers RealDoll already? It's cheaper than even the court fees.

Seriously, knock it off, Albert.

Brian

To all Umbrella Corporation Bioincident Sevices Operatives

After the utter disaster that was Raccoon City, It has come to our attention that some of you have aim that is, sadly, statistically worse than even the Imperial Stormtroopers in Star Wars. The amount of wasted ammunition easily outweighs the cost of hiring firing range instructors. Unless assigned elsewhere, all UCBS operatives are required to report twice a week for target training. We saw the footage, some of you couldn't kill an Enterprise Redshirt at point blank range with a Howizer.

Remember to breathe,

Brian

To Miranda

I realize that having no children of my own, I do not know what I'd do to bring them back. That being said, there comes a point where obsession becomes insanity. And you, dear lady, are using that fine line as a jump rope. Be careful that jump rope does not become your noose. Please, return the poor girl already. Eva wouldn't want this, not at her expense. Her father is rightfully angry, and intel says he's looking for his daughter. You would not stand for this to happen to Eva, would you?

Please, Miranda, before it's too late.

To ANY Operative Whom Receives This

Please help. I'm stuck in a tree in Tall Oaks, surrounded by the undead. And they can climb. Oh gods, they're getting closer... hurry!

Brian

To ALL UCBS Operatives

Guys? I'm sorry for comparing your aim to Imperial Stormtroopers. I can't climb any higher in this tree, it's dark, the zombies are starting to mass...

I'm sorry, guys.

Brian

To Marta Wilson

Darling Marta,

I'm sorry, but it looks like I won't make it tonight. Or, ever again. While I did get myself out of the tree I was trapped in, I was bitten in the arm doing it. Sad, especially as I was hoping to ask you something. I should have asked sooner. Now, it's too late. Marta, sweet Marta... I love you, I'm so sorry.

All my love,

Brian

[pbandjesse]

Today was a pretty nice day overall. Like I felt a lot better. More like a person. Like it wasn't perfect. But things felt a little more normal.

James continued to worry me. I ask them if they are okay constantly. I am sure they are lying to me to not upset me. But I worry.

Sleeping last night was fine. I woke up when I heard them on the phone. But I wouldn't get up to find out what was going on for a while.

James had called the surgeon to find out about getting more pain relief. And they just said to talk to our PCP. Something we told them we did not have. So we had to scramble and James was able to find someone near the museum accepting new patients and so we were able to switch around our work on Thursday to get an appointment. It's not perfect. But it's something. And we have enough for James to take something when they are hurting but it's not weening them off like I hoped. I don't want them going off of it and suffering. It's frustrating but we are going to make it work.

I had crackers for breakfast. My poor eyelid was still swollen and was honestly worse then yesterday. But seems a little better now. Still hurts if I squeeze my eye shut but doesn't look so angry.

We would leave here around 1030 when James took their medication. And we drove out to puhtok so I could set up for tomorrow. James didn't bring a jacket and was colder then they expected. So after we chatted with Elizabeth and Heather, James would meet me at the eyrie. I drove the gator over there and stopped to say hello to Joe. But when I finally got to the eyrie James was very cold and the door was locked.

So I called Elizabeth. And sent James to the lodge to warm up. Joe and Elizabeth would help me load the gator and that made it go a lot faster. I appreciated them.

I went to the lodge first. James helped by collecting rocks for crushing chalk. And I got everything set up. James asked where they should go next. And I decided to give them my totebag and asked them to go get walkies to drop off on the lodge. There was some concern that it would be to heavy for their 10 lb limit. But James thought it would be okay.

I drove off and got everything else set pretty quickly. I did forgot to fill the water jug for putting out the fire tomorrow. So when I went to set up the arts building I checked and the well was still on there. Excellent. I would only have to backtrack a little and then I was back at the office checking in.

Heather and Elizabeth made me feel a little more secure about how I'm looking after James. Elizabeth said getting a different style of sling was a good move. That should be here on Wednesday. I hope I got the correct size and it makes James comfy.

James was still at the lodge. And I called them to come back to the office where the car was. I would have driven to them but they had my keys. So I waited for them in the car.

When they got to me they looked a little pale. They were very very tired. So I said we should get lunch. James requested something greasy and cheesy.

We decided to go to the Iron Rooster. I had never been before but I will request it again because it was great. James got a patty melt and I got a spicy omelette. And while I worried for James's tired face, the company was good and the food was better.

We would walk over to the Marshalls so I could look at the body oils. But I didn't like the choices. I made James laugh telling them I was sticking to my budget this week. My budget that started yesterday. And I promised to transfer my part of the bills over ASAP. Which I would remember to do when I got home. Usually it's all my market money that goes to rent, but hopefully I'll be able to fill in the gaps easier this year. I have already been contacted by the nursery for the spring. We'll see if I actually do it. It was a little daunting last year, but if the museum picks up I probably won't need it. Good to have in case though.

We went home after that. We took the bike rack off the back of the car. And drove back here. Cleaned the trash out of the car. And came inside.

Me and James would play video games a lot. All the Pokemon, including the last 6 that were gods we didn't yet have, are caught. And now it's just. Requests. We beat the final god. Who is now in my party, with the given name Qod. James would get a little over upset trying to help me get one but with teamwork and checking the internet for tips we got them all. It was fun to do together.

James made bread. And I worked on my first trial batch of cookies. Which tasted great but didn't hold their shape well. Ah well. I'll try again tomorrow.

We started another game, called DokiDoki literature club. Which is apparently very dark but looks pink and bubbly and cute. James is narrating all the voices and it's fun so far.

We have just been spending time together. James is real tired and frowny. But at least we have each other. I am trying my best to take care of both of us. Even if James says that wasn't what they promised in their vows. It is what I promised in mine.

Now though I want to wind down for bed. I have to go back to puhtok tomorrow for my probably last Native American program of the semester. 2nd graders. I'm looking forward to the day.

I hope you all have a good night. Sleep well and stay safe. Talk to you tomorrow!!