Stakeholders continue to focus on the harms of the rebate rule; provider consolidation goes under the microscope; hospital billing practices suggest Medicare upcoding; and, Medicaid can help better address social health drivers.
Lawmakers convene a hearing on vaccines; private equity exacts a terrible toll on nursing home populations; Medicaid expansion led to fewer uninsured young adults; and, a handful of chronic conditions cost employers billions of dollars.
The Administration opens up a special enrollment period on the exchanges; prices for more than 800 drugs went up in January; meanwhile, the growing incidence of pharmacy deserts makes affordable drugs that much more out-of-reach; and, the availability of supplemental benefits in Medicare Advantage plans is on the rise.
Nearly half of those who are uninsured failed to explore their options through the ACA or Medicaid; meanwhile, Medicaid expansion could have had a larger impact during the pandemic; brand-name drug prices are found to be higher in the U.S. compared to other countries; and, a new report debunks drugmakers’ biggest defense.
Compromise seems elusive on the next stimulus package; meanwhile, the coronavirus has accelerated the embrace of digital health technology; the Administration hits the pause button on the unpopular rebate rule; and, Medicare Advantage is more popular than ever.
A recent report points to unjustified price hikes for drugs; meanwhile, new polling maps out Americans’ expectations of lawmakers on out-of-control drug prices; opposition to the rebate rule ramps up; and, payers continue their focus on social health drivers.
Provider consolidation gets renewed scrutiny; PBMs work to keep insulin affordable for consumers; state budgets are improving – but, challenges remain; and, stakeholders point to health equity being a key value in value-based payment reform.
The vaccine rollout hits a bumpy patch; meanwhile, investigations into coronavirus testing-related price-gouging ramp up; a lawsuit is filed challenging the outgoing Administration’s costly and unpopular “rebate rule”; and, payers focus their investments on social determinants of health.
Big Pharma rings in the New Year by jacking up prices on hundreds of drugs – price increases that could result in the deaths of over a million Medicare beneficiaries; Medicaid expansion has been a lifeline for hospitals in the wake of coronavirus; and, a new study highlights how Medicare Advantage plans achieve better health outcomes than traditional Medicare.
Lawmakers continue to work towards a compromise on a new relief package; meanwhile, the coronavirus pandemic has exposed vulnerabilities in our health care system; data on health spending last year points to a worsening trend; and, open enrollment comes to an end.