Lawmakers return to Washington as budget negotiations ramp up; new polling shows broad support for Medicare Advantage; hospital acquisitions of physician offices drive up healthcare costs; and, patient advocates warn against the cost of arbitration in addressing surprise medical bills.
Lawmakers continue negotiations on a comprehensive budget package; Medicare Advantage’s value proposition grows, even as the program comes under threat; drugmakers’ promotional spending to providers surges; and, Medicaid expansion cuts down on uninsured hospitalizations.
Momentum builds to hold Big Pharma accountable for rising drug prices; the vast majority of hospitals fail to comply with price transparency rules; Medicare Advantage plans continue to focus on beneficiaries’ health-related social needs; and, a new survey details how telehealth saves patients a trip to the ER.
Lawmakers target the suspension of an expensive, yet-to-be-implemented rule to pay for other priorities; Medicare Advantage continues to affirm its value proposition, including an increased focus on health-related social needs; and, stakeholders warn against the harms of arbitration ahead of new rules targeting surprise medical bills being released.
Big Pharma’s “hidden hand” influence over patient advocacy groups comes to light; telehealth helps address disparities – but, gaps remain; stakeholders continue to focus on addressing health inequities; and, safety net programs celebrate an important anniversary.
New data shows continued price-gouging for COVID testing; an increased focus on hospital consolidation draws further attention to the impact these deals have on healthcare costs; a slew of studies highlights explosive spending on prescription drugs in Medicare; and, virtual care improves patient engagement, satisfaction levels.
New penalties are proposed for hospitals failing to comply with price transparency rules; meanwhile, trauma centers are found to charge enormous fees for minor injuries; the tally rises on drugmakers’ mid-year price hikes; and, more than 2 million people have now signed up for coverage during the special enrollment people.
Hospitals charge uninsured patients the highest prices; a new analysis highlights dramatic generic drug price variations; an insurer coalition vaccinates 2 million older adults; and, stakeholders throw their support behind a health-related social needs bill.
The first set of proposed regulations targeting surprise medical bills gets released; faster-than-inflation Rx price hikes cost Medicare billions; healthcare spending experiences a COVID rebound; and, a new campaign aimed at kidney care is launched.
The Supreme Court hands down its latest Affordable Care Act decision; lawmakers focus on advancing critical telehealth legislation; an innovative partnership is announced to address rising generic drug prices; and, the pandemic swells Medicaid rolls.