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.
How the coronavirus pandemic accelerated our embrace of digital health; meanwhile, states continue to grapple with the public health crisis; stakeholders point out the false promise of arbitration in addressing surprise medical bills; and, new polling takes a look at public rankings for the new Administration and Congress.
Stakeholders continue to raise the alarm on the newly-finalized rule targeting drug rebates; out-of-network price-gouging for coronavirus testing worsens; meanwhile, another front opens up in the battle to combat surprise billing; and, state Medicaid programs grapple with rising enrollment.
States scramble as coronavirus cases surge; the harmful rebate rule resurfaces; Medicaid shines a light on social health factors; and, a quick check-in on open enrollment.
Supreme Court arguments are made in the latest challenge to the Affordable Care Act; proposed changes to the popular Medicare Advantage program are released; telehealth continues to assert itself; and, stakeholders focus on improving population health.