What we're reading, November 25, 2015: UnitedHealthcare's decision on healthcare exchange participation, Democratic Presidential candidate's health plan, and conflict of interest between soda company and anti-obesity research group.
Does UnitedHealthcare’s Decision Spell ACA Trouble or Business Gimmick?
UnitedHealthcare’s recent announcement of withdrawal from the Affordable Care Act’s health exchanges, effective 2017, resulted in a flurry of reports questioning the performance of these individual marketplace exchanges. The disclosure by UnitedHealth Group Inc, which had just last month sounded optimistic notes about the segment’s prospects, is the latest sign that many insurers are finding the new business unprofitable, despite an influx of customers that has helped swell revenues, reported The Wall Street Journal. However, the answer could be much more complicated according to a Brookings blog.
Read here.
Democratic Presidential Candidate Details Health Plan for When Elected
Following on the footsteps of the other Democratic Presidential candidates, Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton, Governor Martin O’Malley has announced his vision for revamping the healthcare system of the country. Released on Tuesday, the health plan promises to address rising drug costs, price transparency, shift from fee-for-service, as well as pharmaceutical mergers based on improving tax rates.
Read here.
Coke Interfered With Work of Anti-Obesity Group, E-Mails Reveal
While the Global Energy Balance Network, led by a professor at the University of Colorado, claims that Coke did nothing beyond providing $1.5 million in funding for the research group, The Associate Press (AP) has evidence proving otherwise. A report published by AP shaped not just the leadership of the group, but also its mission statement and suggested articles and videos for its website.
Read here.
Navigating Health Literacy, Social Determinants, and Discrimination in National Health Plans
February 13th 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with the authors of a study published in the February 2024 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® about their findings on how health plans can screen for health literacy, social determinants of health, and perceived health care discrimination.
Listen
Drs Raymond Thertulien, Joseph Mikhael on Racial Disparities in Multiple Myeloma Care Access
December 28th 2023In the wake of the 2023 American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition, Raymond Thertulien, MD, PhD, of Novant Health, and Joseph Mikhael, MD, MEd, FRCPC, FACP, chief medical officer of the International Myeloma Foundation, discussed health equity research highlights from the meeting and drivers of racial disparities in multiple myeloma outcomes.
Listen
The Pivotal Role of Payers in Improving Health Equity, Maternal Health Care in the US
March 26th 2024A presentation at the Greater Philadelphia Business Coalition on Health's 2024 Women’s Health Summit discussed how payers, including employers and public entities, can strategically influence health care purchasing to prioritize maternal health and equity.
Read More
What We’re Reading: HHS' Funding Flat; Mifepristone Safety; Insulin Shortage
March 25th 2024Flat funding for Health and Human Services (HHS) leaves critical health initiatives stagnant; Supreme Court weighs tightening regulations on abortion pill; manufacturing delay sparks access concerns for insulin medication.
Read More