What we're reading, February 11, 2016: Plaintiffs lose their case against cigarette manufacturer; the politics behind providing care for those infected with Zika; and of course, prescription drug prices.
Longtime smokers of Marlboro cigarettes have lost their liability fight against the cigarette manufacturer Philip Morris USA. According to a report in the Chicago Tribune, a jury unanimously rejected a claim filed 10 years back that Marlboros are defective and dangerous. If they had won, the plaintiffs would have been eligible to receive screening chest scans estimated to cost $500.
Meanwhile, as the Zika virus continues its rampage in Latin America, the CDC believes Puerto Rico might be hit hard by the outbreak along with some other US territories. According to Reuters, CDC director Tom Frieden, MD, MPH, shared the information with the House Foreign Affairs subcommittee. Republican lawmakers who led the hearing, meanwhile, played abortion politics saying they hoped that infected women will not have abortions to avoid giving birth to children with developmental problems.
At another hearing on the Hill, HHS secretary Silvia Mathews Burwell was up defending the president’s budget—she told lawmakers that the administrations is delving into every option that can help control prescription drug prices. Burwell responded to Senator Jim McDermott’s (D-Washington) statement of support for Medicare to be able to negotiate prescription drug prices, saying that prescription prices are an increasing part of the Medicare budget and Veterans Administration has successfully negotiated lower prices.
Navigating Health Policy in an Election Year: Insights From Dr Dennis Scanlon
April 2nd 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with Dennis Scanlon, PhD, the editor in chief of The American Journal of Accountable Care®, about prior authorization, price transparency, the impact of health policy on the upcoming election, and more.
Listen
Commonwealth Fund Report Details Pervasive Racial and Ethnic Disparities in US Health Care, Outcomes
April 18th 2024Using 25 health system performance indicators, the Commonwealth Fund 2024 State Health Disparities Report evaluated racial and ethnic disparities in health care and health outcomes both within and across US states and highlighted the urgent need for equitable health care policies and practices in the US.
Read More
Exploring Medicare Advantage Prior Authorization Variations
March 26th 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with the authors of a study published in the March 2024 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® about their findings on variations in prior authorization use across Medicare Advantage plans.
Listen