The Results of Berkeley’s Soda Tax
The soda tax in Berkeley, California, successfully made residents switch from sugary drinks to healthier options. California Healthline reported that there was a nearly 10% drop in sugary drink sales just 1 year after the tax was enacted. Meanwhile, sales of bottled water were up nearly 16%. In 2014, voters agreed to a 1-cent-per-fluid-ounce tax on sugary drinks. While the tax doesn’t sound like much, the study results show it had an impact, according to the study’s lead author.
Campaigning Against Drug Imports
A nonprofit with ties to the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) is running a campaign to prevent drug imports. An analysis by Kaiser Health News found that one-third of groups involved with the nonprofit, the Partnership for Safe Medicines, have received PhRMA funding. The partnership had previously been led by a senior vice president at PhRMA. The ad campaign warns about potential dangers of importing drugs from Canada.
UnitedHealth Announces Profits After ACA Exit
After UnitedHealth pulled back on its involvement in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces, it was able to report that revenue and profits increased. The Wall Street Journal reported that UnitedHealth is calling for a repeal of the ACA’s health insurer tax and more flexible state-based markets. The company has exited nearly all of the ACA exchanges for 2017.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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