New program seeks to revitalize struggling rural health care facilities; NIH director advocates for actions to address unaffordable medications; WHO reveals significant drop global tobacco use
A New Federal Program Aims to Stem Rural Hospital Closures
The Rural Emergency Hospital initiative, launched in January 2023, aims to combat the persistent closures of rural hospitals across the US, according to Kaiser Health News. The program aims to offer increased Medicare payments and financial incentives for hospitals that transition to providing emergency and outpatient services while discontinuing inpatient care. However, only 18 out of over 1700 eligible rural hospitals have applied for this designation, highlighting challenges such as reluctance to forego inpatient services entirely and confusion about the definition of "rural."
NIH Director Urges Biden Administration to Tackle Rising Drug Prices
Monica Bertagnolli, director of the NIH, has called on the Biden administration to take decisive steps in addressing the escalating problem of rising drug prices, according to Stat. With pharmaceutical costs reaching unprecedented levels, Bertagnolli emphasized the urgent need for bold and effective measures to make medications more affordable for the American public. As debates on drug pricing reforms continue, the pressure is mounting on policymakers to implement substantial changes that will alleviate the financial burden on patients and enhance access to essential medications.
Global Tobacco Use Declines Despite Industry Lobbying
The WHO reported a notable decline in global tobacco use, defying persistent lobbying efforts by the tobacco industry to maintain smoking rates, according to Reuters. Despite aggressive marketing and influence campaigns, especially in some regions, the overall reduction in tobacco consumption signals progress in global anti-smoking initiatives. Additionally, the WHO underscored the importance of continued efforts to counter industry tactics and emphasized the need for comprehensive tobacco control policies to further diminish smoking prevalence and promote public health worldwide.
Public Hospitals More Likely to Extend Unprofitable Services After 340B Participation, Study Finds
May 10th 2024Public hospitals were significantly more likely to sustain access to unprofitable services following 340B Drug Pricing Program participation, while nonprofit hospitals were mostly unaffected, according to a recent study.
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Frameworks for Advancing Health Equity: Urban Health Outreach
May 9th 2024In the series debut episode of "Frameworks for Advancing Health Equity," Mary Sligh, CRNP, and Chelsea Chappars, of Allegheny Health Network, explain how the Urban Health Outreach program aims to improve health equity for individuals experiencing homelessness.
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Research Shows Prior Authorization Denials Delay Critical Immunology Care
May 10th 2024Results featured at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy 2024 annual meeting revealed a pattern of prior authorization rejections that could delay necessary therapeutic treatments for various patient groups.
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CMS Medicare Final Rule: Advancing Benefits, Competition, and Consumer Protection
May 7th 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with Karen Iapoce, senior director of government products and programs at ZeOmega, about the recent CMS final rule on Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage.
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Looking Back on ISPOR 2024: Hot Policy Topics, Welcome Focus on Employers, and More
May 10th 2024Kimberly Westrich, MA, chief strategy officer of the National Pharmaceutical Council, reflects on the most valuable learnings from the 2024 meeting of ISPOR—The Professional Society for Health Economics and Outcomes Research, including lively discussions of the Inflation Reduction Act and workshops on value assessment.
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