Insurers grapple with expanding overage for weight loss medications; a new analysis reveals a potential correlation between COVID-19 vaccinations and various adverse effects (AEs); reshaping Medicaid programs remains an ongoing debate about ensuring health care access.
Weight Loss Drugs Reaching Coverage Milestones Under the ACA
As the obesity crisis continues, semaglutide (Wegovy) has gained attention for its effectiveness in weight loss, according to Stat. However, its high cost—more than $16,000 annually—poses challenges for insurers under the Affordable Care Act, (ACA), raising questions about accessibility and affordability for patients seeking the treatment. Despite hurdles, efforts are underway to expand coverage under the act, potentially reshaping the landscape of weight loss interventions.
Multicountry COVID Study Links Vaccines, Potential Adverse Effects
The most extensive study conducted across several countries has identified a correlation between COVID-19 vaccines and potential adverse effects, including myocarditis and Guillain-Barré syndrome, according to The Hill. The findings highlight the importance of ongoing monitoring and research to ensure the safety and efficacy of worldwide vaccination campaigns, underscoring the need for transparent communication and vigilant surveillance in the ongoing global effort to combat the pandemic.
Trump Pushes States to Overhaul Medicaid Amid Political Tensions
Former President Donald Trump's renewed advocacy for Medicaid overhaul has placed pressure on states to navigate complex health care decisions, including potential changes to eligibility criteria and finding of health safety-net programs, according to Politico. Amid concerns over access and the federal-state partnership, this development amplifies the ongoing debate over Medicaid's role in ensuring health care access for vulnerable populations and highlights the overall complexities of state-level health care policymaking.
Patients With Advanced, Recurrent Melanoma May Experience Lasting AEs From ICM Therapy
May 9th 2024A cross-sectional, mixed-methods study found that adverse effects (AEs) can occur even after 1 year of treatment with immune checkpoint modulator (ICM) therapy in patients with melanoma.
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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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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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Medication Adherence Star Ratings Measures, Health Care Resource Utilization, and Cost
May 9th 2024For patients prescribed diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia medications, nonadherence to CMS Star Ratings quality measures of medication adherence was associated with increased health care resource utilization and costs.
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