What we're reading, June 9, 2016: Philadelphia is poised to become the first major city to pass a soda tax; California raises its smoking age to 21; and the Obama administration looks to limit short-term health plans.
Next week, Philadelphia is expected to pass a measure that imposes a tax of 1.5 cents for every ounce that includes sugar or artificial sweeteners. The city is about to become the first major city and only the second Americans city to tax sugary drinks, and it got to this point because it framed the tax as a new source of revenue instead of as a public health good, reported The New York Times in blog post for The Upshot. The tax rate will come out to about 30 cents for a 20-ounce drink or $2.15 for a 12-pack, which is considerably higher than the rate passed in Berkley, California, the only other American city with a tax on sugary drinks.
California has raised its smoking age to 21, making it the second state to do so. According to Vox, the law will save lives and reduce costs to the healthcare system. The law prevents anyone under the age of 21 from buying cigarettes and other tobacco products. A previous analysis has found that raising the smoking age to 21 could decrease use of tobacco by 12% by the time today’s teenagers become adults.
The Obama administration is looking to limit short-term health plans that are popular among healthier customers. The proposed rule, which limits coverage to less than 3 months and prohibits a renewal, is designed to nudge healthier customers into the Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans sold on the health insurance exchanges, according to CNBC. Moving these customers into the ACA exchange pool could help balance out the less healthy customers and keep premium increases lower. However, these individuals could choose to stay uninsured.
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
Real-World Study Reveals Key Insights Into DLBCL Treatment Patterns, Outcomes
April 18th 2024A recent study offers valuable insights into the characteristics, treatment patterns, and outcomes of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in patients across different lines of therapy, providing a look into the landscape of DLBCL management.
Read More
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
Gene, Light Therapy Combo Shows Promise Against Prostate Cancer Cells in Proof-of-Concept Study
April 18th 2024In their preclinical model, the researchers found efficacy both in vitro and in vivo by using CRISPR-Cas9 to mimic porphyria and combining the technology with light therapy.
Read More
Pegcetacoplan for PNH More Cost-Effective Than Anti-C5 Monoclonal Antibodies
April 18th 2024A cost-utility analysis conducted from the perspective of the Italian health system found that pegcetacoplan was more effective and less costly than 2 complement 5 (C5) inhibitors for the treatment of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH).
Read More