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What We're Reading: SCOTUS Abortion Ruling; Use of HDHPs Grows; More Seniors Die at Home
A California law that requires clinics to notify women that abortions paid for by the state are available has been ruled a violation of free speech rights; half of all workers in the United States have health insurance with a deductible of at least $1000, which is up from 22% in 2009; a new study found that more seniors insured by Medicare are dying at home instead of a hospital.
Supreme Court Blocks Rule Requiring Notification of Abortion Availability
A California law that requires clinics, even those that are pro-life, to notify women that abortions paid for by the state are available has been ruled unconstitutional. The Supreme Court ruled that the law violated the free speech rights of those facilities that do not want to promote abortion, according to Reuters. The vote went along party lines with the 5 conservative justices appointed by Republican presidents voting down the law and the 4 liberal justices appointed by Democratic presidents dissenting.
High-Deductible Health Plans Continue to Grow in Use
Half of all workers in the United States have health insurance with a deductible of at least $1000, which is up from 22% in 2009. In that same time period, the proportion of large employers offering only high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) grew from 7% to 39%, reported Bloomberg. The trend of offering HDHPs took off during the financial crisis, when employers were trying to cut costs, and again with the Affordable Care Act. Some companies, such as JPMorgan Chase and CVS Health, have announced plans to cover more care costs or reduce deductibles for their employees.
More Seniors Are Dying at Home
A new study found that more seniors insured by Medicare are dying at home instead of a hospital. Los Angeles Times reported that 29% of seniors who were dying spent part of the final month of life in the intensive care unit, indicating a stabilization of a trend that had risen from 2000 to 2009. The research also found that in 2015, approximately 40% of patients passed away either in a home, hospice, assisted living facility, or other community setting compared with just 31% in 2000.
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.
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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.
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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.
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