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What We're Reading: Soda Tax Results; Blocking Drug Imports; UnitedHealth Profits After ACA Exit
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.
Standard Criteria for Loss of Ambulation Needed in DMD
April 19th 2024A recent study suggests the differences between ambulation definitions for patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) can impact the identification of ambulant vs nonambulant individuals, and standard criteria across settings are needed.
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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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An Overview of Health Care and Pharmaceutical Trends, 2023-2024
April 19th 2024Douglas M. Long, BA, MBA, was featured as the keynote speaker on the closing day of The Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy 2024 annual meeting, with a session dedicated to surveying the health care and pharmaceutical trends of the last year.
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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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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.
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