New Mexico, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, and Minnesota are among states looking at “Medicaid buy-in” proposals as a way to offer more affordable healthcare options; the return of measles is creating a backlash against critics of vaccines; first responders who worked during and after the 9/11 terror attacks and their advocates urged Congress to ensure that the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund does not run out of money.
New Mexico, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, and Minnesota are among states looking at “Medicaid buy-in” proposals as a way to offer more affordable healthcare options, Kaiser Health News reported. A report commissioned by New Mexico projected that up to 16,000 people would enroll in such a program, and their premiums would be 15% to 28% lower than plans sold on the individual market.
The return of measles is creating a backlash against critics of vaccines, The Washington Post reported. Washington state is moving forward with 2 measures that would bar parents from using personal or philosophical exemptions to avoid immunizing their school-aged children; in Washington, the worst measles outbreak in more than 2 decades has sickened nearly 70 people and cost over $1 million. Similar efforts are building in Arizona, Iowa, and Minnesota, as well as Vermont and New Jersey.
First responders who worked during and after the 9/11 terror attacks and their advocates urged Congress to ensure that the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund does not run out of money, the Associated Press reported. Joined by comedian Jon Stewart, members of the New York delegation and the advocates blasted an announcement by the Justice Department that the fund is running out and future payments may be cut by up to 70%. Fund officials estimate that it would take another $5 billion to pay pending claims and claims that officials anticipate will be submitted before the fund’s December 2020 deadline. Many responders have seen their health decline, some with respiratory or digestive system ailments that appeared almost immediately and others with illnesses that developed as they aged, including cancer.
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.
Listen
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
Homelessness Compounds Hospital Stay Challenges: Study Reveals Prolonged Discharge Struggles
March 28th 2024In this investigation, outcomes of interest were morbidity rate and length of hospital stay or a traumatic injury among a homeless population, and whether age and/or injury severity had an influence on that relationship—with implications for improving the discharge process for these patients.
Read More
FDA Approves Vadadustat for Anemia in Patients With CKD Undergoing Dialysis
March 28th 2024The FDA approved vadadustat (Vafseo), an oral medication, to treat anemia in adult patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) on dialysis for at least 3 months. This fills a need for a new treatment option as anemia is common in these patients and can significantly impact their quality of life.
Read More