States Look to Block ACA Subsidies Cut
After President Donald Trump announced he would no longer pay insurers cost-sharing reduction subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), 18 states and the District of Columbia have sued the administration to block the cuts. According to Reuters, the Democratic attorneys general are asking a federal court in California to force the administration to make the next payment. A separate pending lawsuit from 17 Democratic attorneys general defends the legality of the payments.
CHIP Negotiations Progress Slowly
Despite the deadline having passed to reauthorize the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), little progress has been made to fund the program. Democrats and Republicans are at odds over offsets that would cut an ACA public health fund and increase Medicare premiums for people with income over a certain threshold, reported The Hill. The Democrats contend that these offsets will cause the ACA to break down even further. Without an agreement, the House could still vote on a bill passed by the committee.
Trump Will Declare an Opioid Emergency
Next week, the president is expected to formally declare a national emergency for the opioid addiction epidemic. Declaring a national emergency was recommended by the president’s commission on the epidemic, but former HHS Secretary Tom Price, MD, had said the step wasn’t necessary, STAT reported. Related, the president's pick for drug czar, US Representative Tom Marino, R-Pennsylvania, has withdrawn over reports he pushed legislation to make it harder for the Drug Enforcement Administration to act against drug distributors.
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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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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Gene and Cell Therapies Hold Potential—but How Can Payers Manage Their Costs?
April 18th 2024Presenters at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) 2024 annual meeting discussed the current promise and future potential of gene and cell therapies, as well as payer management strategies for these costly treatments.
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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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