Health Care Cost

Countries in sub-Saharan Africa could see thousands of deaths from HIV due to cuts to the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), underscoring the necessity of reinstating the program.

Access to and affordability of immune checkpoint inhibitors, which can be lifesaving if patients receive them on time and under optimal circumstances, continue to top the list of reasons behind outcomes disparities for patients who have private insurance vs those who remain uninsured.

The market for artificial sweeteners has been projected to increase by almost 75% from 2025 through 2033, or from $3.11 billion to $5.44 billion.

From the impact of rising grocery prices to disparities in myeloma outcomes, check out news from the Center on Health Equity & Access this past week.

A new economic evaluation supports updating rheumatoid arthritis guidelines to favor biosimilar disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs over leflunomide after methotrexate failure.

Revumenib, an oral targeted therapy for rare leukemias, is projected to be cost-neutral for health plans over 3 years, primarily due to lower administration costs and improved patient quality of life, said Ivo Abraham, PhD, RN, of The University of Arizona.

The decision by the Supreme Court has major implications on which preventive services are required to be covered by insurance companies under the Affordable Care Act.

Revumenib for relapsed/refractory acute leukemias with KMT2A translocation is cost-neutral for health plans, but traditional methods of analysis may not be accurate for rare diseases, said Ivo Abraham, PhD, RN, of The University of Arizona.

Data from 2019 to 2023 show 9.2% of adults with obesity reported cost-related medication adherence.

Up to 257 million Americans could benefit from these prior authorization reforms that could have cross-market implications on health care plans administered through commercial insurers, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid.

Widespread noncompliance with federal cost-sharing rules exists, particularly impacting Medicare beneficiaries and patient-preferred prep options, study finds.

The recent FDA approval of lenacapavir is encouraging in its promise of long-term HIV prevention but might not be available for the vast majority of people in the US.

It's a critical time to spotlight the dire health disparities affecting Black Americans, from premature deaths to maternal care, and the urgent need for systemic reforms.

Discontinuing the weight loss treatment before hitting the recommended maintenance dose contributes to low-value care despite provider follow-up and efforts to manage side effects, says Hamlet Gasoyan, PhD, Cleveland Clinic.

The FDA approval marks the first approval of a type of pre-exposure prophylaxis that would only require 2 treatments per year.

Pharmacists are being asked to not only manage medications and side effects but also be fiscally responsible for the whole institution and its trickle-down effect on costs, said David Awad, PharmD, BCOP, of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital.

The country has seen historic reductions in uninsured rates and improvements in affordability since the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, the Commonwealth Fund scorecard shows.

Real-world cost barriers and insurance denials contribute to early discontinuation of injectable glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, reducing their effectiveness for weight loss, explains Hamlet Gasoyan, PhD, Cleveland Clinic.

Explore how health equity and policy shape outcomes, revealing disparities in kidney disease, atopic dermatitis, and cancer care for vulnerable populations.

Risk factors for financial toxicity in a nationally representative survey included involuntary unemployment, transient loss of health insurance, and high-deductible health plans.

A private oncology shared savings plan reduced colon cancer treatment costs. Results varied by tumor, with none in breast cancer and mixed effects in lung cancer.

Constance Blunt, MD, medical oncologist, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, discusses the potential consequences of losing free health care screening coverage.

Patients who remained on treatment, especially at higher doses or on tirzepatide, were more likely to achieve clinically meaningful weight loss and improved glycemic control.

Adolescents face significant barriers to obesity medication access, despite a surge in prescriptions. Discover the disparities and potential solutions in obesity care.

Trump's sweeping health care overhaul faces scrutiny, risking coverage for millions while igniting bipartisan tensions over fiscal and social impacts.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates the package would add $2.4 trillion to the national deficit over a decade and leave 10.9 million more Americans without health insurance.

Tariff increases threaten the US economy and health care costs, impacting managed care affordability and member financial stability.

African American and Latino older adults with Alzheimer disease and related dementias and their families are likely to face disproportionately high burdens, primarily associated with unpaid caregiving, suggesting the need for policies that may reduce economic burdens for all US residents.

Systemic barriers beyond just the price of drugs can impact health care costs, emphasizing the need for comprehensive affordability solutions, explained H. John Beardsley, MBA, of CoverMyMeds, and Fauzea Hussain, MPH, of McKesson.

The proposed 2026 HHS budget slashes National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding by 40%, alarming health experts and threatening vital research and public health initiatives.