Health Care Cost

Democratic senators urge private insurers fully cover Opill, an OTC contraceptive pill; providers pursue lawsuit against Arizona's abortion rule; a quarter of US medical students contemplate leaving their studies.

The generic drug market focuses on price. However, multiple generic metformin drugs have been recalled due to poor drug quality. The authors examine price and quality after these recalls.

Federal actuaries have projected what they believe to be health care spending through 2030-2031 in 9 important areas.

Saira Jan, PharmD, MS, of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, discussed cost savings that occurred so far from their collaborative pilot program with Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and RWJ Barnabas Health and also noted those they predict to occur as the program continues.

Pharmacy workers embark on a multiday strike; Fathers are taking paid family leave to bond with their newborns; the FDA is set to evaluate a pioneering gene therapy for sickle cell disease (SCD).

Adults with osteoarthritis who took part in a digital musculoskeletal program had lower rates of knee and hip arthroplasty at 12 months vs those using traditional care.

Half of the surveyed adults reported difficulty affording their health care, and a large proportion said they delayed or avoided care or medication because they couldn’t afford it, often leading to their health problems worsening.

Researchers have developed a new line method (NLM) that showcased benefits for genetic screening in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).

Melissa Levine, MD, a family medicine specialist at Arizona Community Physicians and medical director for the Abacus Health accountable care organization (ACO), discussed strategies for succeeding in an ACO and how primary care can complement oncology care for patients with cancer.

This comprehensive comparative analysis examined the economic and health care resource utilization implications of initiating glucocorticoid and exon-skipping therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).

Ted Okon, MBA, executive director, Community Oncology Alliance, discusses early returns from the Enhancing Oncology Model and how community oncology practices are innovating in ways that can expand into other areas of medicine.

The study indicated the potential of preventative drug lists (PDLs) as a strategy for those who have high deductible health plans to address both patient access and affordability of asthma care.

FluMist Quadrivalent could become the first self-administered flu vaccine in the United States; the American Society of Reproductive Medicine updates its definition of infertility to be more inclusive; the Environmental Protection Agency moves to ban the use of a cancer-causing chemical .

At the 2023 COA Payer Exchange Summit being held October 23-24 in Reston, Virginia, Lalan Wilfong, MD, US Oncology Network, emphasizes the importance of oncology care equity, ensuring continuity of care, and enhancing care coordination.

Medicare Advantage (MA) plans pose financial challenges for small rural hospitals; 2 bans proposed in Texas would prohibit transportation for abortion procedures; delays in reauthorizing US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) risk the program’s effectiveness and integrity.

This analysis demonstrates value and innovation of direct-acting antivirals for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in the US Kaiser Permanente health system.

Study investigators note their meta-analysis may be the first to demonstrate the importance of interventions to support adherence to adjuvant endocrine therapy for breast cancer.

A 5-year randomized trial showed that the Million Hearts Model, which paid health care organizations to monitor and reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, was effective in reducing first-time heart attacks and strokes without associated increases in Medicare spending.

Monica Bertagnolli, MD, fielded questions on hot-button issues during the long-delayed Senate hearing on her nomination to head the National Institutes of Health; Pfizer announces the list price for a 5-day course of its COVID-19 antiviral, nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid); a federal initiative is distributing funds to programs aiming to prevent drug overdoses in pregnant women.

During a session at AMCP Nexus, panelists provided a historical overview on the 340B drug discount program, highlighting the intentions of the plan and the research gaps leading to misconceptions about the program and whether it’s working to lower costs for patients.

In the aftermath of the Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization ruling, Anita Allen, PhD, highlights the challenges to abortion rights in the United States, emphasizing disparities faced by marginalized communities, outlining threats to reproductive health care, and calling for collective action and advocacy to defend constitutional privacy and uphold the dignity of all individuals.

Amazon Prime air service is testing delivery of medication within an hour or ordering; Surging insurance costs are affecting 150 million Americans; Opponents of President Joe Biden's mental health care proposal argue potential rules could hinder access to quality care.

To ensure patients are getting timely access to their treatments, there needs to be better collaboration between payers and providers, said Christine Pfaff, RPh, senior regional director of operations, American Oncology Network.

Two posters presented at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) 2023 Scientific Congress & Expo showed trends in funding and insurance coverage for individuals seeking fertility care.

A 2022 yearlong initiative at Summa Health Cancer Institute saw 100% of its patients with head and neck cancer undergoing radiation treatment referred to an oncology dietician for nutritional support and/or speech and swallow therapy.

Non–guideline-concordant care for ovarian cancer was associated with higher all-cause and cancer-specific mortality, increased health care utilization, and increased Medicare expenditures, highlighting opportunities for improving cancer care in this vulnerable group.

Medicare Advantage star ratings reveal shifts in plan quality and performance; Rite Aid seeks debt reduction and restructures amid financial challenges; workers secure improved wages and staffing

Biosimilars are becoming more common as more launch on the market in the United States, but patient and provider education can help speed uptake of these products, explained Bincy Abraham, MD, Houston Methodist – Weill Cornell.

Older patients often face financial challenges on fixed incomes with different payer systems like Medicare, Sarah Wall, MD, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, says. Accessing treatment centers far away is difficult due to support system disruptions, leading to increased stress and financial strain.

According to the National Cancer Institute, in the year following a cancer diagnosis, the average cost of medical care plus medication exceeds $42,000, with some treatments having a price tag of more than $1 million.