Policy

The ending of the 2023 film “Barbie,” where she sees a gynecologist, has increased online search interest in gynecology; yesterday marked 34 years of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA); Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing the Biden administration over Title X, a federal contraception program that provides teens birth control without parental consent.

Legal and policy experts on a KFF webinar explained how the Supreme Court’s recent decision to overturn the Chevron precedent will impact legislators, agencies, and courts as they interpret and enforce policies in the health care realm.

Crystal S. Denlinger, MD, FACP, CEO of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, discusses different policy approaches to address the ongoing cancer drug shortage.

A federal appeals court ruled yesterday that a group of Republican-led states do not have legal standing to impose restrictions on the abortion pill mifepristone; the US infant mortality rate increased by 3% in 2022; a twice-yearly injection could prevent 100% of HIV infections.

For Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, the Employee Benefits Security Agency (EBSA) in the US Department of Labor highlights the critical need to address mental health disparities among racial and ethnic minorities.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy joined BeiGene CEO John Oyler and about 300 guests to open the facility, located in Hopewell, New Jersey. A version of this article appeared in the August issue of Evidence-Based Oncology.

Efforts to regulate social media for youth face resistance; MK-1654 meets key goals in mid-to-late stage trial; active drug shortages remain above 300 for sixth consecutive quarter.

New rules aim to curb insurance brokers and protect consumers; data highlights surge in post-pandemic hospital-onset infections; President Biden’s decision to step down highlights Harris’ stance on health care reform and equity.

Doug Fulling, MA, and Andrew Cournoyer, MBA, discuss how patients could benefit from payers learning more about a new drug by joining clinical trials earlier.

Rising COVID-19 cases are attributed to travel, heatwaves, and new variants; an analysis highlights challenges in states not expanding Medicaid; the FDA notes health risks despite marketing authorization for popular e-cigarettes.

This study examined employers’ understanding of rebate guarantees, dependency upon rebate dollars, and the role that pharmaceutical rebates or employer benefits consultants play in their pharmacy benefits manager selection.

Misleading ads are under scrutiny for their role in signing up consumers for Affordable Care Act (ACA) coverage without their permission; Sen Elizabeth Warren (D, Massachusetts) said there are enough votes in the Senate to suspend the filibuster to codify Roe v Wade in 2025 with a Democratic majority; women with endometriosis have about a fourfold risk of developing ovarian cancer.

The Commonwealth Fund scorecard ranks Mississippi, Texas, Nevada, and Oklahoma among the poorest-performing states overall for women’s health care access, quality, and outcomes, while Massachusetts, Vermont, and Rhode Island rank at the top.

Almost half of all Americans struggle to afford quality health care and prescription medications; the cyberattack on UnitedHealth Group's Change Healthcare unit will cost the company between $2.3 billion and $2.45 billion in 2024; CMS releases the final part 2 guidance for plan outreach and education for the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan.

Learn more about the 2025 Physician Fee Schedule, new health equity initiatives, improving maternal health, and pharmaceutical innovations at the Center on Health Equity & Access.

Pfizer announced plans for a once-a-day weight-loss pill; toxic metals have been found in over a dozen popular tampon brands across the US; CMS proposed a new rules impacting telehealth in the Medicare physician fee schedule (PFS) for 2025.

The 2025 Physician Fee Schedule includes a conversion factor reduction, expanded behavioral health services, extended telehealth waivers, new Quality Payment Program pathways, and measures to address suspect billing, alongside a Biden administration initiative introducing federal maternal health standards for hospitals.

The US Senate Committee on Health, Education, and Labor Pensions discussed actionable solutions to address the medical debt crisis impacting millions of individuals.

Today, the Siftwell 2024 Medicaid-Eligible Health Equity Index report highlighted ongoing challenges and barriers that underscore the need for systemic changes to improve health care access and outcomes for vulnerable groups.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is preparing a lawsuit against the 3 largest drug middlemen over their use of rebates for insulin and other drugs; Sen Bernie Sanders (I, Vermont) feels confident that Novo Nordisk will cut Ozempic and Wegovy costs after hearing; CMS proposed a payment rule that would increase Medicare reimbursement for hospital outpatient departments by 2.6% next year.

More patients achieve significant weight loss with tirzepatide; new data show significant increases in sexually transmitted disease (STD) diagnoses; many individuals in cardiology deserts are left at higher risk of dying from heart disease.

In 2024, physicians face significant financial challenges due to declining Medicare reimbursement rates and high student loan interest rates, which will impact health care delivery and access.

Crystal S. Denlinger, MD, FACP, CEO of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, breaks down the causes of the ongoing cancer drug shortage, as well as its impact on clinical trials.

Medicare tightens rules after alleged $3 billion fraud scheme; new Alzheimer disease diagnostic criteria are causing controversy; loss of Medicaid is tied to struggles affording health care.

Underserved communities, already facing higher asthma prevalence due to social determinants of health, are disproportionately affected by the impact climate change is having on asthma exacerbations. Potential solutions include education for patients and health care providers, climate litigation to establish environmental rights, and policy changes to curb climate change.