- Center on Health Equity and Access
- Clinical
- Health Care Cost
- Health Care Delivery
- Insurance
- Policy
- Technology
- Value-Based Care
What We’re Reading: ACA Marketplaces’ Record Enrollment; Antiabortion Protests at CVS, Walgreens; Alzheimer Drug Gets Expensive Price Tag
Expanded health coverage sees an increase in enrollments; Antiabortion activists protest against CVS and Walgreens; $26,500 Alzheimer’s drug limits affordability
Nearly 16 Million People Have Selected Health Coverage in ACA Marketplaces
The Biden-Harris administration announced that nearly 16 million people have signed up for an Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace health plan since the start of the 2023 Marketplace Open Enrollment Period in November, according to the CMS. This record-breaking enrollment period saw an increase of 13% over last year and includes over 3 million new people to the marketplaces. This expansion has been a top priority for the Biden-Harris administration with the national uninsured rate reaching an all-time low earlier this year.
Antiabortion Activists Confront CVS and Walgreens
Antiabortion activists organized protests outside of CVS and Walgreens in at least 8 states plus Washington, DC, according to POLITICO. These protests are in response to the FDA’s decision to allow retail pharmacies such as CVS and Walgreens to sell abortion pills in states where its legal. These protests are part of a bigger plan to curb abortion access, by targeting big pharmacy chains, including a call-in campaign and a national boycott of chains.
New Alzheimer Drug Will Cost $26,500 A Year
The new drug, lecanemab (Leqembi), is intended to slow the progression of Alzheimer disease and is the second Alzheimer drug to be approved by the FDA in the last 2 years, according to NBC News. However, this drug comes at a high price of $26,500 a year, which would greatly limit the amount of people who could get the drug. Additionally, CMS coverage is restricted for new Alzheimer treatments to only include patients participating in clinical trials.
Oncology Onward: A Conversation With Thyme Care CEO and Cofounder Robin Shah
October 2nd 2023Robin Shah, CEO of Thyme Care, which he founded in 2020 with Bobby Green, MD, president and chief medical officer, joins hosts Emeline Aviki, MD, MBA, and Stephen Schleicher, MD, MBA, to discuss his evolution as an entrepreneur in oncology care innovation and his goal of positively changing how patients experience the cancer system.
Listen
Hospitals Report Declining Cash Reserves, Increasing Reimbursement Delays and Denials
December 1st 2023A new report highlighting the twin pressures hospitals have faced over the last 18 months shows that as reimbursement delays and denials increased and cash and investments decreased, operating expenses have risen sharply.
Read More
Insufficient Data, Disparities Plague Lung Cancer Risk Factor Documentation
September 24th 2023On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we speak with the senior author of a study published in the September 2023 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® on the importance of adequate and effective lung cancer risk factor documentation to determine a patient's eligibility for screening.
Listen
What We’re Reading: ChatGPT in Health Care; Menthol Ban Meeting; Health System Cyberattack Impact
November 30th 2023ChatGPT is changing health care while also raising questions about artificial intelligence's promises and limitations; 24 Biden officials met with the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives to discuss the FDA’s proposal to ban menthol cigarettes; a recent hospital cyberattack shows how the vulnerability of health care systems can put patients at risk.
Read More
