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What We’re Reading: Cancer Moonshot Update; ACA Premiums Increasing; Medicaid Coverage Protection Ending
The National Cancer Plan is being implemented as part of the Cancer Moonshot aims; inflation and higher spending are driving up monthly plan premiums under the Affordable Care Act; millions of people may lose Medicaid coverage after pandemic protections end.
White House to Implement National Cancer Plan
As part of Cancer Moonshot, federal health officials have announced that the Biden administration is preparing to roll out the National Cancer Plan to help reduce cancer mortality, prevent cancer, and maximize quality of life—among the new program’s 8 goals—according to The Hill. The framework provided under the new plan is meant to be a collaborative initiative, “across the federal government and all of society,” with aspirations that include pursuing new vaccines to prevent cancer, eliminating tobacco exposure, and maximizing equitable treatment access.
Inflation Increases ACA Premiums 3.4%
A new report from the Urban Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation found inflation and higher health care spending contributed to monthly Affordable Care Act (ACA) premiums rising an average of 3.5% between 2022 and 2023, according to Axios. With more commercial insurers entering the marketplace in 2023, competition is driving up premiums as companies such as UnitedHealth and Aetna compete to offer customers the cheapest market prices. Furthermore, inflation is likely to play a role in determining 2024 marketplace rates, with labor costs showing no signs of going down, the report noted.
Millions May Lose Medicaid Coverage as Pandemic Protections End
About 15 million individuals are at risk of losing their Medicaid coverage, as COVID-19 pandemic protections come to an end, according to The New York Times. The federal government also estimates that about 7 million Medicaid recipients could be dropped from the program, even though they still are eligible and that nearly half of people losing coverage will be Black or Hispanic.
Pegcetacoplan for PNH More Cost-Effective Than Anti-C5 Monoclonal Antibodies
April 18th 2024A cost-utility analysis conducted from the perspective of the Italian health system found that pegcetacoplan was more effective and less costly than 2 complement 5 (C5) inhibitors for the treatment of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH).
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Overcoming Employment Barriers for Lasting Social Impact: Freedom House 2.0 and Pathways to Work
April 16th 2024To help celebrate and recognize National Minority Health Month, we are bringing you a special month-long podcast series with our Strategic Alliance Partner, UPMC Health Plan. Welcome to our second episode, in which we learn all about Freedom House 2.0 and the Pathways to Work program.
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Prices for care at hospital trauma centers vary across hospitals; drug shortages reached a record high during the first quarter of 2024; although 3 of the biggest makers of asthma inhalers pledged to cap out-of-pocket costs for some US patients at $35, these do not apply to daily inhalers used by the youngest kids with asthma.
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Making Giant Strides in Maternity Health Through Baby Steps
April 9th 2024To help celebrate and recognize National Minority Health Month, we are kicking off a special month-long podcast series with our strategic alliance partner, UPMC Health Plan. Welcome to our first episode, which is all about the Baby Steps Maternity Program and its mission to support women throughout every step of their pregnancy journey.
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The Biden administration recently launched the Global Health Security Strategy, a new effort to combat the spread of infectious diseases; lawmakers zeroed in on the risks of massive consolidation in health care during the first congressional hearing on the Change Healthcare hack; the FDA recently announced the recall of a pair of heart devices linked to numerous deaths and injuries.
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