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What We’re Reading: Cyber Outage Federal Intervention; OTC Birth Control Pill; Medicare Negotiation Counteroffers
Demands for government action grow amid mounting pressures on health care; Opill offers convenient access to contraception without a prescription; the White House announces progress as drugmakers submit counteroffers for Medicare’s drug price negotiation program.
Health Care Providers Call on Federal Intervention to Address Cyber Outages
UnitedHealth Group's handling of the ransomware attack on its subsidiary, Change Healthcare, has drawn sharp criticism from health care providers, prompting calls for urgent government intervention, according to Axios. With payment systems paralyzed, hospitals and medical associations have warned of dangerous cash shortages, demanding immediate action from the Biden administration to alleviate the crisis. As pressure mounts on UnitedHealth Group to address the fallout, stakeholders are urging HHS to step in as well.
Birth Control Pill Opill Set to Hit US Stores This Month
Perrigo has announced the soon-to-be availability of Opill, the first over-the-counter birth control pill in the US, according to The Associated Press. With no age restrictions and priced affordably at $20 for a on1e-month supply, Opill will offer a convenient alternative amid ongoing legal battles over reproductive health rights. The launch marks a significant milestone in expanding access to birth control options and comes during a period of broader debate surrounding reproductive rights in the US.
Drug Manufacturers Engage in Medicare Price Negotiations Despite Legal Challenges
President Biden has confirmed that all manufacturers involved in the federal government's Medicare price negotiation program have submitted counteroffers, marking a significant milestone in efforts to lower prescription drug costs, according to The Hill. Despite legal battles from the pharmaceutical industry, negotiations continue for the first 10 selected drugs, with talks set to conclude on August 1. The development underscores ongoing efforts to address rising health care expenses and provide older Americans with more affordable medication options.
CMS' 340B Repayment Proposal May Harm Vulnerable Hospitals, Reward Those With Higher Revenues
April 26th 2024The 340B hospitals not receiving an offsetting lump-sum payment from CMS following 2018-2022 cuts later ruled unlawful are disproportionately rural, publicly owned, and nonacademic, according to a new study.
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Examining Low-Value Cancer Care Trends Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic
April 25th 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with the authors of a study published in the April 2024 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® about their findings on the rates of low-value cancer care services throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Navigating Health Policy in an Election Year: Insights From Dr Dennis Scanlon
April 2nd 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with Dennis Scanlon, PhD, the editor in chief of The American Journal of Accountable Care®, about prior authorization, price transparency, the impact of health policy on the upcoming election, and more.
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Mental Health Diagnoses, Care Challenges Rise Among US Youth, Report Finds
April 26th 2024While behavioral health care utilization has been rising, the treatment landscape has been worsening. New findings show that 20% of youths did not receive any form of treatment within 3 months of their initial behavioral health diagnosis.
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