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What We’re Reading: OTC Birth Control Pill Approval; Medicare Challenged; Redlining, Worse Heart Health Linked
The FDA has approved the first over the counter (OTC) birth control pill Thursday; the US Chamber of Commerce has filed a motion for preliminary injunction on the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation program; individuals living in historically redlined areas are likely to have worse heart health.
FDA Approves First OTC Birth Control Pill
The FDA’s approval today of the first over-the-counter (OTC) birth control pill could greatly expand contraception access, reports The New York Times. The norgestrel tablets (Opill) would be the most effective nonprescription birth control available, and could be especially helpful for those who don’t have the resources to visit a doctor. It is expected to be available in the United States in stores and online early in 2024. The cost is still to be determined, but the manufacturer said it would have a consumer assistance program.
Motion Filed Against Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program
The US Chamber of Commerce filed a motion on Wednesday to prevent the application of the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation program, according to The Hill. This program was first established by the Inflation Reduction Act, which is currently facing several legal challenges. The Chamber filed a lawsuit confronting the constitutionality of the program in June, saying it violated the First, Fifth, and Eighth Amendments. This was just one of several suits filed by the drug industry, including PhRMA, Merck & Co, and Bristol Myers Squibb.
Worse Heart Health Linked to Redlined Areas
Even though redlining officially ended in the 1940s, its effects continue to harm marginalized communities today, suggests a new study published this week in JAMA Network Open, reports STAT. Among veterans living with cardiovascular disease, those who lived in historically redlined neighborhoods (with a “D” rating) had a 13% greater risk of dying from any cause and a 14% higher risk of facing a major adverse cardiovascular event vs those who lived in historically White, wealthy areas, said the study. This is the first substantial national survey to look at the association between redlining and comprehensive cardiovascular risk, presenting current evidence of how historical racism can affect generational health.
A new federal rule will enable thousands of immigrants in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to obtain health care through the Affordable Care Act; a forthcoming CMS rule is expected to lower home-based care wait times and raise caregiver wages; the HHS Office for Civil Rights has finalized 2 rules that strengthen the ACA’s health care discrimination ban.
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Tackling Health Inequality: The Power of Education and Experience
April 30th 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 final episode of this limited series and our conversation with Janine Jelks-Seale, MSPPM, director of health equity at UPMC Health Plan.
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Shelly Lanning on How Employers Can Reduce Costs by Bridging Gaps in Women's Health Care
May 3rd 2024In a presentation at the Greater Philadelphia Business Coalition on Health Women’s Health Summit, Shelly Lanning, cofounder and president of Visana Health, addressed the need for comprehensive approaches in women’s health care and their coverage options.
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Empowering Community Health Through Wellness and Faith
April 23rd 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. In the third episode, Camille Clarke-Smith, EdD, MS, CHES, CPT, discusses approaching community health holistically through spiritual and community engagement.
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Joanne Mizell: Lifestyle Modification Programs Take Holistic Aim at Metabolic Disease
May 1st 2024Joanne Mizell shares insurer strategies in addressing the escalating rates of metabolic diseases, highlighting the importance of holistic treatment methods like lifestyle modification programs, which integrate nutrition, physical activity, and community engagement.
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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued letters to 10 companies to warn them that certain drug patents were improperly listed; the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin testing ground beef for bird flu particles; rural Americans are more likely to die early from 1 of the 5 leading causes of death than those who live in urban areas.
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