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What We’re Reading: The Debt Ceiling and Health Care; FDA Cautious on OTC Birth Control Pill; NC Governor to Veto Abortion Ban
The possible consequences for health care if the United States breaches the debt ceiling; skepticism follows proposal for over-the-counter birth control pill; North Carolina governor calls potential abortion ban harmful.
The Impact to Health Care if the US Government Defaults on Debt
If the US federal government breaches the debt ceiling, it could have disastrous consequences for health care, potentially affecting Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act, according to Axios. If the government were to default, providers' bottom lines could suffer, which would ultimately result in patients facing more difficulties in receiving care. Despite these possibly alarming consequences, experts remain optimistic and expect that action will be taken before the deadline.
OTC Birth Control Pill Met With FDA Skepticism
In a document briefing, the FDA expressed skepticism about the possibility of switching a birth control pill from prescription to over-the-counter (OTC), according to NBC News. The assessment came ahead of a meeting scheduled for next week, where the agency's advisers will vote on whether to recommend selling a birth control pill called Opill over-the-counter. However, FDA staff is concerned about whether women can take the medication correctly, with missing doses being common, and whether the pill maker has provided sufficient data on the drug's effectiveness.
North Carolina Governor Vows to Veto Proposed 12-Week Abortion Ban
Governor Roy Cooper, a Democrat, has vowed to veto a proposed 12-week abortion ban in North Carolina, which he says would effectively put an end to most abortions in the state, according to Politico. The legislation, passed by the Republican-controlled General Assembly, would restrict abortion within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy in addition to other restrictions. Cooper characterized the measure as harmful to women's health and hopes that at least 1 Republican would join him in preventing the measure from becoming law.
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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Dr Dalia Rotstein: Physicians Must Be Aware MS Affects People of All Backgrounds
April 24th 2024Dalia Rotstein, MD, MPH, emphazises the importance of awareness that multiple sclerosis (MS) impacts patients from various backgrounds as clinicians think through ways to improve access to care and research efforts in MS.
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The Federal Trade Commission's (FTC's) vote to ban most employers from issuing and enforcing noncompete clauses could have varying impacts on the health care workforce; federal regulators vastly under-enforced antitrust laws in the hospital sector during the last 2 decades, resulting in increased health costs; the FDA recently found genetic evidence of the H5N1 bird flu virus in pasteurized commercially purchased milk.
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