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What We're Reading: Democrats Debate Medicare for All; Insulin Makers Questioned; Best Hospital Rankings
Tuesday's Democratic presidential debate, the first of 2 days, included disagreements over the viability of Medicare for All; 3 insulin makers received subpoenas from the New York Attorney General over their pricing practices; US News & Report released its 30th Annual Best Hospitals rankings.
Democrats Spar on Medicare for All During Second Debate
While Senators Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, and Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, defended Medicare for all during the second round of Democratic presidential debates, other candidates strayed away from supporting the plan, reported Politico. Both Sanders and Warren called universal coverage a moral obligation. However, other candidates warned that the system would force people off of private coverage. Former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper and current Montana Governor Steve Bullock called Medicare for all an unsustainable government-run system that would negatively impact hospitals and the healthcare industry.
New York Attorney General Subpoenas 3 Insulin Makers
The New York Attorney General has issued subpoenas to insulin makers Sanofi, Eli Lilly, and Novo Nordisk, inquiring about their pricing practices. According to STAT, the subpoenas seek various documents regarding pricing, discount programs, sales and expenses, contracting, marketing materials, and legal proceedings. Spokespeople from Sanofi and Eli Lilly said that the companies are cooperating and a spokeswoman from Novo Nordisk said “this is a matter we take extremely seriously,” reported STAT.
US News & World Report Releases Best Hospital Rankings
US News & Report has announced its 30th Annual Best Hospital Rankings for 2019-2020. Mayo Clinic came out on top as the best hospital in the country while the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center once again was named the top cancer center. The Cleveland Clinic came in at number 4 on the best hospital list and topped the list for best hospital for cardiology and heart surgery. This year, the rankings included 2 additional patient-centered measures: patient experience score and an outcome measure looking at how often patients go directly home from the hospital rather than transitioning to a nursing home or other care setting.
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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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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Beyond Insulin: The Impact of Next-Generation Diabetes Technology
April 17th 2024Experts explain how new diabetes technologies like continuous glucose monitors are transforming care beyond intensive insulin therapy, offering personalized insights and improving outcomes for patients of all treatment levels.
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Exploring Medicare Advantage Prior Authorization Variations
March 26th 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with the authors of a study published in the March 2024 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® about their findings on variations in prior authorization use across Medicare Advantage plans.
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