A group of 8 senators have written a letter to the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) asking them what solutions they have for lowering drug prices; the number of measles cases in the United States has surpassed 1000; Kirsten Gillibrand has a plan to legalize marijuana and expunge all nonviolent criminal charges associated with it.
Seeking cooperation from drug companies as the United States continues to search for ways to address drug costs, senators have sent a letter to the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) asking them what solutions they have for increasing transparency and lowering prices, reported The Hill. Led by Senator Rick Scott, R-Florida, the group of 8 Republican senators asked the trade association what specific plans they have to address price disparities in the international market and asked if they are willing to work with the group to find real solutions.Six months into the year, the United States has recorded 1001 cases of the measles, marking the worst outbreak of the disease since 1992. According to The New York Times, there have been 61 new cases of the measles since May 27. The announcement of these new cases came as federal health officials issued a new plea for parents to vaccine their children. HHS Secretary Alex Azar re-emphasized that vaccines are a safe and highly effective public health tool that can prevent measles and end the current outbreak.Democratic presidential hopeful Kirsten Gillibrand has announced a plan to legalize marijuana and expunge all nonviolent criminal charges associated with it. According to the Associated Press, Gillibrand said she wants to ensure medical marijuana is covered by private health insurance and by Medicare, Medicaid, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. By working with Congress to decriminalize recreational marijuana use and tax nonprescription products, she said that she wants to use the proceeds to support job training and other programs for communities “disproportionately harmed by marijuana laws.”
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.
Read More
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.
Listen
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.
Listen
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.
Read More