Report: No “Death Spiral” for ACA
An analysis from Standard & Poor’s found that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) may be healthier than previously thought. According to The New York Times, the report found that not only are insurers likely to break even this year, but most could see small profits in 2018. There are now signs that the market will be manageable for most insurers and is not in a so-called “death spiral.” This news came the same week that Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Aetna said they would exit the Iowa exchange.
Minnesota Scraps State ACA Exchange
 Minnesota will move to the federally run health insurance exchange on January 1, 2019. A bill that passed the House would get rid of the state-run exchange, MNsure, which enrolled more than 100,000 Minnesotans this year, reported Post-Bulletin. With Minnesota moving to the federal exchange, there will only be 10 states and the District of Columbia still operating state-run exchanges under the ACA.
Curtailing Direct-to-Consumer Drug Ads
 America is one of just 2 developed countries that allow TV ads for prescription drugs, but that may change. According to STAT, Democrats want to make it less economically viable for companies to advertise directly to consumers, and Republicans may join the cause. The proposal being considered would force drug companies to pay taxes on advertising expenses–currently, they can write off those expenses.
Oncology Onward: A Conversation With Thyme Care CEO and Cofounder Robin Shah
October 2nd 2023Robin Shah, CEO of Thyme Care, which he founded in 2020 with Bobby Green, MD, president and chief medical officer, joins hosts Emeline Aviki, MD, MBA, and Stephen Schleicher, MD, MBA, to discuss his evolution as an entrepreneur in oncology care innovation and his goal of positively changing how patients experience the cancer system.
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Insufficient Data, Disparities Plague Lung Cancer Risk Factor Documentation
September 24th 2023On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we speak with the senior author of a study published in the September 2023 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® on the importance of adequate and effective lung cancer risk factor documentation to determine a patient's eligibility for screening.
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Study Validates Smartphone Analysis for Predicting Obstructive Sleep Apnea
November 29th 2023Findings show breathing sounds recorded by smartphones during sleep at home can reliably identify obstructive sleep apnea, presenting an innovative and accessible alternative to traditional in-laboratory polysomnography.
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