Nonadherence Is Out of Control
Despite being nearly 100% preventable, nonadherence to prescribed medications is staggeringly high in the United States. The New York Times reported that up to 30% of medication prescriptions are never filled and people who do take them only take half the prescribed dose. Cost is just one reason why nonadherence is so high. Other reasons include that medications remind people they’re sick and some people think medications are “unnatural.”
Insurers Lean Toward ACA Participation in 2018
Although President Donald Trump could cancel payments to insurers that help low-income individuals afford care and Republicans may still try to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), insurers plan to remain in ACA marketplaces in 2018. A recent survey found that 96% of insurers still plan to participate in the marketplaces next year, but that they may make adjustments in strategy, reported The Hill. However, any definitive actions that impact the cost-sharing subsidies will likely make insurers reconsider.
Private-Sector Healthcare Program for VA
Trump will extend a program that allows veterans to access care through the private sector. The program was created as a way to provide care while the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) developed a way to reduce wait times by letting veterans receive care outside the VA medical system, according to the AP. The program has nearly $1 billion in funding remaining and the extension will simply let the program continue until that funding is completely used up.
ICYMI: Highlights From the ACCC Fall National Oncology Conference
December 11th 2023This year’s top content from the fall meeting of the Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) highlights both treatment gains made through innovative referral, screening, and assistance initiatives and the ongoing need to improve health equity and research inclusivity.
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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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California Aims for Equity by Redefining Cancer Care
December 8th 2023Authors highlight key aspects of the California Cancer Care Equity Act, including its focus on Medi-Cal beneficiaries, the requirement for managed care plans to contract with specialized cancer centers, and the definition of complex cancers.
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