Early sign-ups are strong under ACA; new food safety rules become final; report finds poor access to HIV drugs.
CMS Reports 543,098 Select Plans Through Federal Marketplace
More than half a million consumers selected health coverage during the first week of open enrollment for 2016, according to data released yesterday by CMS.
This is the third year Americans can use healthcare.gov or state exchanges to sign up for coverage under the Affordable Care Act. CMS is providing weekly data on how many consumers are filling out applications, shopping for insurance online, waiting for assistance from the call center, or purchasing insurance. For more information, see here.
Most States Offer Limited Coverage for HIV Drugs Under ACA
A new survey from Avalere reports that 16% of the silver exchange plans covered all the top HIV drugs for $100 or less each in 2015. The report found that nearly half the plans include the top 10 most commonly prescribed HIV regimens in their plans, but many charge high out-of-pocket premiums.
Major health plans have been taken to court over access to HIV medications. The AIDS Institute and the National Health Law Program filed a complaint with Florida’s civil rights office over policies by Cigna, Humana, Preferred Medical and CoventryOne which the advocates said were designed to steer HIV/AIDS patients from applying for their prescription plans. Florida insurance officials eventually reached agreements with the insurers. For more, see here.
FDA Finalizes Groundbreaking Food Safety Rules
Rules to implement the bipartisan Food Safety Modernization Act became final today. For the first time, the nation has enforceable standards for produce farms and can make importers accountable that food brought into the United States meets this country’s safety standards. The rules establish a third-party accreditation program of auditors to help enforce the rules, which come in response to high-profile outbreaks of illness in foods from peanut products to spinach. For more, read here.
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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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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Navigating Health Literacy, Social Determinants, and Discrimination in National Health Plans
February 13th 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with the authors of a study published in the February 2024 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® about their findings on how health plans can screen for health literacy, social determinants of health, and perceived health care discrimination.
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Polatuzumab Vedotin and R-CHP Appropriate for Untreated DLBCL
April 24th 2024Population pharmacokinetic and exposure-response analyses revealed a favorable benefit-risk profilane for the treatment combination of polatuzumab vedotin and rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone (R-CHP).
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What We’re Reading: Abortion Privacy Rules; Alzheimer Drug Hurdles; Nursing Home Staffing Overhaul
April 23rd 2024New health privacy rules aim to protect patients and providers in an evolving abortion landscape; some physicians express concerns about efficacy, risks, and entrenched beliefs in treating Alzheimer disease; CMS addresses longstanding staffing deficits in nursing homes.
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