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What We're Reading: Waivers for States; Minnesota Eyes Premiums; Genetic Bill Concern
Loosened Waiver Rules for States
As Republicans move forward with fierce opposition to their Affordable Care Act replacement bill, the Trump administration is making changes to Obamacare. HHS has announced it is loosening restrictions on the use of section 1332 waivers for states to receive funding, reported Reuters. The waivers help states offset costs for high-risk patients, state-operated reinsurance programs, and other premium-stabilization programs. The Obama administration had been tightening the use of these waivers.
Minnesota Takes Aim at Rising Premiums
A new reinsurance program in Minnesota would use nearly $400 million every 2 years to help prevent rising premiums. AP reported that the bill, introduced by the state’s Republican-controlled House, uses the money to help insurers cover expensive claims and prevent premiums from going up. While Republicans claimed the move could reduce rates for people who buy insurance on the individual market by up to 18%, Democrats almost unanimously voted against the bill because they felt the cost was too high with no guarantee of success.
Price Concerned Over Genetic Information Bill
The House bill that would allow employers access to workers’ genetic information has one high-profile individual with reservations: HHS Secretary Tom Price. According to STAT, Price expressed concerns with the idea of the bill while on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” The bill skirts a current law that prohibits employers from requiring genetic testing by incorporating the tests into workplace wellness programs. Employees who opt out could face financial penalties under the new bill.
Real-World Study Reveals Key Insights into DLBCL Treatment Patterns, Outcomes
April 18th 2024A recent study offers valuable insights into the characteristics, treatment patterns, and outcomes of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in patients across different lines of therapy, providing a look into the landscape of DLBCL management.
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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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Collecting SDOH Data Can Assess Risk of Medical Nonadherence, Improve HEI and Star Ratings
April 18th 2024At the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) 2024 annual meeting, a panel of presenters explored changes coming to Medicare that incorporate social determinants of health (SDOH) data to improve patient and health system outcomes.
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Drs Raymond Thertulien, Joseph Mikhael on Racial Disparities in Multiple Myeloma Care Access
December 28th 2023In the wake of the 2023 American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition, Raymond Thertulien, MD, PhD, of Novant Health, and Joseph Mikhael, MD, MEd, FRCPC, FACP, chief medical officer of the International Myeloma Foundation, discussed health equity research highlights from the meeting and drivers of racial disparities in multiple myeloma outcomes.
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Commonwealth Fund Report Details Pervasive Racial and Ethnic Disparities in US Health Care, Outcomes
April 18th 2024Using 25 health system performance indicators, the Commonwealth Fund 2024 State Health Disparities Report evaluated racial and ethnic disparities in health care and health outcomes both within and across US states and highlighted the urgent need for equitable health care policies and practices in the US.
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