Insurance

Appeals court affirms decision to place a hold on the Biden administration's COVID-19 vaccine mandate for large employers; rising Medicare premiums linked with controversial Alzheimer drug; 3 states expand COVID-19 booster shot eligibility to all adults.

California is offering COVID-19 boosters to its entire adult population; FDA recalls millions of home COVID-19 tests over false positives; veterans’ access to health resources will be expanded.

Michael E. Chernew, PhD, co-editor-in-chief of The American Journal of Managed Care®, discussed cost and sustainability issues specific to commercial insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid at the National Alliance 2021 Annual Forum held in a hybrid format in Washington, DC.

Individuals who became eligible for Medicaid through Medicaid expansion have an increased likelihood of psychiatric readmission compared with their legacy-enrolled counterparts.

Consumers strategically used a price transparency tool by searching more often in procedure markets with provider-specific information, higher charges, and more out-of-network claims and provider competition.

Ahead of Medicare open enrollment, which starts October 15, CMS released its annual report of which Medicare Advantage (MA) and Part D drug plans achieved 5-star ratings.

Migraines plague some 35 million Americans, the majority of them women in their 30s and 40s, and disabling pain and symptoms are linked to lost productivity at work, school, and home. On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we bring you an excerpt of an interview with a headache specialist about the extra challenges for patients and providers during the pandemic.

Anemia, fevers, dehydration, and other side effects from cancer treatment are all candidates for targeting with predictive analytics in an effort to care for patients are home instead of the hospital, said Elizabeth Kwo, MD, MBA, MPH, the deputy chief clinical officer at Anthem BCBS, and a speaker at the 10th anniversary of Patient-Centered Oncology Care® conference.

Results of a representative study of patients at federally qualified health centers found Medicaid expansion was associated with reduced rates of uninsurance, improved blood pressure and diabetes control measures, and progress in closing racial care disparities over 5 years.

Remote patient monitoring includes urgent care uses, long-term monitoring to help keep patients with cancer out of the hospital by monitoring the effects of oncology treatment at home, and even voice monitoring to check for altered mental status, said Elizabeth Kwo, MD, MBA, MPH, the deputy chief clinical officer at Anthem BCBS, and a speaker at the 10th anniversary of Patient-Centered Oncology Care® conference.

The fallout from COVID-19 has spotlighted the limitations of US mental health care, prompting the question if alternative treatments—like psychedelics—could help address current and impending crises.

In part 2 of a 2-part series, we look at the mental health risks affecting 9/11 rescuers, the lessons learned that apply to health care workers during the current pandemic, as well as continued barriers to care.

The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) lowered its recommended screening age for type 2 diabetes and prediabetes from 40 to 35 years among overweight and obese individuals.

A review of therapies for atopic dermatitis (AD) found adequate net health benefit for new treatments. However, safety remains a concern for the Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors.

Survey results underscore parents’ frustration with insurers when it comes to caring for their children with rare diseases.

In this episode of Managed Care Cast, the lead author of an article in the July issue of The American Journal of Managed Care describes the latest research that looks at the power of self-insured employers to negotiate hospital prices and the relationship between employer market power and hospital prices.

Larger primary care practices in downside risk–only payment models and capitation saw the highest telemedicine utilization rates by their patients enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans.

A string of controversies surrounding the approval of Biogen's Alzheimer disease drug aducanumab (Aduhelm) has not only called into question the independent nature of the FDA, but puts both providers and patients in a challenging position when it comes to deciding whether or not to prescribe or take the treatment.

On this episode of Managed Care Cast, Charlie Wray, DO, MS, an assistant professor of medicine at the University of California San Francisco, outlines the findings of a paper he coauthored which assessed Americans' experiences with their insurance providers.

The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) needs to be reimagined get back on track and to live up to its promise to incentivize value-based care.

Health insurance companies are anticipating a swell in pent-up demand for delayed or forgone health services in 2020, as well as increased costs associated with distributing COVID-19 vaccines to millions of Americans. To offset the potentially precarious business impact caused by these converging factors, insurers are turning to technology for help.

The measure is designed to end surprise medical billing and balance billing, taking the first step to implement the so-called No Surprises Act that passed Congress at the end of last year.

The head of AHIP sat down with a senator and 3 health care executives for a conversation about payment and access issues at the organization's 2021 Institute and Expo Online.

Mean in-network commercial allowed amounts and charges per anesthesia conversion factor are 314% and 659% of traditional Medicare rates, respectively. Medicare Advantage payments align with traditional Medicare prices.

On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we speak with the author of the annual PwC Behind the Numbers report, which looks ahead at medical cost trends in the United States.

This study evaluated cost and utilization attributed to members enrolled in a health care program with no pharmacy co-pay. Health care savings were identified in addition to medication adherence improvements.

Hospital performance measures, such as prices and costs, are associated with hospital-insurer contract types.

A new study from Milliman investigated the potential financial impact if H.R.3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, was fully implemented.

United States to buy and donate 500 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to the world; an FDA advisor resigns over a controversial Alzheimer drug approval; Nevada becomes the second state to offer state-managed health insurance plans.

In this episode of Managed Care Cast, we speak with a coauthor of an article in June’s Health Affairs examining the racial and ethnic composition of beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage plans and the potential implications as the program continues to grow.