Insurance

Coverage of our peer-reviewed research and news reporting in the healthcare and mainstream press.

The president has released his budget for fiscal year (FY) 2020, which calls for converting Medicaid to a system of block grants and requiring all able-bodied Medicaid recipients to hold a job or perform community service. The $87.1 billion allocated to HHS, a 12% cut, would include increases to federal HIV funding, but drops in global funding, as well as cuts to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

A new study published in the latest issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® found that Medicare annual wellness visits were associated with lower overall healthcare costs and improved clinical care quality for senior patients at two of Aledade’s physician-led accountable care organizations.

In the context of 2 primary care physician–led accountable care organizations, Medicare Annual Wellness Visits were associated with lower healthcare costs and improved clinical care quality for beneficiaries.

“Medicare for Al” refers to a bill originally introduced to Congress in September 2017 by Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, with 16 Democratic cosponsors that would create a single, federal, government-administered program to provide healthcare to all US residents. In February 2019, Representative Pramila Jayapal, D-Washington, introduced the Medicare for All Act of 2019, with 106 cosponsors. This bill builds upon the legislation that Sanders introduced, with a few key differences. Here are 5 things to know about the bills.

Some patient advocacy groups opposing Medicare changes have received funding from pharma companies in the past; new techniques allow scientists to target individual cells for analysis; rural nursing homes continue to close.

A retrospective analysis of Medicare claims was used to study emergency department (ED) dispositions, specifically evaluating inpatient admissions compared with home health referrals.

House Democrats are expected to introduce a Medicare for All bill today; CMS' Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation is planning to unveil a new payment model for primary care physicians; and CMS, CDC, and FDA have established a task force to improve future responses to public health emergencies.

There is a lot involved if an accountable care organization (ACO) decides to switch from Medicare Shared Savings (MSSP) to Medicare Advantage, but Medicare Advantage offers more benefit design flexibility, explained Kim Kauffman, MPH, vice president of value-based care at Summit Medical Group.

National health spending will climb to 19.4% of gross domestic product in 2027, reaching $6 trillion, according to annual CMS estimates, with growth continued to be boosted by a greying population aging into Medicare.

Data published in JAMA Internal Medicine are the latest to sound the alarm on the emerging crisis in primary care.

Updates to CMS' Medicare Advantage (MA) Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID) model broaden the scope of the existing model by testing a wide range of MA service delivery and/or payment approaches.

CMS' Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation has launched a 5-year voluntary payment model offering more options for ambulance suppliers and providers to utilize alternative sites of care and telemedicine.

Democrats have introduced a bill that would allow anyone over age 50 to buy into Medicare; an FDA advisory panel has endorsed a ketamine-like depression drug; and the EPA is set to limit the amount of manmade chemicals allowed in drinking water.

A study recently published in Health Affairs found that Medicare beneficiaries without low-income subsidies will pay more than $6000 a year out-of-pocket on multiple sclerosis (MS) drugs alone.

Johnson & Johnson will become the first drug maker to begin showing the list price of its prescription drugs in television ads; in a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court blocked a Louisiana law that required doctors performing abortions to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals; Democrats unveiled a bill to allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices.

HHS Secretary Alex Azar outlined efforts by Trump administration to tackle the drug rebate system during his keynote address at AcademyHealth National Health Policy Conference.

Every week, The American Journal of Managed Care® recaps the top managed care news of the week, and you can now listen to it on our podcast, Managed Care Cast.

This week, the top managed care news included House and Senate hearings on the cost of prescription drugs; a study finding patients with diabetes can be safely switched to cheaper insulin; and the first non-chemotherapy combination being approved for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

HHS Secretary Alex Azar proposed Thursday to end drug rebates in Medicare Part D and in Medicaid managed care plans and treat them as kickbacks, in a move that could have implications for private plans as well. The rule was announced in the same week as hearings on Capitol Hill about drug pricing, especially the rising cost of insulin.

Elderly adults suffering function and cognitive impairment who are in need of long-term services and support (LTSS) often endure substantial out-of-pocket expenses since LTSS is not covered by Medicare.

Administrator Seema Verma said CMS will focus on “empowering patients, focusing on results, and unleashing innovation” during a speech on the first day of the 2019 CMS Quality Conference, and called states the “laboratories of democracy” when it comes to innovation in Medicaid.

Medicare Advantage (MA) provides accountable care organizations (ACOs) with benefits that aren’t available in Medicare’s ACO program, explained Kim Kauffman, MPH, vice president of value-based care at Summit Medical Group.

Every week, The American Journal of Managed Care® recaps the top managed care news of the week, and you can now listen to it on our podcast, Managed Care Cast.

This week, the top managed care news included the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review investigating rising drug prices; CMS expanding value-based insurance design; and researchers using a blood test to detect preclinical Alzheimer disease.

Every week, The American Journal of Managed Care® recaps the top managed care news of the week, and you can now listen to it on our podcast, Managed Care Cast.

This week, the top managed care news included a new investigation into drug prices; FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD, provided updates on how the government shutdown is impacting FDA work; research found comorbidities impede clinical trial participation for patients with cancer.

Patient advocacy and medical groups launch an ad campaign in opposition to proposed changes to Medicare; patients often turn to GoFundMe to help pay for medical costs; and new diet guidelines are aiming to save more lives and the planet.

An analysis of HHS’ proposed Medicare Part B drug pricing reform effort finds mixed results, and an accompanying editorial urges the department to proceed carefully.