Policy

Public health professionals are the backbone of our health system, and their contributions are vital to the well-being of our communities. As a society, we must value their work, provide the support they need, and ensure that public health remains a rewarding and viable career choice.

A new study aimed to summarize publicly available coverage policies of commercial health insurers for digital medicine services.

Laurie Sobel, the associate director for women’s health policy at KFF, moderated a panel discussion with Christine Gilroy, MD, MPH; Victoria Nichols, MPH; and Don Downing, RPh, about insurance coverage of FDA-approved Opill and other OTC contraceptives.

We are in the midst of a transformative time in oncology that could also be a little scary if you are not prepared, said Nicolas Ferreyros, managing director of policy, advocacy, and communications, Community Oncology Alliance.

Ryan Haumschild, PharmD, MS, MBA, director of pharmacy at Emory Winship Cancer Institute, shares his unique perspectives as both a provider and payer on the use of prior authorizations (PAs) and "Gold Cards" in patients with rare diseases.

Various health programs may shut down at the end of September without congressional action; maternal health experts push for midwife workforce expansion amidst high maternal mortality rates in the United States; studies find that heightened screen time in teens and tweens before bed can result in a lack of sleep.

Medicare Advantage enrollment was higher among immigrants compared with US-born residents, but the highest enrollment was found among immigrants with limited English proficiency.

During this session at the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Policy Summit, Yelak Biru, MSc, and Crystal S. Denlinger, MD, explained the importance of screening for and addressing health-related social needs.

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools offer potential solutions to the growing demand in mental health; patients face weight loss drug shortages and insurance complications; updated mask guidelines cause worry among health care workers.

Medicare’s administered pricing system has never had to deal with labor scarcity before.

Senate and House Democrats again attempt to expand fertility treatments for veterans and active-duty personnel; CDC expects high hospitalization numbers due to “tripledemic” of COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus, and the flu; a study found that MDMA, also known as ecstasy, can reduce posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms.

Millions are invested in researchers for the Cancer Moonshot initiative; some providers are charging patients for communicating online; health insurance coverage increased for half of states.

Legal actions aim to ensure abortions can be provided in emergencies; cold medication ingredient phenylephrine found to be ineffective; American nursing homes are scoring low on care quality.

FDA approves updated COVID-19 booster vaccines; low donor turnout and climate disasters result in a national blood shortage; minority patients discouraged by lack of doctor diversity.

Ryan Haumschild, PharmD, MS, MBA, director of pharmacy at Emory Winship Cancer Institute, discusses treatment options available to patients with rare diseases, as well as the challenges these patients and their pharmacists face in accessing these treatments.

Navigating mask mandates and vaccine recommendations; Biden administration wants employers to have naloxone on hand; NIH nominee to receive a confirmation hearing.

Specialty pharmacy is a big area of growth, with opportunity for patients, and specialty pharmacists can help payers and insurers ensure that patients get the full value of oncology medications, noted Andre Harvin, PharmD, MS, MBA, chief pharmacy officer, Oncology Services, Cone Health Cancer Centers.

Nathan Walcker, CEO at Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS), highlights some of the recent partnerships and initiatives at FCS to improve community-based oncology care from a value-based perspective.

Care quality is high in both the United States and Canada, but there are commonalities in regard to drug access and cost issues, particularly with advanced medications, noted G. B. John Mancini, MD, University of British Columbia.

The CDC reports an increase in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases among young children and babies; the deadline looms for reauthorizing the United States’ global AIDS program as it has become a topic within the abortion debate; an eye-tracking device may help to diagnose autism spectrum disorder earlier.

Rising temperatures demand action against heat-related illnesses; school superintendents face complex decisions as COVID-19 cases rise; national staffing standards for nursing homes present challenges.

Wildfire smoke exposure raises public health concerns after an increase of asthma-associated emergency visits.

Telemedicine abortions in Iowa have increased in recent months; 2 new laws restrict access to gender-affirming health care and school sports in Missouri; the end of COVID-19 safety nets means many children have lost Medicaid coverage.

The 10 drugs, spanning disease states from diabetes to heart failure to rheumatoid arthritis, cost Medicare enrollees a total of $3.4 billion in out-of-pocket costs in 2022. As required by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), negotiations between Part D and pharmaceutical companies will take place this year and next, with the negotiated prices taking effect in 2026.

Living in a neighborhood with better conditions is associated with lower asthma incidence, according to a new study.

COVID-19 hospital visits by adolescents nearly doubled; government to release list of drugs Medicare will be able to negotiate prices for; Rite Aid gears up for bankruptcy while facing lawsuits over alleged opioid involvement.

The Biden administration is expected to unveil the first 10 drugs identified for drug price negotiations Tuesday; American nursing homes are disappearing; gender-affirming surgeries tripled in the United States between 2016-2019.

Patients and physicians are publicly shaming insurance companies on social media for the troublesome prior authorization process; HHS has awarded $1.4 billion in grants for the creation of new technologies and tools to prevent COVID-19 infection; Novo Nordisk has increased lobbying efforts to allow Medicare coverage of weight loss drugs.

Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine shows immunity against the Eris subvariant; infants with excessive screen time are at higher risk of developmental delays; a near-total abortion ban is expected to go into effect in Indiana within days.

About 17 million middle-class Americans have unpaid medical bills; more than 1 in 5 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 developed high blood pressure; work requirements for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to begin in September.