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High-Deductible Health Plans and Their Potential Impact on the US Drug Epidemic
On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we speak with Matthew D. Eisenberg, PhD, lead author of a study published in the October issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® that investigated the use of high-deductible health plans and their impact on substance use disorder care and spending.
High-deductible health plans (HDHPs) have gained traction in recent years as a means to reduce unnecessary health care spending. The monthly up-front premiums are low, but the high deductibles can lead to higher downstream costs for individuals and families. Potential downsides include the risk of patients deterring or avoiding necessary care.
A team headed by Matthew D. Eisenberg, PhD, from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, recently investigated the impact of HDHPs through the lens of the ongoing epidemic of substance use disorder (SUD) in the United States. The article detailing their study’s findings appears in the October issue of The American Journal of Managed Care®.
On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we speak with Dr Eisenberg on his team’s findings that these plans may have reduced SUD service use through the shifting of costs to their members, thereby exacerbating this already troubling epidemic that has resulted in declines in life expectancy and increases in drug- and alcohol-related deaths.
Bridging the Gaps: New Strategies for Preventing Cardiovascular Disease
July 31st 2025During the Addressing Cardiovascular Risk and Intervening Early webinar, experts discussed innovative strategies for cardiovascular disease prevention, emphasizing risk assessment, lifestyle changes, and collaborative care to improve patient outcomes.
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Trump Directs Pharma Companies on Cutting Drug Prices Under Most-Favored-Nation Order
July 31st 2025President Donald Trump has sent letters to pharmaceutical companies, aiming to compel them to lower drug prices in the US to match the lowest prices offered in other developed nations, a move that could significantly reduce costs and disrupt the current system of pharmacy benefit managers.
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