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What We’re Reading: Order on Abortion Medicine, Emergency Contraception; California and Insulin; CMS Rule Announcement
President Joe Biden will sign an executive order to protect access to the abortion pill and emergency contraception; Governor Gavin Newsom announced California will make low-cost insulin; CMS proposed a rule that would bring major reforms to the accountable care organization program.
Biden to Sign Executive Order on Abortion Access
President Joe Biden will be signing an executive order that would keep abortion medication and emergency contraception available, protect patient privacy, and expand legal options for people seeking these services. He is also Attorney General Merrick Garland and White House counsel to provide pro bono attorneys, bar associations, and public interest organizations to help with legal representation to those in need of these services in cases of legal challenges, including the right to travel out of state. The order comes after pressure from the Democratic party for action to be taken by the president after Roe v Wade was overturned.
Newsom Announces Low-Cost Insulin Production
Governor Gavin Newsom of California announced the state will be producing its own low-cost insulin, with $100 million of the state budget going toward making insulin at cost. The $100 million will be split, with half going toward the development of low-cost insulin and the other half going toward a California-based manufacturing facility. The state budget announcement is part of a nationwide call to cap insulin prices, with a bipartisan bill on capping insulin prices expected to be voted on in the coming months.
CMS Proposes Rule to Cut Payments to Doctors
A new rule proposed by CMS would cause some doctors to get a small decline in Medicare payments. The rule proposed a fee schedule conversion factor of $33.08 for each relative unit, which determines how Medicare payments to doctors are formulated. This would be a slight decline from the 2022 factor of $34.61. CMS is also looking to expand its dental coverage to include dental exams and treatment before an organ transplant. They will also expand behavioral health services, such as opioid treatments and paying clinical psychologists and social workers as part of a primary care team.
Intensive Blood Pressure Regimen Lowers CVD Risk for People With Diabetes
November 19th 2024Reducing systolic blood pressure to less than 120 mmHg lowered the risk of major cardiovascular events for most people with type 2 diabetes in the Blood Pressure Control Target in Diabetes trial.
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Exploring Pharmaceutical Innovations, Trust, and Access With CVS Health's CMO
July 11th 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with the chief medical officer of CVS Health about recent pharmaceutical innovations, patient-provider relationships, and strategies to reduce drug costs.
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Contributor: The Diabetes Vendor Resource Guide—A Useful Directory for Employers
November 13th 2024Employees living with diabetes often face unique challenges, such as managing blood sugar levels, balancing medication, and preventing complications, all while maintaining their professional responsibilities. This condition can lead to increased absenteeism, reduced productivity, and rising health care costs.
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How Can Employers Leverage the DPP to Improve Diabetes Rates?
February 15th 2022On this episode of Managed Care Cast, Jill Hutt, vice president of member services at the Greater Philadelphia Business Coalition on Health, explains the Coalition’s efforts to reduce diabetes rates through the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP).
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