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What We're Reading: Administration Will Crack Down on ACA Deadlines
What we're reading, February 25, 2016: the government will require proof of eligibility for enrollment in special sign-up periods under the Affordable Care Act (ACA); this year's flu vaccine is more effective; and 6 states are suing the Obama administration over an ACA fee.
The Obama administration will require customers prove their eligibility for special enrollment periods under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), according to The Hill. Insurers had cited concerns that a lack of verification was leading some to sign up only when they got sick. In January, the administration also announced it would reduce the number of special sign-up periods.
This year’s flu vaccine is a better match for the strains making people sick, which means it is more effective compared with last year’s vaccine. Data show that the vaccine is 59% effective, which is far better than the vaccine that was less than 20% effective last flu season, reported AP. While this flu season has been milder, health officials say it has not peaked yet.
Six states are suing the Obama administration over a fee to cover the federal subsidies under the ACA. Texas, Wisconsin, Kansas, Louisiana, Indiana, and Nebraska are arguing that the healthcare law did not make it clear that states would have to pay the fee in addition to health insurers, reported The New York Times. The suit asks that the states be refunded what they already paid.
Report Reveals Mounting Burdens of Drug Shortages on US Health System
June 27th 2025Vizient's 2024 survey reveals a sharp rise in drug shortages across US health care, with pediatric care hit especially hard and labor costs soaring—but the true impact may go far beyond limited medication access, threatening to disrupt the very foundations of how health systems operate.
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Blister Packs May Help Solve Medication Adherence Challenges and Lower Health Care Costs
June 10th 2025Julia Lucaci, PharmD, MS, of Becton, Dickinson and Company, discusses the benefits of blister packaging for chronic medications, advocating for payer incentives to boost medication adherence and improve health outcomes.
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