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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.
"The Barriers Are Real": Antoine Keller, MD, on Geography and Cardiovascular Health
April 18th 2025Health care disparities are often driven by where patients live, explained Antoine Keller, MD, as he discussed the complex, systematic hurdles that influence the health of rural communities.
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Personalized Care Key as Tirzepatide Use Expands Rapidly
April 15th 2025Using commercial insurance claims data and the US launch of tirzepatide as their dividing point, John Ostrominski, MD, Harvard Medical School, and his team studied trends in the use of both glucose-lowering and weight-lowering medications, comparing outcomes between adults with and without type 2 diabetes.
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Racial Differences in CA-125 Levels Tied to Ovarian Cancer Treatment Delays
April 17th 2025Black and American Indian women with ovarian cancer were less likely to have elevated cancer antigen 125 (CA-125) levels at diagnosis, resulting in delayed chemotherapy initiation and highlighting the need for more inclusive guidelines.
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Empowering Teams Begins With Human Connection: Missy Hopson, PhD
April 16th 2025Missy Hopson, PhD, Ochsner Health, discussed in detail the challenges of strengthening the patient-centered workforce, the power of community reputation for encouraging health care careers, and the influence of empowered workforces on patient outcomes.
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