What We're Reading: AMA Wants to Ban TV Ads for Drugs

AMA Calls for Ban on TV Advertising of Drugs, Devices

Physicians at the Interim Meeting of the American Medical Association (AMA) supported an advertising ban based on concerns that the increase of direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs is driving demand for expensive treatments despite the fact that there are clinically effective, less costly options. Currently, the US and New Zealand are the only 2 countries that allow direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs.

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Most Popular ACA Plans See Large Premium Increases

The most popular plans purchased through HealthCare.gov are the silver plans, and a new analysis from The Wall Street Journal has found that premiums for these plans are rising double-digit percentages in 20 state-capital counties. Another 10 states are seeing increases that are more modest. In the majority (17) of the states with increases, consumers don’t even have the option of switching to another insurer and paying a lower premium. The best they can do is switch to a plan with a smaller increase.

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Businesses With Less Than 50 Workers Face Tough Decisions Due to ACA

As businesses with 50 or more full-time equivalent employees become required to offer workers health insurance or face penalties, small businesses on the edge are faced with the decision of whether they can afford to grow their companies, reports The New York Times. While nearly all large companies provide healthcare benefits, just more than half (54%) of businesses with 3 to 49 workers offer that coverage.

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