- Center on Health Equity & Access
- Clinical
- Health Care Cost
- Health Care Delivery
- Insurance
- Policy
- Technology
- Value-Based Care
What We're Reading: Are Reforms Coming to Medicare?
What we're reading, November 28, 2016: The GOP is considering reforms to Medicare and Democrats are gearing up for a fight; the IRS will send letters to try to sign more people up for Obamacare; and the abortion rate reaches the lowest level in decades.
The Republican Party is eyeing Medicare reforms following its Election Day success. According to The New York Times, House Republicans are considering a fixed government contribution for each beneficiary instead of the current open-ended commitment. Democrats are preparing for a battle over the changes, which they believe would lead to sicker patients being left in traditional Medicare to face higher premiums, while healthier beneficiaries choose private insurance through the Medicare program.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is attempting to sign more people up for health insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act. The agency will send out letters to Americans who pay the tax penalty instead of purchasing insurance, reported The Washington Times. Republicans say the plan risks disclosure of taxpayers’ information, but the IRS claims it is only following the law, which requires it to let people know about the option.
The abortion rate in the United States has reached the lowest level since 1971, which was before abortion rights had been extended nationwide. The CDC reported that the abortion rate for 2013 was 12.5 abortions per 1000 women. However, the CDC doesn’t receive abortion information from California, Maryland, and New Hampshire.
Review Emphasizes Potential Infection Risks With BTK Inhibitors
November 2nd 2024Although Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor monotherapy in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has been a game-changer, patients have significantly increased risks of infection, especially in the upper respiratory tract.
Read More
Exploring Racial, Ethnic Disparities in Cancer Care Prior Authorization Decisions
October 24th 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with the author of a study published in the October 2024 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® that explored prior authorization decisions in cancer care by race and ethnicity for commercially insured patients.
Listen
PAH Treatment Outcomes Similar Regardless of Diagnosis Time
November 1st 2024The study findings underscore the importance of early initiation of macitentan and tadalafil among patients who have pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), and represent a shift in understanding of prognosis based on diagnosis timing.
Read More
