What we're reading, October 29, 2015: Fewer health plans will be available on HealthCare.gov in 2016; PBMs cut ties with pharmacy connected to Valeant; and emergency departments are dissatisfied with electronic health record interoperability.
Health Plans on HealthCare.gov to Decrease 12%
CNBC is reporting that the number of health plans available on HealthCare.gov, the largest marketplace under the Affordable Care Act, will decrease 12% in 2016 compared with this year. Preferred provider organizations will see the sharpest decrease (40%), but there will be an increase in health maintenance organization plans.
PBMs Cut Ties With Pharmacy Connected to Valeant
Express Scripts, CVS Health, and OptumRx will stop paying for drugs dispensed by a pharmacy that has bolstering sales of products made by Valeant Pharmaceuticals, according to the New York Times. The pharmacy in question almost exclusively dispenses Valeant’s expensive dermatology products when there are much cheaper alternatives.
EDs Dissatisfied With EHR System Interoperability
A survey of emergency department (ED) administrative and nursing managers and physicians found widespread dissatisfaction with ED systems. More than one-third of hospitals with 150 beds or more are currently or planning to replace their ED information system.
Disparities in Telehealth Access Undermine Adoption Among Patients With Schizophrenia
January 16th 2025The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the widespread adoption of telemental health care, and new research indicates significant racial and ethnic disparities in access to this technology among Medicaid beneficiaries with schizophrenia.
Read More
Study Suggests Postdischarge Care Needs Targeted, Multifaceted Approaches
January 15th 2025The findings challenge the effectiveness of these widely used transitional care interventions and suggest a need for more targeted, multifaceted approaches to address the needs of higher-risk patients.
Read More
Frameworks for Advancing Health Equity: Pharmacy Support for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
December 19th 2024Rachael Drake, pharmacy technician coordinator, University of Kansas Health System, explains how her team collaborates with insurance companies and providers to support treatment access for patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Listen