What We're Reading: No ACA Death Spiral; Goodbye MNsure; Direct-to-Consumer Drug Ads

Report: No “Death Spiral” for ACA

An analysis from Standard & Poor’s found that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) may be healthier than previously thought. According to The New York Times, the report found that not only are insurers likely to break even this year, but most could see small profits in 2018. There are now signs that the market will be manageable for most insurers and is not in a so-called “death spiral.” This news came the same week that Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Aetna said they would exit the Iowa exchange.

Minnesota Scraps State ACA Exchange

 Minnesota will move to the federally run health insurance exchange on January 1, 2019. A bill that passed the House would get rid of the state-run exchange, MNsure, which enrolled more than 100,000 Minnesotans this year, reported Post-Bulletin. With Minnesota moving to the federal exchange, there will only be 10 states and the District of Columbia still operating state-run exchanges under the ACA.

Curtailing Direct-to-Consumer Drug Ads

 America is one of just 2 developed countries that allow TV ads for prescription drugs, but that may change. According to STAT, Democrats want to make it less economically viable for companies to advertise directly to consumers, and Republicans may join the cause. The proposal being considered would force drug companies to pay taxes on advertising expenses–currently, they can write off those expenses.