What We're Reading: Short-Term Plan Vote; Support for Rituxan Biosimilar; Centene Expands ACA Footprint

Senate Democrats Vote on Short-Term Insurance Plans

Democrats forced a vote on the Trump administration’s expansion of short-term health insurance plans that do not have to comply with Affordable Care Act (ACA) regulations. However, they fell short of overturning the expansion of these plans by just 1 vote, according to The Washington Post. Democrats voted unanimously to overturn the administration rule and also brought in a vote from Senator Susan Collins, R-Maine, but they would have needed a second Republican vote in order to pass the legislation. In addition, President Donald Trump had already threatened to veto the measure if it reached his desk.

FDA Panel Votes in Favor of Rituxan Biosimilar

Celltrion’s CT-P10, a biosimilar to cancer drug Rituxan, received the unanimous support of an FDA advisory panel. Reuters reported that the panel ruled Celltrion’s biosimilar was highly similar to the reference biologic. In February, the FDA had declined to approve the proposed biosimilar, citing a manufacturing issue. The FDA usually follows the advice of its advisory panels.

Centene Will Expand ACA Footprint

As more insurers are able to find profits in the ACA marketplaces, they have been expanding their participation. Insurer Centene will enter 4 new states—North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Tennessee—and expand offerings in 10 markets in 2019, according to Fierce Healthcare. The company had increased revenue 13% at the end of the first quarter in 2018. In June, Molina Healthcare and Oscar Insurance reported they were entering new states.