referring to modernhealthcare
Modern Healthcare Modern Healthcare business news, research, data and events
Modern Healthcare Modern Healthcare business news, research, data and events
With EpiPens and other prescription drugs rising in cost, families who desperately need them but do not have health insurance are bearing a huge financial burden, according to community advocates.The Maryland Citizens' Health Initiative, a coalition of more than 1,200 religious, labor, business and policy groups seeking quality and affordable health care, wants the state Legislature to address that financial burden by overhauling some of the laws governing drug pricing."The problem is when prices are raised so high, it's really hard on families with children who need access to life-saving medications to budget to get these medications that they really need," said Anna Davis, the health policy director for Advocates for Children and Youth.The health initiative recently released the results of a poll of 802 Maryland registered voters that showed an overwhelming 80 percent supporting three key actions to combat high drug costs — and all three are to be incorporated in proposed legislation.The health care advocates want to require companies to disclose the price basis (how much they spend on production, research, advertising, and profit) of their drugs, require companies to notify the public of an increase in price of a drug, and authorize the state's attorney general to take legal action to prevent unfair price hikes.In the next couple of months, the group will announce a bill and sponsors for these proposals, said Vincent DeMarco, president of the Maryland Citizens' Health Initiative.The Maryland General Assembly's session is scheduled to begin in January.The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America did not respond to a request for comment for this story, but spokeswoman Caitlin Carroll told the Washington Post that her organization would like to work with advocates to provide accessible information on the out-of-pocket cost for drugs.
by the same token on modernhealthcare
Modern Healthcare Modern Healthcare business news, research, data and events
Modern Healthcare Modern Healthcare business news, research, data and events
Apple Watches are becoming near-ubiquitous in healthcare and the corporate world, and health insurer Aetna is now investing heavily in the wellness promises of the device.However, companies that have offered an Apple Watch with the hope of getting people to be more active and healthy have to prove wearable devices and wellness programs meaningfully change consumer behavior, which has often worked better in theory than in practice "These types of technologies can really help to facilitate behavior change, but the devices themselves are not what drive behavior change," said Dr. Mitesh Patel, an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania."What drives behavior change are engagement strategies."Starting next year, Aetna will give an Apple Watch to its employees for free as part of its wellness program, the insurance company said Tuesday .Aetna also will subsidize a "significant portion" of the Apple Watch cost for some large employers and groups that contract with Aetna for health insurance services.Aetna will pair the Apple Watch with specific apps that can help its employees and other Aetna members refill their medications or pay their bill through Apple Wallet.The price of most Apple Watches starts around $300.
in like manner modernhealthcare
Modern Healthcare Modern Healthcare business news, research, data and events
Modern Healthcare Modern Healthcare business news, research, data and eventsIndiana University Health Plans, the insurance arm of the IU Health provider system, will not offer plans on the state's Affordable Care Act marketplace in 2017, the company said Monday.Although the exchange plans appeared to drag down the earnings of for-profit insurer IU Health Plans, its not-for-profit parent organization still remains solidly in the black.IU Health Plans will not completely exit Indiana's individual insurance market.The company will still sell off-exchange plans .However, the roughly 27,000 people who bought an IU Health Plan product through the exchange as of June 30 will have to look elsewhere for coverage during the next open enrollment, which begins Nov. 1.The decision to exit the marketplace was "necessary to adapt to new market dynamics and potential federal responses to withdrawals by many companies nationally from the federally facilitated marketplace," IU Health Plans President James Parker said in a news release.
No comments:
Post a Comment