Since I wrote about carving out Medicaid drug benefits versus carving in benefits the industry changed. Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) began to consolidate to the point where the top three now control about 85% of the drug market. When three firms dominate an industry to that degree their behavior can go from benevolent (i.e. competing for business) to malevolent, self-dealing behavior.
Category: Public Insurance
The New Golden Girls: Seniors Sharing Homes for Money and Companionship
Years ago, I read an article in the New York Times about the economics of three seniors who could move in together and share expenses. The cost of an apartment and splitting the cost of around the clock home care would be cheaper than one person moving into a nursing home. I was intrigued by the idea. Few people can afford a nursing home and not everyone can afford expensive assisted living, or senior communities. For that matter, most seniors don’t want institutional living.
Vaccination Rates are Falling, Which Could Lead to Outbreaks of Long Conquered Diseases
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC) vaccination is among the top 10 public health achievements of the 20th Century. Here is the problem: many people have stopped getting vaccinated.
Monday Links
- An argument against hiding medical debt from credit reports.
- Number of people living in poverty. Official number: 13.3% CBO estimate: 3.5%.
- AARP: Prices for drugs not selected for price negotiation have doubled.
- The University of North Carolina is currently conducting the first-ever RCT trial on the health benefits of water fluoridation.
- Biden officials “screamed” and “cursed” at Meta execs to take down vaccine posts including ones that correctly stated that the vaccines could induce side effects. “It was brutal,” Zuckerberg said.