- White House backs OTC contraception (which is good), but wants insurance to pay for it (which is bad).
- Biden cuts to Medicare Advantage: Drug deductibles will on average be 167% higher next year. Two-thirds of enrollees will see their drug deductibles climb by at least $200. The median out-of-pocket spending maximum will increase to $5,400 from $5,000. (WSJ)
- How a surge of Fentanyl drove drug deaths in America. (NYT)
- Drug resistant pathogens kill 1.3 million people each year and contribute to the deaths of nearly 5 million others.
- Elevance study: A large majority of Medicare Advantage enrollees use at least on supplemental benefit (transportation, food cards, etc.) – which are associated with a decreased likelihood of having an inpatient admission or non-emergent emergency department visit.
Category: Health Economics & Costs
Tuesday Links
- Henderson: There is more than a dime’s worth of difference between the two parties: Republicans are better.
- The average annual premium for workers covered by their own firm in 2024 was $8,951 for single coverage and $25,572 for family coverage.
- Amazon, Walmart. Walgreens, CVS, and Optum intended to change the health system. Almost all of those companies are in deep trouble.
- “Employers Haven’t a Clue How Their Drug Benefits Are Managed.”
- You’ve probably heard of food deserts, but what about pharmacy deserts?
Unlikely Story: Alzheimer’s is Due to Modern Lifestyles
Alzheimer’s Disease and other forms of dementia are a growing problem in America and elsewhere in the developed world.
Saturday Links
- Medicare Part D Market: Average premiums are up 57%; average plan choices are down 53%; some state premiums increases are north of 100% (CA, NY, NV).
- Kamala’s home health care benefit: The nation already spends more than $130 billion on home care and $190 billion on nursing home care. Having Medicare assume these costs, would increase Medicare spending by 14 percent – assuming no increase in demand.
- Why Trump’s trade ideas don’t add up.
- The seven battleground states have less than 17% of the nation’s population, but they are on track to collect 44% of the green new deal (IRA) money.
- CBO: the 10-year cost of Medicare coverage of anti-obesity medications is $35.5 billion. Health benefits are uncertain.