Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) have been in the news lately. PBMs manage drug benefits for insurers, self-insured employer health plans, Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare Part D. Recently executives from the three largest PBMs were hauled before Congress to discuss their business models. One reason for scrutiny is that the three largest PBMs control about 80% of the market.
Category: Health Insurance
Wednesday Links
- Tyler Cowen: Given the incredibly good return we are getting on drugs, shouldn’t we be spending more on pharmaceutics, not less?
- Republicans need an alternative to drug price fixing. I’ve given them a good start.
- The very worst health care provisions in the IRA bill.
- Life is a bitch, if you have diabetes.
- Claims about Covid: It was CCP biological warfare.
Tuesday Links
- What if the FTC truth-in-advertising law applied to Congress? CBO: The inflation Reduction Act will have a negligible effect on inflation.
- Nurses leaving the ER for Botox.
- Company wants a cell or two from you, so it can grow an embryo and harvest organs. HT: Tyler Ghoulish
- Since Democrats need every vote to pass their IRA bill, their new approach to Covid in Congress is: “Don’t ask, don’t tell.”
- The controversy over SSRIs has become political. But shouldn’t we all want to know what antidepressants mass shooters were on when they opened up on innocent victims?
Why Food Poisoning isn’t More Common
Lately I’ve noticed a fair number of articles on food recalls. For example, I found the following on WebMD:
Aug. 1 Protein Drinks Recalled Over Bacterial Contamination Risk
Lyons Magnus announced a voluntary recall on July 28 of various protein and beverage products over worries they may be contaminated with germs like Cronobacter sakazakii. The announcement identifies 53 affected products, ranging from Oatly Oat Milk to Stumptown Cold Brew Coffee. The complete list of products is available on the FDA website, along with ways to tell if yours is part of the recall.