The week in healthcare reform
“The Medicare prescription drug pricing plan Democrats unveiled this week is not nearly as ambitious as many lawmakers sought, but they and drug policy experts say the provisions crack open the door to reforms that could have dramatic effects.”
Despite Restraints, Democrats’ Drug Pricing Plan Could Still Aid Consumers
Kaiser Health News | Michael McAuliff | November 5, 2021
“Respondents did not put the blame for rising costs solely on hospitals and drug companies…. Most actually blamed health insurance companies (71%)….”
Adults Support Major Changes to US Healthcare System Amid Rising Costs, Survey Finds
Healthcare Dive | Hailey Mensik | November 4, 2021
“The $2,000 out-of-pocket cap for Medicare patients is exactly what drug companies wanted and likely would lead to more drug sales since patients wouldn’t face prohibitively high costs at the pharmacy counter.”
Pharmaceutical Industry May Avoid Big Losses in Drug Pricing Deal
Axios | Bob Herman | November 3, 2021
“The study published Monday … found that middle-class families that are near-elderly age faced the greatest economic burden from the cost of coverage on the exchanges.”
ACA Coverage Less Affordable Over Time for Middle-Class Families, Study Finds
Fierce Healthcare | Robert King | November 2, 2021
“I would prefer a much stronger version, but I don’t want to end up empty handed,” Dick Durbin said. “I want more than this, but I’ll take it because it’s a step in the right direction — a modest beginning.”
‘A Massive Step Forward’: Democrats Clinch Drug Pricing Deal
Politico | Alice Miranda Ollstein | November 2, 2021
“Women … hold 76% of all healthcare jobs, according to the U.S. Census Bureau…. A staggering 87% of nurses are women.”
Nurses Bore the Brunt of the Pandemic. Nearly 9 in 10 of Them Are Women.
Healthcare Dive | Samantha Liss | November 1, 2021
“The survey, carried out in 17 advanced economies with 18,850 respondents, shows that the U.S. health care system is perceived as below average or as the worst among developed nations, and that very few respondents believe American democracy, in its current state, serves as a good model for other nations.’
US Health Care System and State of Democracy Perceived Negatively Abroad: Survey
Politico | Camille Gijs | November 1, 2021
“…31.6 million people under 65 were uninsured in the first six months of 2020….”
Uninsured Rate Holds Steady Amid Pandemic
Axios | Tina Reed | November 1, 2021
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