A pediatric shot for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) may not be covered as a free routine vaccine; hospitals fail to comply with payment transparency rules; the fate of abortion pills is in the hands of conservative judges
RSV Shot Technicality Could Disproportionately Affect Low-Income Children]
A glitch in congressional language could make it difficult for children of low-income and minority families to get the immunization shot for respiratory syndical virus (RSV), according to Kaiser Health News. Since 1994, free, routine vaccination has been a childhood entitlement under the Vaccines for Children Program. However, the 1993 law that created this program did not specifically include antibody shots, leaving the CDC to assess whether nirsevimab, a monoclonal antibody neutralizer under review with the FDA, qualifies under the Vaccines for Children Program.
Only a Quarter of Hospitals in Full Transparency Compliance, Study Finds
Out of a total of 2000 hospitals, only a quarter (24.5%) of hospitals were in full compliance with transparency rules, according to AXIOS. Just over half of the hospitals clearly posted negotiated prices with payers and plans, while the rest failed to meet the study’s compliance standards due to missing or incomplete data. Patient Rights Advocate, who led this study, has sent Congress and Biden’s administration team letters, offering suggestions for improvement and enforcement.
Conservative Lawsuit Aims to Ban Abortion Pills, Nationwide
Texas conservative groups push to ban the abortion pill, mifepristone, across the entire country through a lawsuit, according to The Washington Post. Although this lawsuit has been widely criticized as being rooted in baseless arguments, abortion rights activists and some members of the Biden administration are concerned that this case is likely to be decided entirely by conservative judges, who may try to restrict abortion access, especially in states where abortion is still legal. The Justice Department has warned that banning abortion pills nationwide would be catastrophic to the US health care system.
Congress Urged to Repeal Comstock Act Threatening Reproductive Rights and Public Health
May 16th 2024In a joint letter addressed to Congress, Healthcare Across Borders, Take Back the Court Action Fund, and UltraViolet Action called out the resurgence of the Comstock Act, urging immediate action to repeal this century-old law that threatens reproductive rights and public health in the US.
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CMS Medicare Final Rule: Advancing Benefits, Competition, and Consumer Protection
May 7th 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with Karen Iapoce, senior director of government products and programs at ZeOmega, about the recent CMS final rule on Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage.
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Panel Addresses Minority Physician Shortage, Maternal Health at Senate Committee Hearing
May 15th 2024The senate hearing held by the US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, led by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I, Vermont), chairman of the committee, and ranking member Sen. Bill Cassidy, MD, (R, Louisiana), addressed the critical issue of physician and health care worker shortages, as well as the maternal health crisis, in the US.
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House lawmakers are expected to advance a contracting ban today on 5 Chinese research firms; US government officials temporarily relaxed strict guidelines on how laboratories handle, store, and transport H5N1 bird flu samples; a recent report found that the number of abortions occurring in the US continued to grow despite bans.
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