Health Care Cost

Aducanumab’s accelerated approval was controversial and insurance coverage of the expensive therapy was limited.

Drug prices in the US increased 4.4% annually and median out-of-pocket (OOP) costs increased 9.6% annually from 2009 to 2018, but there was no direct link between these amounts for individual drugs.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) will be the first focus of the Cell and Gene Therapy (CGT) Access Model; the FTC has challenged the validity of over 100 drug product patents to help increase competition and potentially lower prices; the rate of infectious syphilis cases in the US rose 9% in 2022.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication packets are found with incorrect pills; CMS data reveal record numbers of providers and beneficiaries participating in accountable care organizations (ACOs); Supreme Court will hear arguments over FDA regulations on abortion medication in March.

UPMC Health Plan member Marjorie Robinson, of Monroeville, Pennsylvania, tells of her experiences with Pittsburgh-based Fabric Health as a single mom of 2 teenagers and why she believes that mental health–related concerns can be significant obstacles to overall good health.

Biden administration launches partnership with Instacart; critics raise concerns over pharmaceutical industry influence in negotiations; patients seek alternatives as Novo Nordisk halts insulin production.

Serena Sloane, a Pittsburgh-based certified nursing assistant, took advantage of a chance meeting at her laundromat with someone from Fabric Health to learn more about her options for bettering her health care benefits

The Center on Health Equity and Access delivers current updates, highlights breakthroughs in research, and ongoing endeavors committed to addressing healthcare inequalities and improving universal access to exceptional health care.

US women in low-income regions are experiencing a steep increase in cervical cancer diagnosis and death despite medical improvements; a Senate committee launches an assisted living examination, its first hearing on the industry in 2 decades; the CDC urges health care providers to be alert for patients who have fever, rashes, an traveled abroad following reports of 23 measles cases since December 1.

The data suggest this burden among patients who have myasthenia gravis (MG) is prevalent across insurance types.

This new economic valuation of the societal and health care benefits of gene therapy to treat sickle cell disease (SCD) concludes the highly personalized treatment has potential to be cost effective if priced below $2 million.

Although ibrutinib adds to the cost of treatment, its benefits over the long term justify the cost, investigators found.

Most patients in the cohort received rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone for first-line therapy; hospitalization was prevalent; and average medical and pharmacy costs were more than $140,000 per patient per year.

The findings demonstrate the critical need for immediate policy reforms to tackle structural racism and promote equitable pediatric care in the US for children regardless of race or ethnicity.

Mike Brown, vice president of managed services at Cardinal Health, shares how drug cost control software has improved monitoring efficiency and reduced drug spending.

Families with workplace health insurance may have missed out on $125,000 in earnings over the past 3 decades due to rising premiums; so far, there have been about 600 drug price hikes in January; experts worry that minority and low-income people will not have easy access to zuranolone, the first FDA-approved postpartum depression pill.

New program seeks to revitalize struggling rural health care facilities; NIH director advocates for actions to address unaffordable medications; WHO reveals significant drop global tobacco use

This new study examined postoperative survival among discharged patients following treatment of non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) via surgical resection using the National Cancer Database.

Biosimilars offer substantial promise for a new era of accessibility and affordability for patients and the broader health care industry, but better understanding of these products from payers and providers is necessary for biosimilars to reach their full potential in the US.

Patients with multiple myeloma are living longer; therefore, their lifelong treatment expenses can become burdensome.

The Center on Health Equity and Access provides up-to-date news, showcases research advancements, and ongoing initiatives dedicated to tackling healthcare disparities and enhancing overall accessibility to outstanding care.

Popular weight loss drugs are not linked to suicidal actions, says the FDA; the White House is calling for urgent support amid economic challenges; rising hospitalizations and deaths prompt calls to increase vaccination coverage.

A social-impact startup, Pittsburgh-based Fabric Health is adept at using community engagement to help members and their families navigate the complex world of health care—meeting customers where they are at, knowing time is often their most valuable resource.

Malpractice insurance costs and coverage denials skyrocket for clinics that provide gender-affirming care to minors; American Red Cross declares emergency as low blood supply puts strain on hospitals; Walgreens agrees to pay $360 million to Humana.

Based on a comparison of prices for drugs up for Medicare price negotiations, there is a long way to go to reach the prices of 7 comparable countries.

“These autosomal diseases, from an inheritance standpoint, affect men and women equally, but because of their impact on the gynecological system and menses, women are often affected much more than men," hematologist Donna DiMichele, MD, explains.

Margaret Liang, MD, MSHPM, gynecologic oncologist and health services researcher and director, Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship Program, Cedars-Sinai Cancer Center, discusses financial toxicity in cancer care and how institutions can help alleviate the financial burden for patients.

The Center on Health Equity and Access delivers current news, highlights research advancements, and continuous initiatives focused on addressing health care disparities and improving overall accessibility to exceptional care.

"It’s time for our industry to recognize the consequences of the lack of investment in maternal health and come together to bring forward innovations," Charlotte Owens, MD, stated.

The average direct cost for hospital treatment for patients with COVID-19 in the United States rose by 26% from 2020 to 2022; scientists have developed a new type of antibiotic to treat a deadly bacteria resistant to most current antibiotics; a survey conducted for Utah state officials gave some clues as to why millions of Americans lost Medicaid coverage last year.