What We're Reading: ACA Stability; Opioid Court; Uber Replacing Ambulance Rides

Analysts Predict a Stable Year for ACA Insurers

Credit rater A.M. Best is predicting that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurance markets will have a relatively stable 2018 as insurers have adapted to the uncertainty presented by the Trump administration. The Hill reported that insurers have benefited from high rate increases, limited competition, and a stabilizing population in the exchanges. In addition, the analysts at the credit rater believe Congress will not focus on trying once again to repeal the ACA.

The Nation’s First Opioid Court

Unlike typical drug courts, the nation’s first opioid court, in Buffalo, New York, recognizes that failure is part of recovery. Some of the criminal defendants entering the courtroom in Buffalo are taking part in an experimental program, The New York Times reported. The goal of the program is simple: save lives as the opioid epidemic continues. The court’s judge is a former drug user who requires participants of the program to appear daily. The program started in May 2016, and to date only 1 of the 92 participants has died from an overdose.

Patients Call Uber, Not the Ambulance, for ED Trips

More and more patients are using ride-sharing apps, such as Uber, to get a ride to the emergency department (ED) instead of paying the high cost of an ambulance ride. According to Forbes, per capita ambulance usage volume is down at least 7% in the cities that have Uber. However, while Uber may be a cheaper alternative, it should only be used for low-risk patients who are stable, but too sick to drive themselves. Using a ride-sharing app to get to the ED can benefit more than the insurance company and the patient—when low-risk patients use Uber, it can reduce the overall wait times for an ambulance so patients in a true emergency situation can get lifesaving care quicker.