Article
What We're Reading: Fewer Plans Expected on HealthCare.gov
Author(s):
What we're reading, October 29, 2015: Fewer health plans will be available on HealthCare.gov in 2016; PBMs cut ties with pharmacy connected to Valeant; and emergency departments are dissatisfied with electronic health record interoperability.
Health Plans on HealthCare.gov to Decrease 12%
CNBC is reporting that the number of health plans available on HealthCare.gov, the largest marketplace under the Affordable Care Act, will decrease 12% in 2016 compared with this year. Preferred provider organizations will see the sharpest decrease (40%), but there will be an increase in health maintenance organization plans.
PBMs Cut Ties With Pharmacy Connected to Valeant
Express Scripts, CVS Health, and OptumRx will stop paying for drugs dispensed by a pharmacy that has bolstering sales of products made by Valeant Pharmaceuticals, according to the New York Times. The pharmacy in question almost exclusively dispenses Valeant’s expensive dermatology products when there are much cheaper alternatives.
EDs Dissatisfied With EHR System Interoperability
A survey of emergency department (ED) administrative and nursing managers and physicians found widespread dissatisfaction with ED systems. More than one-third of hospitals with 150 beds or more are currently or planning to replace their ED information system.
