Week in Review

This week, the top managed care news included a CDC report that found life expectancy in the United States declined again; telemedicine use among physicians remains low; another study added to the debate over who should take statins.

This week, the top managed care news included a CMS plan for changes in drug coverage that brought a wave of criticism; a government task force recommended more people at risk for HIV take pre-exposure prophylaxis, known as PrEP; the American College of Cardiology issued an Expert Consensus Pathway on treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

This week, the top managed care news included HHS Secretary Alex Azar hinting that the government may get more involved in addressing social needs impacting health; work rules in Arkansas cost thousands their Medicaid coverage; research finds a shorter course of hepatitis C treatment may be just as effective as the full course of treatment.

This week, the top managed care news included research that showed c​​​​ancer surpassed cardiovascular disease to be the leading cause of death in high-income counties; HHS Secretary Alex Azar announced a new mandatory payment model is coming to oncology; a policy change could make mental health treatment more available.

This week, the top managed care stories included Medicaid expansion wins at the ballot box; new melanoma guidelines that promote recommended treatments and discuss genetic testing; research found high blood pressure in young adults predicts future cardiovascular events.

This week, the top managed care news included a proposal to allow Medicare to pay the same prices for certain drugs as what other countries pay; President Donald Trump signed a law to fight the opioid crisis; an FDA advisory panel voted narrowly to retain a 10-year-old guidance for safety trials for diabetes drugs.

This week, the top managed care news included the Trump administration giving governors the power to overhaul section 1332 waivers under the Affordable Care Act (ACA); CMS disclosed a breach in the portal that agents and brokers use to assist consumers signing up for health coverage under the ACA; about one-third of all US healthcare payments in 2017 were tied to alternative payment models.

This week, the top managed care news included the Trump administration unveiling plans to include drug prices in television ads; CMS touted Medicare Advantage at the beginning of open enrollment for Medicare; research found Medicare beneficiaries who live in housing with support services stay out of the hospital.

This week, the top managed care news included the Department of Justice giving the green light for the CVS–Aetna merger; premiums for employer insurance plans are on the rise; and the new North American trade deal includes protections for drug makers that will hurt biosimilars.

This week, the top managed care news included the Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded to 2 people for research into immunotherapy; physician-run accountable care organizations bring savings for Medicare; research highlights the health impacts of sexual harassment and assault.

This week, the top managed care news included comments to several proposals from CMS; Medicare advocates say voters will be motivated by healthcare cost concerns during the midterm elections; research showed diabetes drug dapagliflozin, an SGLT2 inhibitor, reduces risks of major cardiovascular events.

This week, the top managed care news included the Senate overwhelmingly voting to ban pharmacist gag clauses; a study found the current vaccine pipeline for HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria may fall short; an expert noted a trend of healthcare cost data seeping into nonhealthcare companies’ earnings calls.

This week, the top managed care news included medical groups asking CMS to halt or slow down its plans to cut physician reimbursement for evaluation and management services; the Senate weighs a package of bills to combat the opioid epidemic; new research shows the Affordable Care Act pushed the uninsured rate down to 10%.

This week, the top managed care stories included a study on the impact physician burnout is having on care quality; the latest Affordable Care Act showdown took place in a Texas courtroom; the share of employers offering health coverage increased for the first time since 2008.

This week, the top managed care stories included encouraging results from the Next Generation Accountable Care Organization model; concerns that CMS' new billing rules will hurt the sickest patients; a study confirms the value of daily aspirin for patients with diabetes.

This week, the top managed care news included a panel mostly endorsed the use of patient-reported outcomes for coverage of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy; the US Preventive Services Task Force released new recommendations for cervical cancer screening; research found accountable care organization penetration may be changing how physicians work.

This week, the top managed care stories included CMS outlining a plan to encourage Medicare accountable care organizations to take on more risk, faster; a study found substantial growth in Medicaid managed care enrollment; an analysis showed nearly 1 in 5 inpatient hospital stays includes a claim from an out-of-network provider.

This week, the top managed care stories included, CMS allowing step therapy in Medicare Advantage plans in a bid to allow for drug price negotiation; larger practices with more resources, technology and care management processes have higher readmission rates than smaller practices; studies find that empagliflozin also reduces liver fat in patients with diabetes and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

This week, the top managed care stories included a report that found quality issues and fraud in Medicare’s hospice program; the Trump administration expanded short-term health plans; cancer screening rates are falling short of targets.

This week, the top managed care stories included CMS reversing its decision to suspend the risk adjustment payment program; out-of-pocket costs and copayment accumulators put an HIV prevention drug out of reach for patients; research finds geography can determine posttreatment imaging for women with breast cancer.

This week, the top managed care stories included additional moves by the Trump administration to unravel the Affordable Care Act; Pfizer canceled a round of drug price increases after speaking to the president; advocates for 340B sound the alarm on efforts to reform the program.

This week, the top managed care stories included a federal judge blocking Kentucky’s Medicaid work requirements; CMS announced it would launch a demonstration to encourage Medicare Advantage providers to take on more risk; and researchers identify racial disparities in HIV incidence and recommended a 5-part plan of action.

This week in managed care, the top stories included HHS Secretary Alex Azar appearing before the Senate Committee on Finance to discuss the administration's plan to drive down prescription drug prices; FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD, calling on payers to share data to aid drug innovation; and CMS calling for stricter oversight of Medicaid.

This week in managed care, the top stories included Atul Gawande, MD, being named the CEO of the Amazon–Berkshire Hathaway–JPMorgan Chase healthcare venture; the Trump administration finalized rules for creating association health plans; an analysis found some cancer types are represented more than others in the Oncology Care Model.

This week, the top managed care stories include the CDC says the suicide rate is rising; lawmakers ask when drug prices will start falling; and a policy change will allow people in Medicare to use their smartphone to manage diabetes.

This week, the top managed care stories include Medicare Part A will run out earlier than predicted; healthcare costs for families continue to rise; and thousands of women with a common form of early breast cancer can forgo chemotherapy.

This week, the top managed care stories include Senator Bill Cassidy's new plan to lower healthcare costs; policy recommendations from the American Diabetes Association on how to lower insulin prices; and coverage from the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting.

This week, the top managed care stories include the finding that new guidelines will mean the number of people with hypertension will soar; research finds that most diabetes apps don’t lower glycated hemoglobin; and a health plan announced its plan to fight housing instability.

This week, the top managed care stories included President Donald Trump's plan to drive down drug prices; the FDA approved the first biosimilar of the year; a study found rapid uptake of PD-1 agents after FDA approval.

This week, the top managed care stories included another report that shows uninsured rates are rising; FDA confirms shortages of the EpiPen, but the manufacturer insists the delay will be short; a Senate panel examines the need for transparency in insulin pricing.