Page 7 - System Tracker News Today

One fast-moving lawsuit seeks to block the U.S. government from even starting the drug-price negotiation process.

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The Biden administration is preparing to announce the first 10 medicines it will target under a program that allows the government to negotiate drug prices with pharmaceutical giants, part of a sweep...

A class of drugs initially approved for diabetes treatment has captured the public’s and policymakers’ attention as interest in their off-label use for weight loss rises. The weight-loss benefits of these drugs have led to their prescribed use for obesity or overweight treatment. A new analysis compares list prices for semaglutide—including Ozempic, which has been<span class="readmore-ellipsis">…</span><a href="https://www.kff.org/health-costs/issue-bri...

The list is expected to arrive within the next two weeks, and industry experts believe it will include some of the most widely prescribed treatments for arthritis, blood disorders, heart disease and diabetes.

This analysis finds that, among people with large employer health plans, those with an obesity diagnosis on average have higher total and out-of-pocket spending than those without an obesity diagnosis. It also examines the cost of common surgical and pharmacological treatments for obesity. 

People without health insurance will likely go weeks after updated Covid-19 vaccines hit the market this fall until they can get a free shot at retail pharmacies.

The announcement is part of a sweeping — and legally contested — campaign to lower costs for seniors on Medicare.

Medicaid enrollees who used long-term services and supports had “disproportionately high” spending in 2020, but just 24% who utilized the benefit did so in an institutionalized setting. 

ACA Marketplace insurers are requesting a median premium increase of 6% for 2024, according to a new KFF analysis of the preliminary rate filings. Insurers’ proposed rate changes – most of which fall between 2% and 10% – may change during the review process. Although most Marketplace enrollees receive subsidies and are not expected to<span class="readmore-ellipsis">…</span><a href="https://www.kff.org/health-costs/press-release/marketplace-insurers-are-...