Business of Medicine
Feature
Drug price increases far outpaced inflation in 2015
Average increase in the cost of “market basket” of drugs widely used by older Americans has exceeded the inflation rate every year since 2004.
Feature
HealthCare.gov enrollment for 2018 nearly doubled in final week
Plans selected this year were down slightly from last year’s much longer open-enrollment period.
Opinion
Preexposure prophylaxis among LGBT youth
LGBT youth are at high risk of HIV, and the risks and benefits of HIV PrEP need to be considered in this vulnerable population.
Feature
Medicaid’s share of state budgets continues to grow
States provided $574 billion in benefits during fiscal 2017.
Feature
After 6 weeks, HealthCare.gov activity still ahead of last year
As the end of this year’s open enrollment nears, however, plan selections are only about half of last year’s total.
Conference Coverage
Denmark reinstates ID NAT screening for blood donations
SAN DIEGO – “The Danish government decided not to discontinue NAT because there were almost no savings.”
Feature
MedPAC: Ditch meaningful use, patient measures under MIPS
WASHINGTON – Population-level outcomes measures are the key focus of a proposed program to replace Medicare’s new MIPS program.
From the Journals
More states allowing pharmacists to administer vaccines to younger patients
More jurisdictions also require less direct prescriber authority.
Feature
Medicare pay cut may loom in wake of tax bill passage
Could revoking the individual mandate trigger lower Medicare reimbursement?
Feature
CMS looking to evolve QPP to measure outcomes, not processes
Ms. Verma wrapped her thoughts on value and quality in her broader vision for CMS as one of patient empowerment.
Feature
5 big ways the tax bill could affect health policy
One proposed change could disproportionately effect young physicians.