A poster on the side of a bus stop in downtown Washington D.C. read: “Let 340B,” clearly a sign of an organized campaign asking Congress not to interfere with the gravy train for some hospital systems that this obscure provision has become. The safety net drug program, usually referred to as 340B for the section authorizing it in the Public Health Service Act, was created by Congress in 1992 to … [Read more...] about Save The Safety Net Drug Program For Patients Who Need Help
A New Generation Of Health Reform
Health reform lives. A group of policy wonks has been working since last fall to develop the next generation of patient-centered health policy recommendations that they unveiled at a rollout event at the Hoover Institution in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. The plan, called the Health Care Choices Proposal, takes a federalist approach in moving power and control of the health sector away from … [Read more...] about A New Generation Of Health Reform
A Surgical Approach To High Prescription Drug Prices
President Trump’s plan to lower prescription drug costs uses a surgeon’s scalpel to address a range of issues, offering nearly 30 policy recommendations to modernize payment policies, weed out counter-productive regulations, improve price transparency, and expand competitive price negotiations. The plan reflects the complexity of the industry and the regulatory system that governs government … [Read more...] about A Surgical Approach To High Prescription Drug Prices
The Path Forward for Health Reform in 2018
An open letter to the American public from over 30 conservative leaders, whose names are listed at the end. Congressional leaders were poised last month to spend tens of billions of dollars in the omnibus bill to temporarily shore up Obamacare’s failing health insurance system.That money, however, never would have given Americans the long-term relief they so desperately need.After this idea … [Read more...] about The Path Forward for Health Reform in 2018
Health Policy Consensus Group Calls For Renewability Of Short-Term Health Plan
Thirty-nine health policy experts and representatives of a broad cross-section of organizations joined in signing a comment letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding its proposed rule on Short-Term, Limited-Duration Insurance. They argue that the Obama administration exerted “regulatory overreach” in limiting the sale of short-term policies to 90 days and prohibiting … [Read more...] about Health Policy Consensus Group Calls For Renewability Of Short-Term Health Plan
Doctor-Patient Relationship Compromised By Oppressive ‘Quality’ Reporting Requirements
Since the managed care debacle of the 1990s, billions of dollars have been spent in time and resources to improve and measure the quality of patient care. However, measuring the quality of care in the effort to improve it in a cost-efficient manner is showing evidence of being counter-productive, particularly for small physician practices and practices with complex patient populations. The goal … [Read more...] about Doctor-Patient Relationship Compromised By Oppressive ‘Quality’ Reporting Requirements
Drug Companies Need To Do Their Jobs
President Trump emphasized during his State of the Union address his determination to fulfill a campaign promise to lower prescription drug prices. His administration already is making progress: Food and Drugs Commissioner Scott Gottlieb is leading his agency to dramatically accelerate approval of generic drugs. Competition in generic drugs – which make up 87% of drug consumption in the U.S. … [Read more...] about Drug Companies Need To Do Their Jobs
Health Reform: Helping the States Help the Poor
Many Catholics, especially Catholic leaders, have been conflicted over bills that have been presented to “repeal and replace” the Affordable Care Act: They strenuously object to the ACA’s affront to religious liberty yet they know it offers access to health insurance for millions, including those who have been left behind in our bifurcated system. Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice, Florida, … [Read more...] about Health Reform: Helping the States Help the Poor