health-care-news
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Vermont May Require Short-Term Plans to Include Obamacare Benefits
Opinion -health-care-news -The Vermont Department of Financial Regulation is considering a plan that would require Obamacare’s 10 “essential health benefits” to be provided in all short-term, limited-duration health insurance plans sold in the state. -
Two Florida Insurers Balk at Privacy Concerns in State Database
Opinion -health-care-news -As a plan to bring price transparency to health care services in Florida moves forward, two major insurance companies are expressing concerns about possible violations of privacy and trade secrets. -
Michigan Small Business Groups Establish New Association Health Plans
Opinion -health-care-news -In the wake of a rule change by the Trump administration allowing small businesses to band together to purchase large-group health insurance plans, two Michigan small business groups have created TranscendAHP, an association health care plan (AHP). -
FDA Issues Guidance to Speed Approval of Complex Transdermal Drugs
Opinion -health-care-news -U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Scott Gottlieb issued guidance to streamline the development of generic versions of complex drugs delivered by transdermal and topical delivery systems (TDS). -
Trump Administration Proposes Tax-Exempt Employer Funding for Short-Term Health Plans
Opinion -health-care-news -The Trump administration issued a proposed rule that would allow workers in large companies to use employee-provided tax-exempt health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) to help pay premiums for individual health insurance. -
Michigan House Considers Licensing Dental Therapists
Opinion -health-care-news -Michigan lawmakers are considering a bill that would initiate licensing of dental therapists to help provide essential oral health care in communities with insufficient access to dental care. -
Oklahoma Considers Allowing Short-Term Health Insurance
Opinion -health-care-news -Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John D. Doak says he wants the state government to allow residents to buy short-term health insurance plans. -
Virginia Medicaid Costs Nearly $500 Million More Than Expected
Opinion -health-care-news -As several states consider expanding Medicaid eligibility to able-bodied individuals above the poverty level, Virginia state officials have announced huge, unexpected Medicaid costs are threatening to siphon funding from programs such as education. -
Non-Physician Health Care Providers Can Alleviate Doctor Shortage, Study Shows
Opinion -health-care-news -Non-physician health care practitioners can help reduce the nation’s shortage of primary care providers, a report from United Health Group says. -
Increase in Medicare Advantage Plans Means Lower Prices for Beneficiaries
Opinion -health-care-news -Enrollment in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, government-funded private health plans millions of seniors have chosen as an alternative to the original Medicare, is projected to increase again in 2018, lowering out-of-pocket costs to beneficiaries. -
NYC Creates Innovative Medical School Partnership to Address Doctor Shortage
Opinion -health-care-news -Citing a primary care doctor shortage, New York City’s public hospital system is partnering with St. George’s University School of Medicine (SGU), a for-profit medical school located on the Caribbean island of Grenada, to increase the supply of doctors. -
North American Medical Tourism Achieves High Growth Rate
Opinion -health-care-news -The medical tourism industry in North America reached almost $24 billion in 2017, and that total is expected to grow to more than $52 billion by 2023, achieving a compound annual growth rate of 14.4 percent, a new report states. -
Midterm Elections Spell End of Obamacare Repeal and Replace Efforts
Opinion -health-care-news -In the wake of the 2018 midterm elections, the future direction of health care policy in the United States remains at the forefront of the political landscape, with Obamacare sure to remain in place for the foreseeable future. -
Congress, President Ban Drug Price ‘Gag Clauses’
Opinion -health-care-news -President Donald Trump signed into law two bills banning “gag clauses,” which prevent pharmacies from informing consumers they can save money by purchasing prescriptions out of pocket instead of through their health insurance provider. -
New Regulations on Medical Bills Proposed in Senate
Opinion -health-care-news -The U.S. Senate is considering legislation that would put new restrictions on health care bills for out-of-network services. -
Republicans Call for Updated Obamacare Score
Opinion -health-care-news -Republican U.S. senators are calling for the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to release its upcoming revised scoring model to be used in estimating the cost of health care legislation. -
Nurse Practitioners Could Help Solve Doctor Shortage
Opinion -health-care-news -As the United States copes with an increasing shortage of primary care doctors, registered nurse and health care economist Peter Buerhaus recommends governments allow greater freedom to nurse practitioners to fill the gap. -
High Costs of Insulin and Other Drugs Traced to Government Regulations, PBMs
Opinion -health-care-news -The cost of insulin rose dramatically during this century, but the increases have slowed during the Trump presidency, a new report analyzing drug prices states. -
Online Dental Therapy Resource Launched
Opinion -health-care-news -A nonprofit foundation has launched a website designed to provide information about dental therapy for consumers, health care professionals, and policymakers. -
Trump Administration to Help Native Americans Expand Telehealth Resources
Opinion -health-care-news -The administration of President Donald Trump is expanding telehealth programs and other health care services to fight opioid abuse among American Indian and Alaskan native tribes, federal officials say. -
Federally Mandated Electronic Health Records Hamper Care
Opinion -health-care-news -Twila Brase, president and cofounder of the Citizens Council for Health Freedom, has an exclusive discussion with The Heartland Institute about her new book, "Big Brother in the Exam Room: The Dangerous Truth About Electronic Health Records." -
Pennsylvania Bill Would Require Equal Treatment for Telemedicine
Opinion -health-care-news -The Pennsylvania legislature is considering a bill that would “authorize health care providers to use telemedicine and require insurers to provide coverage and reimbursement for its use.” -
Maine, Wisconsin Establish Reinsurance Programs to Lower Taxpayer Costs
Opinion -health-care-news -The governments of Maine and Wisconsin are implementing reinsurance programs for their states’ high-risk pools using Medicaid waivers, which could help curb rising costs of insurance in the individual marketplace under the terms of the ACA. -
Iowa Implements New Trump Admin. Policies to Lower Health Care Costs
Opinion -health-care-news -The Iowa Insurance Division issued revised rules permitting the sale of association health care plans and short-term, limited-duration health plans, which will expand health insur- ance choices and reduce costs.
