Author's posts
OCR partners with Iowa on disability rights
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights has entered into an agreement with the State of Iowa to enforce federal disability rights laws.
The agreement was spurred by an investigation, based on a complaint filed by Garret…
Prior authorization leads to serious adverse events for patients, AMA survey says
The prior authorization process continues to have a “devastating” effect on patient outcomes, physician burnout and employee productivity, according to a new physician survey from the American Medical Association.
FDA says updated COVID-19 shots should target KP.2 strain
The federal Food and Drug Administration is advising vaccine manufacturers to ensure new vaccines for 2024 and 2025 are targeting the KP.2 variant of COVID-19.
The agency’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) voted unan…
Medicare patients now eligible for Amazon RxPass
Amazon Pharmacy is expanding the prescription drug subscription program RxPass to Prime members who have health coverage through Medicare.
RxPass enables affordable access to common medications, free monthly delivery and the ability to connect with a p…
Uninsured rate to rise to 8.9% by 2034, CBO finds
The percentage of Americans who lack health insurance, which currently hovers around 7.2%, is projected to rise steadily through the years, hitting 8.9% by 2034, according to the latest data presented by the Congressional Budget Office.
CalPERS enters into contracts with Blue Shield of California, Included Health
The California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) will be awarding two new contracts designed to lower healthcare costs. The contracts – with Blue Shield of California and Included Health – create financial incentives to provide higher quali…
FDA tells providers to prepare for supply chain disruptions
Healthcare providers can expect supply chain disruptions during the current hurricane season – which runs from June through November – and the Food and Drug Administration is advising them to make the necessary preparations.
AMA adopts new prior authorization reform policies
Physician and medical student leaders at the Annual Meeting of the American Medical Association House of Delegates have approved policies aimed at fighting for greater insurer accountability and transparency regarding prior authorization requirements –…
BARDA awards $500M for Project NextGen vaccine trials
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) is setting aside up to $500 million in Project NextGen funding to plan and execute multiple Phase 2b clinical trials evaluating novel vaccines administered as a nasal spray or as a pill…
Senators debut legislation introducing penalties for healthcare ‘looters’
U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.), both progressive members of the Senate, have introduced legislation they say is intended to root out corporate greed and private equity abuse in the healthcare system.
