Health Headlines for Thursday, May 10
Uninsured Rate Rises in 17 States in 2017
Gallup
The uninsured rate rose by statistically significant margins in 17 states in 2017, the first time since the full implementation of the major mechanisms of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2014 that any state had a rate increase.
New Charts Track Growth in U.S. Health Care Prices, Draw Comparisons to Other Countries
Kaiser Family Foundation
Two new chart collections from the Kaiser Family Foundation combine original analysis with a synthesis of existing data to examine trends in health care prices and utilization and compare health spending in the United States with that of other wealthy countries.
Less than half of U.S. workers willing to pay more for better health care benefits, Willis Towers Watson survey finds
Globe News Wire
A majority of U.S. workers are willing to sacrifice more of their paycheck for greater employer-provided retirement benefits, but far fewer are willing to make a similar trade-off for more generous health care benefits, according to the 2017 Global Benefits Attitudes Survey by Willis Towers Watson (NASDAQ:WLTW), a leading global advisory, broking and solutions company.
Proposal to Curb Drug Prices Would Hand More Competition to Insurers
Wall Street Journal (subscription required)
President Donald Trump on Friday plans to outline a series of initiatives aimed at curbing drug prices, unveiling a blueprint to drive down costs amid complaints that Washington has done little to address the issue.
ACA stabilization bill is dead, says Republican sponsor, as insurers propose major premium hikes
Health Exec
Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tennessee, has said he’s abandoning efforts to push a bipartisan bill meant to stabilize the Affordable Care Act (ACA) exchanges, putting the blame on Democrats’ resistance to making changes to the law.
New alliance fights trend of hospitals buying doctor practices
Politico (subscription required)
Several physician groups are joining in a new alliance aimed at slowing hospitals from buying doctor practices, by urging independent physicians to embrace value-based payments.
Medicare reverts to bigger payments for equipment suppliers
Axios
The Trump administration on Wednesday signed off on a regulation crafted during Tom Price’s days that will revert to a system in which Medicare will pay medical equipment suppliers more money, starting June 1 and going through the end of the year.