About health insurance
House votes to restore the application of antitrust laws to insurance business: If passed into law, this measure would be the biggest change to health insurance law since the ACA and possibly of equal importance.
“The US House of Representatives voted Monday in favor of legislation that would amend the 1945 McCarran-Ferguson Act and restore the ability of the federal government to charge health insurers under antitrust laws.
This bill, HR 1418, is part of the Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act of 2019, which was cosponsored by dozens of Democrats and Republicans in a bipartisan push to bring insurers under federal antitrust protections. It was first introduced in February 2019.
The Act states that restoring the application of ‘antitrust laws to the business of health insurance … protect[s] competition and consumers.’ The McCarran-Ferguson Act allows for antitrust exemptions to insurance businesses and gives states the power to regulate such insurance, which took insurance companies out of the protections of antitrust acts like the Sherman Act and the Clayton Act.”
About healthcare finance
Health-care stocks fall on uncertainty over Supreme Court and Obamacare: “Shares of Medicaid insurers Centene and Molina Health fell roughly 8.5%. The ACA has helped fuel the growth Medicaid in states that have expanded coverage to low-income and poor adults.
Hospital operator stocks also fell, with Tenet Healthcare sinking 13%, Universal Health Services down 8.6% and Community Health Systems off 6%. Investors worry that the repeal of the ACA could result in higher uncompensated care for the facilities, if millions were to lose health coverage.”
About the public’s health
Live updates: U.S. surpasses 200,000 coronavirus deaths: The headline, sadly, speaks for itself.
In ‘Power Grab,’ Health Secretary Azar Asserts Authority Over F.D.A.: “In a stunning declaration of authority, Alex M. Azar II, the secretary of health and human services, this week barred the nation’s health agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration, from signing any new rules regarding the nation’s foods, medicines, medical devices and other products, including vaccines.
Going forward, Mr. Azar wrote in a Sept. 15 memorandum obtained by The New York Times, such power “is reserved to the Secretary.” The bulletin was sent to heads of operating and staff divisions within H.H.S.”
CDC reverses itself and says guidelines it posted on coronavirus airborne transmission were wrong: “On Monday morning, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention edited its Web page describing how the novel coronavirus spreads, removing recently added language saying it was “possible” that it spreads via airborne transmission. It was the third major revision to CDC information or guidelines published since May.
The agency had posted information Friday stating the virus can transmit over a distance beyond six feet, suggesting that indoor ventilation is key to protecting against a virus…
The CDC shifted its guidelines Friday, but the change was not widely noticed until a CNN report Sunday. Where the agency previously warned that the virus mostly spreads through large drops encountered at close range, on Friday, it had said ‘small particles, such as those in aerosols,’ were a common vector.”
COVID-19; Federal Efforts Could Be Strengthened by Timely and Concerted Actions: An extensive analysis and recommendations from the GAO. Among the recommendations:
“HHS, in coordination with FEMA, should immediately document roles and responsibilities for supply chain management functions transitioning to HHS, including continued support from other federal partners, to ensure sufficient resources exist to sustain and make the necessary progress in stabilizing the supply chain.
HHS, in coordination with FEMA, should further develop and communicate to stakeholders plans outlining specific actions the federal government will take to help mitigate supply chain shortages for the remainder of the pandemic.
HHS and FEMA—working with relevant stakeholders—should devise interim solutions, such as systems and guidance and dissemination of best practices, to help states enhance their ability to track the status of supply requests and plan for supply needs for the remainder of the COVID-19 pandemic response.”
Later in the monograph, the GAO makes 16 specific recommendations including: “As CDC implements its COVID-19 Response Health Equity Strategy, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention should involve key stakeholders to help ensure the complete and consistent collection of demographic data.”
Analysis of the 30-Pack-Year Smoking Threshold in African Americans From an Underserved Lung Cancer Screening Program: “Race was not associated with lung cancer diagnosis, but African Americans were the only race to have lung cancer if pack-years were <30. The incidence of cancer in African Americans was similar in those who reported ≥30 or <30 pack-years (2.2% vs. 2.7%; odds ratio, 1.21; 95% confidence interval, 0.39-3.75; P = .740), and the 30-pack-year threshold was not associated with lung cancer diagnosis.” The criteria for screening may need to be lowered in tis population if the results are confirmed.
Trends in Recurrent Coronary Heart Disease [CHD] Following Myocardial Infarction Among US Women and Men Between 2008 and 2017: “ Rates of recurrent MI [heart attack], recurrent CHD events, heart failure hospitalization, and mortality in the first year after an MI declined considerably between 2008 and 2017 in both men and women, with proportionally greater reductions for women than men. However, rates remain very high and rates of recurrent MI, recurrent CHD events and death continue to be higher among men than women.”
Medicare Wouldn’t Cover Costs of Administering Coronavirus Vaccine Approved Under Emergency-Use Authorization: The vaccine may be free but not the cost of administration.
About healthcare professionals
U.S. Medical School Applications Soar in Covid-19 Era: “Through the end of August, the number of applicants rose nearly 17% from a year earlier, marking an interest not seen in more than a decade, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges, which administers the main medical-school entry exam. Compared with past years, this year’s numbers are unprecedented, said Patrick Fritz, a senior director with AAMC.”
About hospitals and health systems
Moody's: Hospital financial outlook worse as COVID-19 relief funds start to dwindle: “For-profit hospitals are expected to see a financial decline over the next 12 to 18 months as federal relief funds that shored up revenue losses due to COVID-19 start to wane, a recent analysis from Moody’s said.
The analysis, released Monday, finds that cost management is going to be challenging for hospital systems as more surgical procedures are expected to migrate away from the hospital and people lose higher-paying commercial plans and go to lower-paying government programs such as Medicaid.”
About pharma
Roche Buys Up Inflammatory Disease Biotech for $447 Million: “Roche has announced that it will acquire the biotech Inflazome for $447 million as it expands its presence into drugs for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.”
About healthcare IT
Sam’s Club Teams Up with 98point6 to Offer Exclusive Subscription Plan Options with the 98point6 Mobile App: “Through the collaboration with 98point6, Sam’s Club members with either a Club or a Plus membership can purchase a quarterly subscription at a lower members-only introductory fee of just $20 for the first 3 months per participant, compared to 98point6’s regular sign-up fee of $30 per participant. The subscription includes visits for just $1, with unlimited use, and access to U.S. board-certified doctors 24 hours a day and seven days a week. After the first three months, members will pay $33.50 every three months per participant.”
Sharecare tapped by Amazon to deliver trusted health and well-being information through Alexa:”Sharecare, the digital health company that helps people manage all their health in one place through its comprehensive and data-driven virtual heath platform, today announced it is integrating its library of more than 80,000 questions and answers on various health and well-being topics into the Alexa voice service….”
For example:
“Alexa, when should I get screened for colon cancer?”
“Alexa, how long does it take your body to digest food?”
“Alexa, when is the peak of flu season?”
“Alexa, how long are you supposed to wash your hands?”
“Alexa, why are my feet cold?”
“Alexa, why do people smoke?”