About hospitals and health systems
Charity Care: Do Nonprofit Hospitals Give More than For-Profit Hospitals?: “While the average for-profit hospitals spent less in total charity care than nonprofit hospitals, there was no significant difference between for-profit and nonprofit hospitals in charity care as percent of total expenses. When stratified by size, small for-profit hospitals spent less than small nonprofit hospitals while large for-profit hospitals spent more than large nonprofit hospitals.
We found no differences in charity care as percent of total expenses between for-profit and nonprofit hospitals located in lower-income zip codes, middle-income zip codes, or higher income zip codes.”
MedPAC: For-profit systems fare better than non-profits in weathering COVID-19 cash crisis: “For-profit health systems have been better able to weather a financial crisis caused by COVID-19 than their non-profit counterparts because they could reduce more expenses, a new analysis from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission finds.”
About the public’s health
White House moves to halt evictions as fears of coronavirus-fueled housing crisis grow: The halt comes from the CDC as a measure to prevent COVID-19 spread.
Covid-19 vaccine delivery faces problems, warns DHL: A reminder from the delivery service that frozen vaccine transport will present problems.
Trump Administration Will Redirect $62 Million Owed to the W.H.O.:”As the United States withdraws from membership in the World Health Organization, the Trump administration will redirect $62 million still owed for this year’s dues to other health-related causes also under United Nations auspices, State Department officials announced on Wednesday.
Most of the redirected money will go to children’s immunization and influenza surveillance, officials said. But the United States Agency for International Development will continue with plans to give $68 million to the W.H.O. to support its work in Libya and Syria, and on polio eradication in Pakistan and Afghanistan.”
About pharma
Trial of Sodium Phenylbutyrate–Taurursodiol for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis:”Sodium phenylbutyrate–taurursodiol resulted in slower functional decline than placebo as measured by the ALSFRS-R score over a period of 24 weeks. Secondary outcomes were not significantly different between the two groups. Longer and larger trials are necessary to evaluate the efficacy and safety of sodium phenylbutyrate–taurursodiol in persons with ALS.”
Civica Rx has 1,200 member hospitals, 40 medications under contract:”Civica Rx, a nonprofit organization created in 2018 to address the problem of chronic drug shortages, said it now consists of 1,200 hospitals and is contracted to supply 40 different medications.
The organization, which is celebrating its two-year anniversary this month, said it has delivered over 11 million vials of drugs, more than 9 million of them to patients and about 2 million to the federal stockpile to help combat drug shortages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
California may be the first state to develop its own generic drugs: “Lawmakers there approved a measure that would direct the state's top health agency to partner with one or more drug companies by January to make or distribute a broad range of generic or biosimilar drugs, including insulin.”
Eli Lilly to halt sales of 340B drugs to contract pharmacies with exception of insulin: “Eli Lilly became the latest drug company to restrict sales of drugs discounted under the 340B program to contract pharmacies, escalating a war with hospitals.
The company announced that starting Sept. 1 hospitals cannot get 340B discounted drugs through a contract pharmacy, a popular method used by most hospitals in the program, according to a notice first published on the site 340B Report.
Lilly noted that 340B hospitals can still get discounted insulin through their contract pharmacies, which are third party entities that dispense 340B drugs.”
Copay Savings Programs for Prescription Drugs: Who Saves and How Much?: Here is a summary of the results of this study by GoodRx:
Almost 70% of copay savings programs are hard to access.
Nearly 40% of copay savings programs are available for uninsured patients.
Program eligibility isn’t always clear.
Copay savings programs are available for some generic drugs.
Average savings for copay savings programs tend to be higher for insured patients.
Expensive-to-treat conditions like diabetes, psoriasis, and HIV have the largest number of copay savings programs.
Certain manufacturers, such as Pfizer and Bausch, offer more copay savings programs than others.
Copay savings programs are evolving with the rise of high-deductible health plans.
About health insurance
CMS' final inpatient payment rule for 2021: 7 things to know: The final rule is 2160 pages but this article hits the highlights. One rule deserves a comment: “Under the final rule, hospitals must report to CMS the median rate negotiated with Medicare Advantage organizations for inpatient services. CMS will begin collecting this data in 2021 and will use it in a new market-based methodology to set inpatient hospital payments beginning in 2024.” While the idea of lowering costs by benchmarking is laudable, managed care plans often pay for global episodes of care. For example, they may pay per diems for hospital days, while Medicare pays DRGs. Comparisons will be difficult.
How long can the state delay determining Medicaid eligibility?:”In a victory for patients and physicians, the California Supreme Court says a legal challenge that looks to hold the state accountable for taking no more than 45 days to decide whether an individual is eligible for the state’s Medicaid program, Medi-Cal, can go forward.
The ruling from the state’s high court overturns an appellate court decision in the case, Rivera et al. v. Kent et al., that said that the 45-day standard set by state and federal statutes and regulations was “merely a target, not an absolute requirement.”
About healthcare IT
Epic's focus today and what comes next: 5 updates from Judy Faulkner: A quick read about what Epic is planning.