Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
AstraZeneca Will Negotiate With Medicare On Price For Diabetes Drug
Politico: AstraZeneca Plans To Negotiate With Medicare Over Price Of Farxiga
Drugmaker AstraZeneca plans to negotiate a price with Medicare for its diabetes drug Farxiga, the company told POLITICO. Farxiga — which is used to treat type 2 diabetes, as well as heart failure and chronic kidney disease — was among the first 10 drugs selected by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services last month for price negotiations Congress ordered in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. (Lim, 9/25)
The Wall Street Journal: Uncle Sam Wants You—To Fight High Drug Prices
Help Wanted: Join the government. Fight Big Pharma. ... Medicare is hiring economists, data scientists and others for a team to conduct the U.S.’s first drug-price negotiations. (Walker, 9/25)
In other health care costs news —
Axios: Women Pay Billions More Out Of Pocket For Health Care: Analysis
At every age, women have higher out-of-pocket expenses for their health care than men despite having similar health insurance, according to a new Deloitte report. Much has been made about a so-called "pink tax" when it comes to higher costs for women's consumer products. The new analysis argues there's a similar burden when it comes to women's health coverage. (Reed, 9/26)
Modern Healthcare: Mark Cuban-Backed JAMA Study Finds Major Hospital Price Variations
A study co-authored by billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban found significant discrepancies in price estimates for hospital services, depending on how patients sought them. The study, published this week in JAMA Internal Medicine, compared online cash price estimates for vaginal childbirth and brain MRI services with estimates obtained via "secret shopper" calls. The study looked at 60 hospitals grouped as top-ranked, safety net or neither. (Hudson, 9/22)
Modern Healthcare: Why Anti-Steering Contracts In Healthcare Are Under Fire In Congress
A section of the Bipartisan Primary Care and Health Workforce Act of 2023, which passed the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Thursday, would ban hospitals from using anticompetitive contracting practices when they negotiate prices with commercial insurance companies. The bill specifically takes aim at anti-steering and all-or-nothing provisions. Some dominant health systems have prevented insurers from including lower-cost providers in their health plans or they force insurers to contract with all of a health system’s facilities or none of them. (Kacik, 9/25)
Axios: Employers Are Getting More Creative On Benefits
Employers bracing for a major hike in health care costs are retooling their benefits, aiming to provide perks better targeted to workers' needs as they closely mind the bottom line. Employer health costs are expected to see their largest jump in a decade, but many companies facing an ongoing workforce crunch are hesitant to pass along those costs or cut back benefits. (Reed, 9/26)
