Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
First Edition: May 1, 2015
Kaiser Health News: Medicare Itemizes Its $103 Billion Drug Bill
The federal government popped the cap off drug spending on Thursday, detailing doctor-by-doctor and drug-by-drug how Medicare and its beneficiaries spent $103 billion on pharmaceuticals in 2013. (Rau, 4/30)
The New York Times: Medicare Releases Detailed Data On Prescription Drug Spending
The data was the most detailed breakdown ever provided by government officials about the prescription claims of Medicare beneficiaries. It included information about 36 million patients, one million prescribers and $103 billion in spending on drugs under the program’s Part D in the year 2013, the most recent year available. The data did not take into account rebates that the drug manufacturers pay to the insurers that operate the Medicare beneficiaries’ drug plans. (Thomas and Pear, 4/30)
The Wall Street Journal: Small Number Of Drugs Drive Big Medicare Bill, Spending Data Show
Costly drugs for diseases, such as cancer and multiple sclerosis, account for more than a quarter of spending on prescriptions for America’s elderly and disabled, despite being used by relatively few patients, according to newly released data from Medicare’s prescription-drug program. (Walker and Wilde Mathews, 4/30)
The Associated Press: Medicare Data Show Contrast In Generic, Brand Prescribing
The most-used medicines in Medicare’s prescription drug program are generics, but the program spends the most on brand-name drugs, led by the heartburn treatment Nexium, according to an unprecedented release of government data on Thursday. That contrast sheds light on prescribing practices and how they might be used to save money, specialists say. (Neergaard, 4/30)
Politico Pro: Medicare Details $100B In Drug Spending
CMS opened up a trove of Medicare Part D prescription drug data for public inspection on Thursday, the agency’s latest effort to invite outside scrutiny of spending in the massive federal health care program. (Norman, 4/30)
Politico Pro: Obamacare’s Special Enrollment Period Comes To A Quiet End
The second chance to sign up for 2015 Obamacare coverage ends in most states today — but it doesn’t appear that the special enrollment period for those penalized by the law’s individual mandate will significantly boost 2015 sign-up numbers. (Villacorta, 4/30)
Politico: House Passes Final Budget Deal
The chamber passed the framework, 226-197. It would balance the budget in 10 years without raising taxes, and pave the way for sending an Obamacare repeal to the president’s desk. The Senate will take up the measure next week. (Bade, 4/30)
NPR: Expanding Medicaid Trims Hospitals' Costs Of Caring For Uninsured
When patients show up in the hospital without health insurance, they often receive charity care — the hospital treats the person and then swallows some or all of the costs. ... Hospitals are able to recoup some of the costs of this care, but it can still put a financial strain on some systems. One of the goals of the Affordable Care Act was to reduce the burden of charity care, which totaled nearly $85 billion in 2013. A new study by the nonprofit Kaiser Family Foundation suggests that Medicaid — a government health insurance program that covers many people who don't make much money — might be doing just that. (Kelto, 4/30)
The Washington Post: Budget Plan Calls For $194 Billion In Unidentified Cuts To Federal Workforce
The joint budget agreement calls for cutting that amount over 10 years from programs under the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. It oversees federal employee issues in its broad portfolio. But the agreement gives no instructions on reaching the budget savings. Just where the ax might fall remains to be seen. Given the committee’s oversight, however, federal pension benefits and the Federal Employees Health Benefits program are likely targets. (Davidson, 4/30)
The Associated Press: House OKs GOP Measure Blocking Local DC Abortion Rights Law
Republicans pushed legislation through the House Thursday that would revoke a District of Columbia law barring discrimination in the city against workers who have abortions, the latest clash pitting claims of religious freedom against reproductive rights. (4/30)
The New York Times: Gilead Hepatitis Drugs Brought In $4.55 Billion In First Quarter
Sales of Gilead Sciences’ drugs to treat hepatitis C reached $4.55 billion in the first quarter, far exceeding already lofty Wall Street expectations but likely to focus attention once again on the overall costs to the health care system of the medicines. (Pollack, 4/30)
The Wall Street Journal: Cigna Results Top Expectations
Cigna Corp. reported better-than-expected revenue and profit growth in its first quarter, as the health insurer benefited from higher premiums and fees. Shares, up 23.1% this year, gained 0.3% in premarket trading. The company also increased outlook on a key earnings metric for the year. (Dulaney, 4/30)
The Wall Street Journal: HealthSouth Profit Falls 9% On Bad Debt Provision
HealthSouth Corp. said Thursday its first-quarter earnings fell 9% on an increase in the company’s bad-debt provision and litigation-related expenses that offset revenue growth that was mostly fueled by a recent acquisition. Birmingham, Ala.-based HealthSouth operates inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, which serve patients recovering from serious conditions such as stroke, cardiac conditions and brain injuries. (Stynes, 4/30)
The Associated Press: Assurant Selling Or Closing Health Insurance Division
The parent company of Assurant Health said it will sell or shut down the insurer, which has struggled financially since the introduction of the federal Affordable Care Act. Assurant Health, headquartered in Milwaukee, is expected to report an operating loss of up to $90 million in the first quarter following a loss of $64 million last year. The company specializes in health insurance for small employers and individuals. (4/30)
The Associated Press: TRICARE Revamp Rejected, Other Benefit Changes Backed
The White House has rejected a proposal to largely replace the military's TRICARE health care system, but has agreed to further study a proposal that would let service members participate in retirement savings plans like a 401(k). (4/30)
The Wall Street Journal: Florida Hospitals Agree To Settle Medicare-Fraud Allegations
Nine hospitals in the Jacksonville, Fla., area and a local ambulance company agreed to pay a total of $7.5 million to settle civil allegations that they defrauded Medicare with ambulance rides that were medically unnecessary. The case could have national implications, federal prosecutors say, because hospitals around the country often rely on ambulances to ferry patients to and from their facilities, at times with little regard for the cost or medical need. (Carryrou, 4/30)
NPR: Indiana Battles HIV Outbreak Linked To Intravenous Drug Use
Poverty, administrative red tape and politics stand in the way as the number of confirmed cases continues to climb. Health policy experts are calling for a needle-exchange program to be expanded. (Harrington, 5/1)
