Study Finds How Dramatically Health Plan Rates Vary County To County

Axios: U.S. Health Plan Rates Can Vary Sharply By County, Study Shows
One of the first studies of publicly available insurer price data found generally higher rates for office visits and medical procedures in the Upper Midwest and Southeast, and the lowest costs in the Central U.S. and Florida. The findings published in JAMA Health Forum could help shine a light on regional price variations and whether higher costs translate to more value in markets. (Goldman, 10/30)

Axios: More Employers Try To Shield Low-Wage Workers From Health Costs
More workplaces are offering at least one health plan that is free to employees or offers no-deductible coverage for certain services as many workers struggle to afford care. The number of large employers offering at least one free medical plan to employees increased from 11% this year to 15% in 2024 coverage, according to a new Mercer survey. (Reed, 10/30)

In other health care industry news —

Bloomberg: Healthpeak To Buy Physicians Realty For $2.64 Billion In Stock
Healthpeak Properties Inc. agreed to buy Physicians Realty Trust in an all-stock transaction, creating a company with a 52 million-square-foot real estate portfolio. Under the terms of the agreement, each Physicians Realty share will be converted into 0.674 of a newly issued Healthpeak common share, the companies said in a statement Monday. The purchase price is about $2.64 billion based on Physicians’ closing price Friday. (Taub, 10/30)

Modern Healthcare: MIPS Penalties On The Horizon In 2024 As AMA, Others Lobby CMS
Physician groups are pressuring the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to forestall looming penalties associated with the Merit-based Incentive Payment System, citing systemic challenges facing doctors and the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. MIPS, as the Medicare reimbursement program for physician services is known, makes doctors eligible for bonus payments or penalties based on factors such as quality, cost and electronic health record use. (Bennett, 10/30)

Modern Healthcare: How 340B Drug Pricing Program Policy Reversal Will Affect Hospitals
Changes to registration requirements for the offsite clinics of 340B-eligible hospitals represent the latest clash between providers, regulators and drugmakers amid the program’s exponential growth. The federal government on Thursday reversed a policy that streamlined 340B certification during the COVID-19 pandemic. ... “The [policy] reversal is a gut punch to hospitals hoping for more permanent flexibility,” said Susan Banks, a healthcare attorney at the law firm Holland & Knight. (Kacik 10/30)

Also —

Axios: The High Cost Of Unnecessary Stents
Hospitals place an unnecessary coronary stent in a Medicare beneficiary every seven minutes, costing taxpayers $800 million annually, according to a new analysis of claims data. Overuse of stents comes with hefty costs for patients and the federal government, and it can sometimes pose serious health risks. (Goldman, 10/31)

The Washington Post: How To Get In To See Primary Care Physicians And Specialists — Quickly
Need to see a doctor right away? Today, that can be challenging. The average wait for an appointment with a physician for new patients is 26 days, according to a 2022 survey of 15 metropolitan areas by the physician recruiting firm Merritt Hawkins. That’s the longest it has been since the company began doing the survey in 2004. In addition, 22 percent of adults 65 or older waited six days or more for a doctor’s appointment when they were sick, according to a 2021 survey of 11 high-income countries by the Commonwealth Fund, a nonprofit group. Only Canada had a higher percentage of long waits. (Levine, 10/30)

The Washington Post: Live Event: Improving Health Care And The Patient Experience In America 
The U.S. health-care system is the costliest in the world and often difficult to navigate for many Americans. On Wednesday, Nov. 1 at 9:00 a.m. ET, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Atul Gawande, USAID assistant administrator for global health, and top experts join Washington Post Live for a series of conversations about ways to improve the health-care system, enhance patient care and rein in costs. (10/31)

KFF Health News: Start Shopping: Enrollment Begins Nov. 1 For Most Obamacare Insurance Plans 
For millions of Americans who buy their own health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace, the end of the year brings a day of reckoning: It’s time to compare benefits and prices and change to a new plan or enroll for the first time. Open enrollment starts Nov. 1 for the ACA’s federal and state exchanges. Consumers can go online, call, or seek help from a broker or other assister to learn their 2024 coverage options, calculate their potential subsidies, or change plans. (Appleby, 10/31)