Newsletter Jan 5th2020
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INDUSTRY HEADLINES: January 5th, 2020 |
| Democrats and Republicans promised to lower drug prices. Instead they’ve gone up again |
CNN
Drug makers hiked prices on hundreds of medications for 2020, just weeks after the Trump administration advanced efforts to curb rising drug costs by importing medicine from abroad but legislation stalled in Congress. Manufacturers jacked up the list prices on 457 brand name drugs by an average of 5.1%, as of Friday, according to GoodRx, a website that provides cost comparisons and consumer discounts.
| Health coverage changes include mandate to hold medical insurance in 2020 |
Chico Enterprise-Record
The new year brings sweeping change to several state health coverage laws, from a health insurance mandate to new coverage opportunities for undocumented young adults. According to a new tax mandate by California, residents without health insurance this year will pay a penalty on 2021 tax returns. The mandate is the Managed Care Organization provider tax, part of Assembly Bill 115. The penalty fine for not having health insurance for a full year is whichever is higher: Either $695 per adult and $347.50 per child, per household, or, if higher, 2.5% of the annual household income above the state tax filing threshold.
| Beyond the ACA: Healthcare legal fights to watch in 2020 |
Healthcare Dive
All eyes were on the legal drama over the Affordable Care Act as 2019 drew to a close — and while that case remains a focus for this year — a lot more is also at stake. Payers and providers are fiercely contesting a price transparency push from the Trump administration that would force privately negotiated rates out into the open. The administration is also being challenged over regulations regarding risk corridor payments to payers and the expansion of association health plans.
Courtesy Healthcare News from the Desk of Kevin McPeak,
Global Sales Director, ISI. kmcpeak@isiww.com P: 610.716.0400
