Big Changes Coming To Medi-Cal, The State’s Health Plan For 40% Of Californians

Starting Jan. 1, two groups of people that had not been eligible for full-scale Medi-Cal will gain access: low-income adults ages 26-49 and some people who are disabled or older than 64. On the other hand, some current Medi-Cal enrollees will lose coverage.

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Proposals On PBMs And Medical Devices Advanced By House Subcommittee

The House Committee on Energy and Commerce health subcommittee pushed forward 21 proposals on Tuesday, some of which will restrict the power of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). Democrats supported many of the proposals put forward by Republicans, including legislation reining in PBMs that had support from 60 organizations representing patients, providers, pharmacists, small businesses and ...

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CMS Tightening Network Adequacy Standards For Exchange Plans

Beginning in 2025, health plans sold in state-run insurance exchanges would be required to meet time and distance standards that are at least as adequate as mandated on federal marketplaces, according to a rule released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on Wednesday. Time and distance standards would be calculated at the ...

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Beyond Insulin: Medi-Cal Expands Patient Access to Diabetes Supplies

June Voros sprang from her couch as a high-pitched beep warned her that she needed a quick dose of sugar. Her blood sugar was plummeting, and the beep came from a continuous glucose monitor attached to her abdomen. The small but powerful device alerts Voros when her blood sugar is dangerously high or low. “My blood sugar ...

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Boom In Weight-Loss Drugs To Drive Up U.S. Employers’ Medical Costs In 2024 – Mercer

Booming demand for newer weight-loss and diabetes drugs is expected to accelerate the rise in medical expenses for employers in the United States next year, staff health benefits consultant Mercer said on Friday. GLP-1 medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration could contribute between 50 and 100 basis points to the trend, Mercer’s ...

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U.S. To Offer More Free COVID Tests Nationwide

The U.S. government on Monday will start taking orders for another round of free COVID-19 tests for delivery across the country, a Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) spokesperson said. Households that had ordered four free tests through COVIDTests.gov when they were offered again in September are eligible to order four more, while those that did ...

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Drug Ads Must Be More Upfront About Side Effects, FDA Says

The Food and Drug Administration has finalized a long-running effort to require prescription drug ads on TV and radio to clearly lay out potential side effects and when a person should avoid a medicine. Why it matters: While the number of drug ads has surged and they account for billions of dollars in direct-to-consumer marketing, experts say they primarily rely ...

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FTC Sues To Block John Muir Health’s Acquisition Of Tenet Hospital

Regulators allege the $142.5 million deal to buy the remaining stake in San Ramon Regional Medical Center would further reduce competition in and drive up prices.

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Your Relationship With Your Dog Is Vital, Science Shows

We’ve long said that dogs are man’s best friend — but studies finally back it up. Why it matters: At a time when loneliness has become a serious health concern, recent research suggests there’s something special about the way canine buddies boost our mood and longevity. Between the lines: It’s not just association — the idea that dog people might already ...

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What’s Being Done To Address Nevada’s Dire Mental Health Care Workforce Shortages?

Nevada ranks last in the country in overall mental health, according to a 2022 report released by UNLV that looks at the prevalence of mental health issues and access to care, among others. The state has faced long-standing issues of provider shortages for years, said John Packham, associate dean for the University of Nevada Reno’s School of ...

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