Consumer Driven Health Care

Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Mike Braun wrote a letter to HHS last week to investigate high drug prices – and any role played by health insurers' shared ownership with the pharmacies that often fill the prescriptions.

Instead of conducting an investigation into each bill for medical expenses submitted by insureds, the insurer employs a Medical Bill Audit system designed to reduce the amount USAA pays for health care claims.

The American Medical Association passed a resolution supporting coverage for "evidence-based treatment of obesity, including FDA-approved medications without exclusions," which puts pressure on insurers and employers.

Congress is considering legislation that would equalize payments for certain services regardless of where they are provided, but for now, patients need to have doctors send the order to a commercial lab like Labcorp or Quest.

One in five said they already have gotten the new vaccine that became available in September, with an additional 28% saying they definitely or probably will do so.

Since the FDA greenlighted Novavax last month, clinical studies claiming less fevers and fatigue have driven people with long COVID and chronic fatigue syndrome to seek out the protein-based vaccine.