Consumer Driven Health Care

The PwC Health Research Institute queried health plans on multiple factors, which could help employer plan sponsors take action now to deflect some of the "cost inflators" predicted to boost medical spending next year.

The Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over Medicare, introduced a bipartisan bill on Thursday – the latest move by Congress to rein in pharmacy benefit managers by creating independent audit efforts.

More health care options are available for Florida employers as Curative expands, while NBG and Nava Benefits combine to rebuild health plans to save mid-sized employers money - and take benefits complexity off HR's plate.

Merck, AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb and Boehringer Ingelheim have signed agreements to participate in the first round of Medicare drug price negotiations, while the remaining drugmakers have until Oct. 1 to decide.

Last week, reports of people being denied insurance coverage for the new vaccines surfaced as the shots were being rolled out to pharmacies, however, insurers have assured HHS Secretary Becerra they are "fully covering" the shots.

The House and Senate have until Saturday, Sept. 30 to pass a spending deal, which means congressional gridlock is poised to at least temporarily shut down certain health programs, like the drug price negotiations set to begin Oct. 1.