Health Care Reform

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.

The average employed person with diabetes misses nearly 5.5 days of work each year because of illness, which translates to roughly $650 in lost wages.

The Choose Medicare Act, which has been introduced in Congress, would increase health coverage by 3.6 million people, according to the Urban Institute, which conducted a study on the new coverage and its cost effects.

State programs also are focused on expanding benefits and addressing social determinants of health.

As CEO of Cost Plus Drug Co., Mark Cuban is telling other CEOs: "If the big 3 PBMs, which also own the insurance companies, lose 5 of the top 15 non-PBM Fortune 50 companies, their business practices are going to change."