Health Care Reform

A group of 19 senators sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to rethink its appeal of a recent court decision permitting the use of copay accumulator programs that help patients pay for their drugs.

The pharmaceutical giant has launched a telehealth-connected website to allow patients to directly order the weight loss drug, as well as insulin products and a migraine drug, direct from the company.

Federal regulations require health insurers to promptly hand over records to patients facing claim denials within 30 days, however, Anthem, Aetna and UnitedHealth blew past the 30-day deadline in a recent ProPublica investigation.

Prior authorization was conceived to rein in health care costs by eliminating duplicative treatment, however, critics worry it has now become a way for insurance companies to save money, often at the expense of patients' lives.

Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark R. Warner, who both have championed to lower the cost of prescription drugs, applauded Sanofi, Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly – the three major insulin manufacturers – for slashing prices, effective Jan. 1, 2024.

The new year brings a host of new health care industry changes and regulatory compliance issues that will challenge employers--and they'll be looking to their broker partners to help them stay ahead of deadlines and keep abreast of new legislation.