FAQs about the Inflation Reduction Act’s Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program January 31, 2024 Issue Brief The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently issued initial guidance describing CMS’s plans for implementation of the new Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program, which was established by the Inflation Reduction Act. These FAQs address several questions related to Medicare’s drug price negotiation program and how CMS intends to implement the new program, with a focus on the details that apply for 2026, the first year that negotiated prices will be available under this new program.
The Two Health Care Cost Crises January 18, 2024 From Drew Altman In this column, KFF President and CEO Drew Altman explores the nation’s twin health cost crises of affordability, especially for people who are sick and need a lot of health care, and national health spending, and why the solutions often work at cross purposes.
How History Has Shaped Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities: A Timeline of Policies and Events January 11, 2024 Page This timeline offers a historical view of significant U.S. federal policies and events spanning the early 1800s to today that have influenced present-day health disparities. It covers policies that directly impacted health coverage and access to care, relevant events in medicine, social and economic policies and developments that influence health, and efforts to tackle inequalities.
How Medicare’s New Drug Price Negotiation Program Could Expand Access to Selected Drugs September 26, 2023 Issue Brief This brief examines how Part D enrollees’ access to and utilization of the first set of 10 selected drugs could be affected by the new Part D coverage and formulary requirements for selected drugs established by the Inflation Reduction Act and in CMS guidance, as well as the potential for lower out-of-pocket costs.
Medicaid Utilization and Spending on New Drugs Used for Weight Loss September 8, 2023 Blog This brief discusses Medicaid coverage of weight-loss drugs, recent trends in Medicaid utilization and gross spending on new drugs used for weight loss, and the potential implications of those new drugs for Medicaid programs and enrollees.
What are the Implications of New Anti-Obesity Drugs for Racial Disparities? July 24, 2023 Blog This policy watch discusses some of the potential implications of the new anti-obesity drugs for racial equity.
Climate-Related Health Risks Among Workers: Who is at Increased Risk? June 26, 2023 Issue Brief Adults of color, noncitizens, and adults with lower educational attainment and incomes are disproportionately employed in occupations with increased climate-related health risks. Moreover, workers in occupations with increased climate-related health risks are more likely to be uninsured, contributing to challenges accessing health care.
Recent Widening of Racial Disparities in U.S. Life Expectancy Was Largely Driven by COVID-19 Mortality May 23, 2023 News Release During the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. population experienced the most significant two-year decline in life expectancy in roughly a century, according to new research by KFF, with data showing that COVID-19 deaths disproportionately impacted people of color and exacerbating longstanding racial disparities in life expectancy. While overall U.S. life expectancy declined…
What is Driving Widening Racial Disparities in Life Expectancy? May 23, 2023 Issue Brief This analysis examines trends and racial disparities in life expectancy, leading causes of death by race and ethnicity, and discusses the underlying factors that drive disparities in life expectancy.
What Could New Anti-Obesity Drugs Mean for Medicare? May 18, 2023 Blog In this piece, we discuss Medicare coverage of obesity treatments, the potential cost implications if Medicare covers anti-obesity drugs, and how the Inflation Reduction Act could potentially address these cost concerns.