Why Drug Prices Keep Going UP
Price hikes on existing drugs and new medications coming to market are the primary contributors to rising prescription drug prices, a new study published in Health Affairs reveals.
Humana Announces New Value-Based Contracting Program
n the latest sign that private payers are moving compensation into value-based contracting, Humana announced four participants in its new Hospital Incentive Program (HIP).
Insurers Convert Nearly Half of Business to Value-Based Payments
The Health Care Transformation Task Force, a 41-member group that includes some of the nation's top health systems and payers, revealed Dec. 18 that members have made substantial progress toward transitioning to value-based payment arrangements.
Winners & Losers Amid CMS’ Prescription Drug Policy Changes
CMS issued a proposed rule Nov. 26 that would allow insurers to implement broader use of step therapies or drop coverage of certain protected classes of drugs if price increases outpace inflation. Below is a breakdown of the winners and losers under the proposed rule changes.
Patients Paid to Choose Less Expensive Prescription Drugs
UnitedHealthcare introduced a new program Oct. 29 that incentivizes members to choose less expensive prescription drugs.
Medicare Advantage Organizations Overturned 75% of Their Denials
A recent investigation by the U.S. Office of Inspector General found between 2014 and 2016, Medicare Advantage organizations overturned 75 percent of their preauthorization and payment denials upon appeal.
Value-Based Payments Will Improve Care 18% of Physicians Say
Although 47 percent of physicians' compensation is tied to quality or value, only 18 percent of physicians say these payment will improve care or cut costs, a report from Merritt Hawkins found.
Drug Prices Soar After Shortages
Amid a shortage, drug prices increase at roughly twice their usual rate, suggesting that pharma companies may be exploiting drug shortages to increase profits, according to a new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Drug-Pricing Report: Wells Fargo Reports Rise in Price of 60 Drugs
Drugmakers increased the price of 60 products August — a sharp decline from July, which saw 110 price increases, according to a Wells Fargo drug-pricing report.
Most Consumers Would Prepay For Prescriptions For A Discount
Sixty-four percent of consumers reported that they would jump on an opportunity to prepay for medications to receive a discounted price, according to a survey from DrFirst, a provider of e-prescribing and patient medication management solutions.