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Thank you to Applied Policy for sponsoring my show today.  Louisa Hart interviewed me to determine key health insurance marketplace dynamics impacting patient accessibility and affordability to health insurance on today's show.   Learn about the impact of rising healthcare costs and downstream impacts which affect managed care plans and ultimately patients.

We will discuss trading cost for value as a potential way to preserve health insurance coverage for patients who depend on it for their healthcare needs.

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Thanks for joining.   Today we will discuss a new trend call "drug repurposing" or the practice of finding new uses for brand products that have lost their patent protection.

Is this a way to lower drug costs or a bad idea going in the wrong direction?  You can review the article at:

https://www.psu.edu/news/research/story/qa-how-can-drug-repurposing-lower-drug-costs-and-improve-care

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Today we will review an interesting topic which came across my newsfeed over the weekend.   How are health systems addressing what they refer to as ultra high cost drugs and what are there potential management strategies.

The article from Becker's Hospital Review may be downloaded at:

 https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/pharmacy/health-systems-strategy-for-ultrahigh-cost-drugs/

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Twenty years after their groundbreaking research, we review Dr. McClellan and Dr. Cutler' research into a very intriguing question pertaining to the value of new innovation.   Even though several years have gone by, the message is still the same.

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The 340B program was established to offer "covered outpatient" pharmaceutical products at deeply discounted unit prices through purchases made by disproportionate share hospitals [providing care to low income patients] and other "covered entities".

New start up PBM entrants are offering employers a way to take advantage of the 340B program for their employees.

See the WSJ article at:   https://www.wsj.com/health/healthcare/prescription-drug-prices-340b-pharmacy-benefit-plans-6834cc08?reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

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Understanding the factors that have shaped the evolution of managed care over the past 30 years could offer valuable insights into the future development of health insurance plans and the markets they operate in.   Join me as we examine how managed care has changed and what the future might look like.

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The discrepancy in life expectancy for Baltimore city residents is eye-opening.  Some Baltimore communities may expect to live to 66 (the same as Pakistan) years while other communities may expect much higher life expectancy.   Let's examine ways to improve life expectancy through aligning incentives within the health system both in Baltimore and around the world.

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We will be reviewing a real-world situation impacting the State of Delaware's self funded insurance plan and their health plan members.   Costs are rising due to some extent by Ozempic and as expected premium cost increases are under consideration.   

The article may be accessed at:   https://www.delawarepublic.org/politics-government/2024-07-22/delaware-paid-over-12-million-more-on-weight-loss-drugs-than-expected-trend-increases-to-follow

The body in charge of state employee health insurance plans prepares to vote on new trend increases after ending the year in a $10 million deficit. 

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As downward cost pressures continue to stress and overburdened healthcare delivery system, health insurance plans continue to increase cost sharing to health plan members.   These cost sharing increases are placing insurance out of reach for many Americans.   We will examine alternatives to "cost minimization" by insurers and evaluate quality and value-based approaches that lower costs and improve patient health outcomes.

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Join me as we explore new and innovative approaches to control healthcare costs and improve patient outcomes.

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