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☆ Why is there nostalgia for the Trump economy in the battleground states?
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Yet those numbers are reversed when asked to rate the state’s economy. In Wisconsin, negative views of the national economy outweigh positive ones by 16 points, while positive views of the state economy outweigh negative ones by 17 points. Across these battleground states, 46% of registered voters said their personal financial situation is headed in the right direction. Now, more than half of registered voters in the Wall Street Journal poll of battleground states said they either strongly or somewhat approve of the job Trump did as president. Biden is neck-and-neck with Trump among registered voters in those seven swing states on the question of protecting democracy.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Larry Summers, Summers, Biden, Ariel Edwards, Levy, Edwards, “ People’s, ”, It’s, Trump, Biden’s, Joe, Jill Biden, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, “ He’s, ” Jill Biden, Will, Sen, Bernie Sanders, Sanders “, George W, – Trump’s, Bush Organizations: CNN — Voters, Wall Street, Biden, Treasury, Federal Reserve, Gallup, Journal, Street, CBS, Vermont, White, Big Pharma, Medicare, CNN, Republican, Trump, Capitol Locations: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina , Nevada , Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, North Carolina, brag, Iraq

☆ Biden and Harris team up for a rare joint appearance in North Carolina to take on GOP over health care
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Arlette Saenz | Tami Luhby | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

It’s taking place on the heels of a campaign push slamming Trump for threatening to repeal the Affordable Care Act if he’s elected to a second term. Dunn argued the GOP plan shows “the Affordable Care Act is still very much under attack by Republican officials.”In contrast, Biden and Harris are expected to highlight the success of the Affordable Care Act and discuss efforts to expand access to health care and lower prescription drugs costs. Biden’s team also hopes the popularity of the Affordable Care Act and proposals to lower health care and prescription drug costs will resonate with voters at the ballot box. More than 45 million people in total have gained coverage through the Affordable Care Act, according to the Biden administration. Roy Cooper had advocated for the Affordable Care Act provision for years, finally convincing the Republican-led legislature to drop its long-standing opposition.

Persons: Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, mifepristone, Tuesday’s, It’s, Trump, “, Biden, Harris, ”, Anita Dunn, he’s, Dunn, Roy Cooper, Josh Stein, Mark Robinson, Cooper Organizations: Washington CNN, Raleigh, Democratic, Trump, Marist, Union, Republican, Affordable, White, What’s, American, Children’s Health Insurance, Medicare enrollees, Medicare, Medicaid, Democratic Gov, GOP, Senate, Gov Locations: North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Georgia , Wisconsin , Michigan, Nevada, Arizona, New Hampshire, Texas, Southern, Georgia, South Dakota, Florida, Kansas, Mississippi

☆ Medicare spending on Ozempic and similar diabetes drugs soars, study finds, and it could end up costing seniors
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Tami Luhby | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Medicare shelled out $5.7 billion on Ozempic and other similar diabetes drugs in 2022, up from $57 million in 2018, according to a new KFF analysis. Medicare began covering Ozempic for people with diabetes in 2018, with Rybelsus and Mounjaro joining in 2019 and 2022, respectively. The KFF study examined gross spending, which does not take into account any rebates paid by drug manufacturers that would lower Medicare spending. The drugs’ popularity and prices could end up raising costs for both the federal government and Medicare enrollees broadly. Medicare could choose Ozempic and Rybelsus for its drug negotiation program as early as 2025, KFF wrote, which could lower spending on the medications.

Persons: Mounjaro, ” KFF, KFF Organizations: CNN, Medicare, US Food and Drug Administration, Congressional

☆ Ozempic, Mounjaro and hundreds of other drugs become even more expensive in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Tami Luhby | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Novo Nordisk boosted the list price of Ozempic by 3.5% to $969 for a four-week supply. Eli Lilly last month raised the list price of Mounjaro by 4.5% to $1,069 for a four-week supply. However, they may have to pay the list price if they are uninsured or have not yet hit their annual deductible. Former President Donald Trump, who is running for election again, also unveiled several proposals and issued executive orders aimed at lowering drug costs during his administration. Another factor is the recent policies that penalize pharmaceutical manufacturers for raising list prices faster than inflation.

Persons: Drugmakers, Eli Lilly, Eli Lilly’s Zepbound, Ozempic, Eli Lily, Marlene Foss, Foss, “, ”, Mark Rapp, Rapp, ’ ”, Mark Rapp's, grandkids, ” Rapp, Joe Biden’s, Donald Trump, We’ve, Antonio Ciaccia, we’ve Organizations: New, New York CNN, Ozempic, Novo Nordisk, CNN, Food and Drug Administration, Nordisk’s, Mounjaro, Medicare, ”, White House Locations: New York, Portugal, Doylestown , Pennsylvania, Italy, Mansfield , Ohio, Ohio, Idaho

☆ Over a million boomers on Medicare could save big on prescription drugs next year
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Allie Kelly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewSome Medicare recipients could save thousands of dollars on out-of-pocket drug costs next year as even more boomers reach their spending threshold. In 2023, 50.5 million Medicare beneficiaries were enrolled in Part D plans. About 65 million people in total are enrolled in Medicare, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. If the national cost cap had been in place in 2021, KFF estimates that 1.5 million Medicare beneficiaries would have seen relief. Are you a Medicare beneficiary who has seen relief from the out-of-pocket drug cost cap?

Persons: —, Joe Biden's, California Medicare enrollees Organizations: Service, Medicare, Business, Kaiser Family Foundation, Institute, Social Security, Centers, Medicaid Services, California Medicare, Services Locations: California, California , Florida , Texas , New York, Pennsylvania

Three names in the industry – Johnson & Johnson , Merck and Bristol Myers Squibb – face a pivotal few weeks ahead. They join Bristol Myers Squibb CEO Chris Boerner, who agreed to the panel's initial invitation to appear. But why is the committee targeting Merck, J&J and Bristol Myers Squibb in the first place? J&J, Merck and Bristol Myers Squib are all suing to halt the talks, which will establish new prices that will go into effect in 2026. Bristol Myers Squibb's Opdivo is an immunotherapy used to treat cancers, including melanoma and lung cancer.

Persons: Annika Kim Constantino, – Johnson, Sen, Bernie Sanders, Joaquin Duato, Robert Davis, Chris Boerner, Sanders, Eli Lilly's, Januvia, Bristol Myers, He's, Biden, Merck's, Myers, Eliquis, Mike Perrone, it's Organizations: CNBC.com, Johnson, Merck, Bristol Myers Squibb, Bristol Myers, Medicare, Bristol, CNBC, pharma Locations: U.S, drugmakers

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. In a 15-second video released to YouTube on Wednesday night, President Joe Biden promised the move would lower prices. It's the latest health policy pitch from a White House gearing up to make its efforts to tackle drug prices a central theme in next year's reelection campaign. Pharmaceutical companies have pushed back on the idea that prices alone are enough for Washington to act against a drug's patent. The plan could threaten future drugs, according to the pharmaceutical lobbying firm Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, or PhRMA.

Persons: —, Biden, Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Amy Klobuchar, Neera Tanden, Megan Van Etten, William Pierce, George W, Pierce Organizations: Service, Business, YouTube, White, Medicare, Health, Human Services, Pharmaceutical, Pharmaceutical Research, Manufacturers of America, HHS Locations: WASHINGTON, Sens, Minnesota, Washington

☆ The Biden administration is negotiating lower prices for 10 medications with drug manufacturers
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Noah Sheidlower | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Biden administration announced Tuesday it is beginning talks with drug makers behind 10 expensive medications to lower prices for recipients of Medicare, the national health insurance program for older Americans and people with disability status. The negotiations are expected to last until 2024, with the lower prices expected to go into effect in 2026. The Congressional Budget Office "estimated that price negotiation will lower average drug prices paid by Medicare and will reduce the budget deficit by $25 billion in 2031." "Negotiating provides us a critical tool to ensure they get those prescription drugs at lower prices – just as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has done for years." AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Biden administration has recently taken aim at high drug prices and high profits at pharmaceutical companies.

Persons: —, Biden, Juliette Cubanski, Harris, Xavier Becerra, Jardiance, Eli Lilly Organizations: Service, Congressional, Medicare, Biden, Harris Administration, Human Services, U.S . Department of Veterans Affairs, HHS, Centers, Services

Also included is diabetes treatment Jardiance, which was used by nearly 1.6 million Medicare enrollees and had a 2022 out-of-pocket cost per enrollee of $490. In all last year, 9 million seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries paid more than $3.4 billion on these 10 drugs alone, the White House said. “For decades, drug companies in America made record profits while big pharma worked to block Medicare from being able to negotiate lower drug prices for seniors. Even with with Tuesday's prescription drugs announcement, however, the process could still be complicated by lawsuits from drugmakers and sharp criticism from Republicans. Biden noted that the drug manufacturers' agreeing to participate followed a court decision allowing Medicare price negotiation plans to move forward.

Persons: Joe Biden, White, “, ” Biden, Biden, ” Organizations: WASHINGTON, Medicare, Services, Democratic, Biden Locations: America, Atlanta

The insurer said the rule, which would apply retroactively, was "arbitrary and capricious," and threatened "unpredictable consequences for Medicare Advantage organizations and the millions of seniors who rely on the Medicare Advantage program for their healthcare." Close to half of the approximately 65 million Medicare enrollees sign up for Medicare Advantage. Medicare Advantage plans differ from traditional Medicare because private companies offer them, and are reimbursed by the government for care. Though Humana is based in Louisville, Kentucky, it filed its lawsuit with the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Texas. The case is Humana Inc et al v Becerra et al, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas, No.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Humana, Biden, Xavier Becerra, District Judge Reed O'Connor, Becerra, Jonathan Stempel, Leroy Leo, Richard Chang Organizations: Humana Inc, REUTERS, U.S, overcharges, Medicare, Services, Jan, U.S . Department of Health, Human Services, CMS, Northern District of Texas, District, Fort, Affordable, Court, Northern District of, Thomson Locations: Queens , New York City, U.S, Louisville , Kentucky, Northern District, Northern District of Texas, New York, Bengaluru

☆ Here are the 3 most-used drugs on the Medicare price negotiation list
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Bottles of the drug Jardiance, made by Eli Lilly and Company, sit on a counter at a pharmacy in Provo, Utah, January 9, 2020. Two blood thinners and a diabetes medication are the drugs most widely used by Medicare beneficiaries among a list of 10 drugs that will be subject to price negotiations between manufacturers and Medicare. The list names drugs with the highest spending for Medicare Part D, which covers prescription medications, for the period from June 1, 2022, to May 31, 2023. Nearly 1.6 million Medicare enrollees used Jardiance during the same time period, according to the fact sheet. Medicare Part D also spent more on those three drugs during the time period than it did on the seven other medicines on the list.

Persons: Eli Lilly, Biden, Myers Squibb, enrollees, Johnson Organizations: Company, U.S, Medicare, Myers, Centers, Services, Pfizer Locations: Provo , Utah, Bristol

He said that once implemented, the prices on negotiated drugs will decrease for up to 9 million seniors who currently pay as much as $6,497 in out-of-pocket costs per year for these prescriptions. This kicks off the negotiation process for the 10 drugs whose new prices will go into effect in 2026. U.S. laws had prohibited Medicare from negotiating pharmaceutical prices as part of its prescription drug program that began about 20 years ago. CMS Director Dr. Meena Seshamani said Medicare plans to use a review process to make sure insurance companies keep clinically appropriate access to negotiated drugs. Two analysts said they expect the negotiated prices to move beyond Medicare and affect commercial markets for these drugs by 2026, when they come into effect.

Persons: Joe Biden, Jonathan Ernst, Biden, Joe Biden’s, Januvia, Xarelto, Johnson, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly's, Jardiance, Mohit Bansal, Entresto, Eli Lilly, Merck, Bristol Myers, Giovanni Caforio, Caforio, enrollees, Meena Seshamani, Stelara, Amgen, Evan Seigerman, Patrick Wingrove, Mike Erman, Manas Mishra, Nandita Bose, Caroline Humer, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Social Security, University of Tampa, REUTERS, U.S, Bristol Myers Squibb, Pfizer, Merck, Co's, Johnson, Novo Nordisk, NYSE Arca Pharmaceutical, U.S . Centers, Medicare, Medicaid Services, Reuters Graphics Wells, Novartis, AstraZeneca, Bristol, J, U.S . Department of Health, Human Services, BMO Capital, Thomson Locations: Tampa , Florida, U.S, Amgen's, Jardiance, Germany, Bengaluru, Washington

☆ Biden administration unveils first 10 drugs subject to Medicare price negotiations
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Fiasp and NovoLog, insulins made by Novo Nordisk The Medicare negotiations are the centerpiece of the Biden administration's efforts to rein in the rising cost of medications in the U.S. Drugmakers such as Merck and Johnson & Johnson and their supporters aim to derail the negotiations, filing at least eight lawsuits in recent months seeking to declare the policy unconstitutional. Drugmakers' legal challengesMerck, Johnson & Johnson, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Astellas Pharma are among the companies suing to halt the negotiation process. The suits make similar and overlapping claims that Medicare negotiations are unconstitutional. Biden and his top health officials have embraced the lawsuits as evidence that they're making progress in the fight to cut drug prices.

Persons: Biden, Joe Biden's, Boehringer Ingelheim, Johnson Januvia, Merck Farxiga, Novartis Enbrel, Amgen Imbruvica, AbbVie Stelara, Janssen, insulins, Johnson, Leigh Purvis, Drugmakers, drugmakers, Robert Davis Organizations: Bristol, Myers Squibb Jardiance, Johnson, Merck, AstraZeneca Entresto, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Medicare, Centers, Services, Biden, AARP Public, Institute, Congressional, Office, Myers Squibb, Astellas Pharma, U.S . Chamber, Commerce, Supreme, Court, Circuit Court, Pharma, White, Big Pharma Locations: U.S, Bristol

☆ Some Older Adults Are Being Charged Over $300 for the New R.S.V. Vaccine
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Dana G. Smith | More About Dana G. Smith | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Amanda Jaffe, 69, went to her local pharmacy at the Safeway in Helena, Mont., to get the R.S.V. Upon hearing the price (over $300), Ms. Jaffe thought “that’s ridiculous” and left without getting it. Several common vaccines, including those for the flu and Covid-19, are included under Medicare Part B, which provides medical coverage. vaccines, as well as a few others, including the vaccine for shingles, are covered under Medicare Part D, which pays for prescription drugs. As a result, Medicare enrollees without a Part D plan — roughly 16 million people — may have to pay for the R.S.V.

Persons: Amanda Jaffe, “, ” Ms, Jaffe, ”, Richard Hughes IV, Epstein Becker Green Organizations: Safeway, Medicare, Moderna, Centers, Medicaid Services, New York Times Locations: Helena, Mont

☆ Health insurance stocks slide after UnitedHealth warns more surgeries will drive up medical costs
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Health insurer stocks dropped on Wednesday after UnitedHealth Group warned of higher medical costs as older Americans start to catch up on surgeries they delayed during the Covid pandemic. Shares of UnitedHealth, the largest U.S. healthcare provider by market value, closed around 6% lower. Elevance Health closed roughly 7% lower, and CVS Health , which owns the insurer Aetna, slid nearly 8%. The company has recorded "strong outpatient care activity" throughout April, May and the early part of June, CFO John Rex said at a Goldman Sachs healthcare conference. Shares of medical device manufacturers Medtronic and Stryker jumped 2.5% and 4%, respectively, after UnitedHealth's remarks.

Persons: UnitedHealth, John Rex, Goldman Sachs, Medicare enrollees, Rex, Timothy Noel, Stryker, UnitedHealth's Organizations: UnitedHealth, Medicare, Humana, Elevance Health, CVS Health, Aetna, Insurance, Goldman, Healthcare, Tenet Healthcare

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