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☆ Turning 26 and Struggling to Find Health Insurance? Tell Us About It.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-25 | by ( Elisabeth Rosenthal | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

A hard-won provision of the Affordable Care Act allows young adults to stay on their family’s insurance until age 26. But after that, those without employer-based insurance face an array of complicated choices, including whether to shop on the insurance plan exchanges, apply for Medicaid or roll the dice and go uninsured. Are you a young adult confused about navigating the exchanges used to pick plans? Have you married or taken a job just to get insurance? I’m a longtime health journalist who has worked at both The New York Times and KFF Health News, an independent news organization covering health policy.

Persons: I’m Organizations: Affordable, Medicaid, New York Times, KFF Health

☆ Gilead’s twice-yearly shot to prevent HIV succeeds in late-stage trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Angelica Peebles | In Angelicapeebles | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Gilead 's experimental twice-yearly medicine to prevent HIV was 100% effective in a late-stage trial, the company said Thursday. The results bring Gilead one step closer to introducing a new form of pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, and broadening its HIV business. If those results are positive, the company could bring lenacapavir for PrEP to market as soon as late 2025. RBC Capital Markets analyst Brian Abrahams expects Gilead's shot will significantly increase the number of people interested in preventive HIV medicine. In its statement disclosing the lenacapavir trial results Thursday, Gilead said it plans to share an update on how it plans to address access in such countries where people suffer high incidence rates of HIV.

Persons: Gilead, Jared Baeten, Gilead's Truvada, Bruce Richman, Tim Oliver, they'd, Brian Abrahams, Gilead's, — CNBC's Leanne Miller Organizations: Food and Drug Administration, PrEP, Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, Health, FDA, RBC Capital Locations: U.S, New York

☆ A Heat Wave Is Coming: Here’s How Paramedics Are Preparing
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-18 | by ( Dionne Searcey | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A heat wave is bearing down on large parts of America, forcing emergency workers to prepare for what could be record-breaking numbers of people in heat distress. An excessive heat watch was in effect for southern New England, where forecasters warned of dangerous heat and humidity starting on Tuesday and lasting through Friday. It’s the first severe heat wave of the year for that part of the country. When temperatures rise, it’s easy to overheat and, when that happens, important to cool off fast. “There are definitely some health conditions where we have to be mindful of how quickly we correct the abnormality.

Persons: It’s, ”, Aisha Terry Organizations: George Washington University Hospital, American College of Emergency Physicians Locations: America, New England, Washington

☆ Trump claims credit for Biden’s insulin price cap
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-08 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Former President Donald Trump on Saturday recognized that the price of insulin is lower under President Joe Biden, but he still wants voters to credit his own administration. "Low INSULIN PRICING was gotten for millions of Americans by me, and the Trump Administration, not by Crooked Joe Biden. Insulin price caps have become a central piece of evidence for Biden's broader economic argument on the campaign trail against Trump. "And now I want to cap the cost of insulin at $35 a month for every American who needs it!" For Trump's part, the former president signed an executive order in the last year of his administration to issue his own $35 price cap on insulin.

Persons: Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Crooked Joe Biden, Trump, Biden Organizations: Trump Administration, Trump, Democratic, U.S, CNBC, Obama, ACA, Crooked Locations: KFF

☆ Alphabet's new CFO was in the middle of the GLP-1 boom. Now she's onto generative AI
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-06 | by ( Jennifer Elias | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

Alphabet announced on Wednesday that Eli Lilly Chief Financial Officer Anat Ashkenazi will be its new CFO after an almost year-long search. Shares of Eli Lilly have soared 90% in the past year and are trading at a record. When she joined Eli Lilly in 2001, she came in through the company's new venture capital division, which was co-founded by her then-spouse Ron Laufer. Fastest growth in decadesFounded in 1876, Eli Lilly has long been one of the major U.S. pharmaceutical companies. But the last couple years have marked a period of historic growth for Eli Lilly due to the exploding popularity of GLP-1s.

Persons: Anat Ashkenazi, Eli Lilly Eli Lilly Alphabet's, Ruth Porat, Eli Lilly, Ashkenazi, it's, Eli Lilly's, David Ricks, Morgan Stanley, Sundar Pichai, Hollie Adams, Ron Laufer, John Smiley, Eli, It's, Trump, Eli Lilly's Covid, we're, Askhenazi, OpenAI's, Larry Page, Sergey Brin, CNBC's Eric Rosenbaum, Toby Lyles Organizations: San, San Francisco Bay Area, Google, Economic, Bloomberg, Getty, CNBC, Tel Aviv University, Hebrew University, U.S . Food, Drug, U.S . Department of Justice, FDA, Reuters, Employees, NBC Locations: U.S, Indiana, San Francisco Bay, Davos, Switzerland, Israel, biopharma, North Carolina, Germany, New Jersey

☆ US has the highest rate of maternal deaths among high-income nations. Norway has zero
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-04 | by ( Jacqueline Howard | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

And the rate of maternal deaths among Black women in the United States remains even higher, at nearly 50 deaths per 100,000 live births, the new report shows. Meanwhile, half of the high-income nations in the new report had fewer than 5 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, and one country recorded zero maternal deaths: Norway. The three nations with the lowest maternal death rate were Norway with zero, Switzerland with a rate of 1 death per 100,000 live births and Sweden with about 3 deaths per 100,000 live births. The US maternal mortality rate fell from 32.9 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 2021 to 22.3 per 100,000 in 2022, according to data from the CDC. “Maternal deaths are a preventable problem, and this problem can be solved.

Persons: ”, Munira Gunja, ” Gunja, “, Dr, Laurie Zephyrin, Dimes, —, –, Tochi, Michelle Owens, ” Owens, “ ACOG, Christopher Zahn, ” Zahn, Sanjay Gupta, Roe, Wade Organizations: CNN, Commonwealth Fund, International Program, Health, ”, US Centers for Disease Control, Organisation for Economic Co, CDC, World Health Organization, “, Commonwealth, American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Obstetricians, CNN Health Locations: United States, Norway, Australia, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland, Covid, U.S, United Kingdom, Long Island , New York, Jackson , Mississippi, States, Commonwealth

☆ Rival U.K. Political Leaders Clash in Bad-Tempered Election Debate
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-04 | by ( Stephen Castle | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The two contenders to become Britain’s next prime minister clashed angrily over tax, immigration and health policy on Tuesday in a televised debate that at times descended into ill-tempered exchanges as the political rivals talked over each other. The confrontation came exactly a month before a pivotal general election that will determine whether the opposition Labour Party can capitalize on its strong lead in opinion polls and end 14 turbulent years of Conservative-led government during which the party has had five different prime ministers. Almost as soon as the debate started, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak claimed that his opponent, the Labour leader Keir Starmer, would raise taxes on Britons by 2,000 pounds a year if he won the election, repeating the claim numerous times. “Absolute garbage,” Mr. Starmer eventually responded. The Labour Party said that the figure was based on faulty assumptions, and Jonathan Ashworth, a senior party lawmaker, claimed in an interview with Sky News after the debate that Mr. Sunak was lying.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Keir Starmer, Mr, Starmer, Jonathan Ashworth, Sunak Organizations: Labour Party, Conservative, Labour, Sky News

☆ Nestle to launch Vital Pursuit frozen-food brand targeting GLP-1 users
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-21 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Nestle is launching a new frozen-food brand, Vital Pursuit, aimed at the growing market of consumers who are using GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. In October, Walmart's U.S. CEO John Furner told Bloomberg that people who pick up GLP-1 drugs from its pharmacies are buying less food, typically with fewer calories. But Nestle sees an opportunity to cater to those consumers through Vital Pursuit. Vital Pursuit's packaging won't include mentions of GLP-1 medications, but Nestle said the company will more directly connect the brand to the drugs on social media. The food company expects that its global growth will slow this year as inflation-weary consumers buy less of its products.

Persons: Oprah Winfrey, Elon, Morgan Stanley, John Furner, Nestle, Steve Presley, Laffy, Ferrero, Presley Organizations: Nestle, Walmart's U.S, Bloomberg, Vital, North, CNBC, Toll, Lean, Swiss Locations: U.S, GLP

Blum turned to programs mostly in states where abortion access — and, by extension, abortion training — is likely to remain protected, like California, Colorado, and New Mexico. The AAMC analysis found the number of applicants to OB-GYN residency programs in abortion ban states dropped by 6.7%, compared with a 0.4% increase in states where abortion remains legal. For internal medicine, the drop observed in abortion ban states was over five times as much as in states where abortion is legal. The AAMC analysis notes that even in states with abortion bans, residency programs are filling their positions — mostly because there are more graduating medical students in the U.S. and abroad than there are residency slots. Stulberg and others worry that this self-selection away from states with abortion restrictions will exacerbate the shortages of physicians in rural and underserved areas.

Persons: — Isabella Rosario Blum, Blum, —, “, ”, Atul Grover, ” Jack Resneck Jr, Wade, Resneck, Beverly Gray, Gray, Duke, Rohini Kousalya Siva, Kousalya Siva, “ We’re, Debra Stulberg, Stulberg, Hannah Light, Olson, Dr, Sanjay Gupta Organizations: Health, —, Association of American Medical Colleges, KFF Health, OB, Research, Action Institute, American Medical Association, Duke University School of Medicine, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington , D.C, D.C, American Medical Student Association, Department of Family Medicine, University of Chicago, University of California, CNN, CNN Health, Residents, KFF Locations: Arizona, California , Colorado, New Mexico . Arizona, Seattle, Midwest, U.S, North Carolina, Washington ,, Maryland , New Hampshire , New York, Washington, Virginia, Tennessee, San Francisco, California, New York

James Lemons was carrying daughter Kensley on his shoulders at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade when he felt a bullet enter the back of his right thigh. In the chaos of being shot at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade, then hospitalized, Sarai Holguin lost her purse and cellphone. In the chaos of being shot at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade, then hospitalized, Sarai Holguin lost her purse and cellphone. A bullet went through the jaw of Mireya Nelson during the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade on Feb. 14, 2024. Erika NelsonMireya Nelson, who was shot during the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade on Feb. 14, 2024, undergoes her first physical therapy session while still in the hospital.

Persons: James Lemons, Sarai Holguin, Mireya Nelson, it’s, ” Lemons, Nelson, Lemons, Kensley, Detectives, ”, —, Jaxson, “ I’m, Brandie, I’m, “ I’ve, I’ll, Leslie Carto, Brendan Campbell, Campbell, Louis, ” Punch, Bram Sable, “, They’ve, ’ Sarai Holguin, Holguin, she’d, Cesar, Christopher Smith, Lisa Lopez, Galvan, Lopez, didn’t, ” Holguin, “ It’s, ” Campbell, Holguin isn’t, Erika, Mireya, ” Mireya, ” Erika, aren’t, Punch, Erika Nelson Mireya Nelson, Erika Nelson Mireya, ’, Dr, Sanjay Gupta, Erika doesn’t Organizations: CNN, Kansas City Chiefs Super, Chiefs, University Health, ” University Health, Surgeons, Connecticut Children’s, Control, American College of Surgeons, Trauma, KFF, Union, KFF Health, Mexican Consulate, Centers for Disease Control, Get CNN, CNN Health, KC Locations: Mexico, U.S, Holguin, Harrisonville , Missouri, Kansas City, Connecticut, St, Puebla, Missouri, Mexican, Jackson, Belton , Missouri, downtown, KCUR

☆ More than 3 million Medicare patients could be eligible for coverage of Wegovy to reduce heart disease risks, study says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

But some eligible beneficiaries could still face out-of-pocket costs for the highly popular and expensive drug, KFF said. Certain Medicare prescription drug plans may also wait until 2025 to cover Wegovy. Medicare's budget could be strained as more plans cover the costs of Wegovy. Among the Medicare beneficiaries who are obese or overweight and have a history of heart disease, 1.9 million also have diabetes, according to KFF. That makes them already eligible for Medicare coverage of other GLP-1 drugs approved for that condition.

Persons: KFF Organizations: Novo Nordisk, Medicare, Drug Administration, Novo Locations: London, Britain, U.S

☆ Majority of women in states that banned abortion want legal access, survey shows
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-06 | by ( Katie Balevic | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

In states that have banned abortion, a majority of women still want legal access, a survey found. Voters have largely supported abortion access since Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022. AdvertisementA majority of women living in states that have banned abortion want legal access to the procedure, a new survey shows. An abortion survey released by KFF, a nonprofit health policy research group, polled 1,316 adults, about half of whom were women. The respondents resided in all 50 states and Washington, DC — including the 14 states that have banned abortion and 11 that have gestational limits.

Persons: Roe, Wade, —, KFF Organizations: Voters, Service, Business Locations: Washington

☆ Certain work shifts may harm your health later in life, study finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Kristen Rogers | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

More dire long-term consequences may also be at play, according to new research on the associations between work patterns in young adulthood and health outcomes later in life. Multiple studies have shown how irregular work hours can harm overall health and social life, but the new paper views the relationship through a “life-course” approach, observing how work patterns affect health throughout adulthood instead of one point in time. Despite the challenges of today’s work schedules, health experts say there are strategies people can use to mitigate the negative impacts. Additionally, still having some kind of routine or schedule around that shift can make it easier to fit in those health-promoting activities — especially sleep, Yao added. And past research has found that refraining from eating late at night counteracts the negative effects of shift work on health, he added.

Persons: ”, Wen, Han, ” Han, White, Xiaoxi Yao, wasn’t, Yao, ” Yao, “, Leana Wen, Wen wasn’t, Azizi Seixas, Christian Benedict, Han’s, ” Benedict, Benedict, ” Seixas Organizations: CNN, Silver School of Social, New York University, Longitudinal Survey, Mayo Clinic, “, George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Uppsala University Locations: midlife, Minnesota, Sweden

BOSTON (AP) — Financially embattled hospital operator Steward Health Care has struck a deal to sell its nationwide physician network to Optum, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group, as it works to stabilize its finances. Maura Healey has said state monitors are keeping eye on the nine health care facilities operated by Steward Health Care in Massachusetts, including hospitals in some of the state’s poorer communities. Emails to Steward Health Care and Optum seeking comment were not immediately returned. Democratic U.S. Sen. Edward Markey said for-profit companies that participate in the health care system must understand that their decisions have direct impacts on patients and communities. “After years of gross profiteering and mismanagement, Steward’s latest plan raises more serious questions about the future of the Massachusetts health care system," Warren said in a written statement.

Persons: —, Maura Healey, Optum, David Seltz, ”, ” Seltz, Ronald Mariano, Democratic U.S . Sen, Edward Markey, ” Markey, “, Sen, Elizabeth Warren, Steward’s, Warren, Steward Organizations: BOSTON, Health Care, UnitedHealth, Steward Health Care, Department of Public Health, Steward, Democratic Massachusetts, Democratic U.S ., Health, Education, Labor, Primary Health Locations: Massachusetts, The Dallas, Boston, U.S

☆ Why Abortion Is Back at the Supreme Court - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-26 | by ( Melissa Murray | Kate Shaw | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

In his majority opinion in the case overturning Roe v. Wade, Justice Samuel Alito insisted that the high court was finally settling the vexed abortion debate by returning the “authority to regulate abortion” to the “people and their elected representatives.”Despite these assurances, less than two years after Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, abortion is back at the Supreme Court. In the next month, the justices will hear arguments in two high-stakes cases that may shape the future of access to medication abortion and to lifesaving care for pregnancy emergencies. These cases make clear that Dobbs did not settle the question of abortion in America — instead, it generated a new slate of questions. The first case, scheduled for argument on Tuesday, F.D.A. At issue is the law’s interaction with state laws that severely restrict abortion, like an Idaho law that bans abortion except in cases of rape or incest and circumstances where abortion is “necessary to prevent the death of the pregnant woman.”

Persons: Roe, Wade, Samuel Alito, Dobbs, America —, ” Organizations: Jackson, Health Organization, Supreme, Alliance, Hippocratic, Food, Labor Locations: America, Idaho

☆ Biden Should Campaign on Making Americans Live Longer Again - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Ashwin Vasan | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The U.S. government’s strategic response to attack this cruel disease abroad was PEPFAR, an American initiative that has saved more than 25 million lives and shaped my understanding of what muscular public health policy could accomplish. Today, as New York City’s health commissioner and a practicing doctor, I see a desperate need for similar focus and ambition here in the United States. Because of chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease — along with drug overdoses, suicide, violence — the United States has not. When developing countries needed H.I.V. When the world needed a Covid-19 vaccine, we combined government-funded research with private initiative and an enormous distribution campaign.

Persons: Biden, Covid Locations: U.S, American, New York, United States, America

While White House officials say they have largely reached the limits of their power to protect abortion rights, the issue has emerged as a linchpin of their re-election strategy. The tour is part of a White House initiative led by Ms. Harris to highlight abortion rights. The mere sight of a top Democratic official walking into an abortion clinic will offer the clearest illustration yet of how the politics of abortion rights have shifted for the party — and the nation. Mr. Biden has promised to restore federal abortion rights and preserve access to medication abortion, which faces new threats from a case set to be argued before the Supreme Court this month. He barely mentioned abortion rights during his 2020 campaign, a reflection of his discomfort with discussion of the issue and how little his strategists believed abortion energized swing voters.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Harris, Roe, Wade, Tim Walz, . Walz, Betty McCollum, shied, Biden’s, Donald J, Mr, Biden, ”, Reid J, Epstein Organizations: White, The, of Family, Gov, Minnesota, Democratic, Republicans Locations: Twin Cities, Minnesota, KFF, Texas, Roe

KQED/KFF Health News —A much-awaited treatment for postpartum depression, zuranolone, hit the market in December, promising an accessible and fast-acting medication for a debilitating illness. Miriam McDonald, who developed severe postpartum depression and suicidal ideation after giving birth in late 2019, battled Kaiser Permanente for more than a year to find effective treatment. Her doctors refused to prescribe brexanolone, the only FDA-approved medication specifically for postpartum depression at the time. Insurers’ policies for zuranolone will be written at a time when the regulatory environment around mental health treatment is shifting. In the meantime, Burkhard said, patients suffering from postpartum depression should not hold back from asking their doctors about zuranolone.

Persons: “, Meiram Bendat, ”, Joy Burkhard, KP’s, Kaiser, Miriam McDonald, ” McDonald, KP, Nico, Keith McDonald, brexanolone, “ Kaiser Permanente, ” “ Kaiser, Burkhard, “ It’s, Dr, Sanjay Gupta, ” Burkhard Organizations: KQED, KFF, brexanolone, FDA, zuranolone, OB, Center, Maternal Mental, Kaiser Permanente, NPR, Department of Labor, Maternal Mental Health, Medicaid, Cal, U.S . Department of Labor, CNN, CNN Health, KFF Health Locations: ”, “ Kaiser, California

The stop by Ms. Harris at the Planned Parenthood clinic was believed to be the first official visit by a vice president to an abortion clinic. We have to be a nation that trusts women.”Image Ms. Harris visited a Planned Parenthood clinic in St. Paul, Minn., on Thursday. Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota were almost bare — all have restricted abortion access since the overturning of Roe. But the fall of Roe upended those politics, energizing a new generation of voters energized by their support for abortion rights. “Please do understand that when we talk about a clinic such as this, it is absolutely about health care and reproductive health care.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Minn, Harris, ”, “, Jenn Ackerman, Roe, Wade, energizing, Biden, Lake, Biden’s, Donald J, Trump, Ms, Undem, Mr, Paul, Sarah Traxler, Tim Walz Organizations: Minn, ., The New York Times, Democrats, Democratic, Paul Health Center, Administration, Gov, The, of Family, State Legislature, Biden Locations: St, Paul, Minnesota, . Minnesota, Iowa . Nebraska , North Dakota, South Dakota, Gaza, KFF, Democratic, Vandalia, “ Minnesota, States

☆ 5 things you can do to lower your ER bill — or avoid one in the first place
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-07 | by ( ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Business Insider spoke with three experts who shared tips on how you can lower your bill or avoid one. Nonprofit health policy organization KFF estimated that people in the US owed at least $220 billion in medical debt in 2021. Business Insider spoke with Gordon and two additional experts who shared tips for how patients can lower a big medical bill — or avoid one altogether. Review your bill for possible errorsIt sounds obvious, but searching your bill for inaccuracies can lead to big savings. AdvertisementBe smart about where and when to get careThere are a few other things you can do to avoid a big medical bill.

Persons: —, Dr, Jerome Adams, who's, Deb Gordon, Gordon, AnnMarie McIlwain, McIlwain, Virgie, Ellington, they're, it's Organizations: Business, Service, Alliance of Professional Health, Umbra Health, Crush, Google, Medicare, Emergency Medicine

☆ How sleep can affect diabetes risk, according to new study
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Kristen Rogers | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Sleep is an important lifestyle factor in reducing risk for type 2 diabetes, a new study has found. In terms of risk for type 2 diabetes, there wasn’t a significant difference between those with normal sleep and those who slept six hours. And even for those who ate the healthiest, their diet didn’t offset the effects of insufficient sleep on diabetes risk. The findings are also based on participants’ recollections of their food and sleep habits, according to the study. Confirming a causal relationship “would require randomized trials intervening on sleeping habits to increase sleep time and see if this reduces risk of diabetes in those at risk, e.g.

Persons: CNN —, Dr, Diana Nôga, ” Nôga, ”, Leana Wen, Wen wasn’t, ” Wen, Naveed Sattar, ” Sattar, Wen Organizations: CNN, JAMA, biosciences, Uppsala University, Lighthouse Films, George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, University of Glasgow Locations: Sweden, United Kingdom, Scotland, “

☆ Few large employers alter abortion coverage after Supreme Court ruling
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Tami Luhby | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Large employers did not make many changes to their abortion coverage after the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision that allowed states to ban or severely restrict abortion, according to a new analysis from KFF. Some 12% of large firms whose biggest plan covers abortion under most or all circumstances added or expanded abortion coverage after the ruling, found KFF, a nonpartisan health policy research organization. Large public employers, such as state and local governments, were less likely to provide abortion coverage than private for profit or nonprofit firms. The prevalence of abortion coverage also depends on where large employers are headquartered. Among very large employers with 5,000 or more workers, the share is 19%.

Persons: that’s Organizations: CNN, Survey, Meta, JPMorgan Chase, Starbucks

CVS, which owns health insurer Aetna, on Wednesday slashed its full-year profit outlook, citing the potential for higher medical costs to bite into its profits. Last month, Humana said it saw an even bigger jump in medical costs in the fourth quarter. Higher medical costs may be a larger problem for Humana than they are for CVS and other insurers. They added that there is no other part of Humana's business that could meaningfully dampen the hit from higher medical costs on the insurance side. Another insurance giant that has been seeing higher medical costs, UnitedHealth Group, also has large health-care services and pharmacy operations that diversify its earnings streams.

Persons: Humana Organizations: CVS, Aetna, Medicare, Elevance, Humana, UBS, UnitedHealth

☆ Do we simply not care about older adults in the US?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Judith Graham | Kff Health News | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

KFF Health News —The Covid-19 pandemic would be a wake-up call for America, advocates for the elderly predicted: incontrovertible proof that the nation wasn’t doing enough to care for vulnerable older adults. Around 900,000 older adults have died of Covid-19 to date, accounting for 3 of every 4 Americans who have perished in the pandemic. Many seniors at high risk aren’t getting antiviral therapies for Covid, and most older adults in nursing homes aren’t getting updated vaccines. The pandemic made things worsePrejudice against older adults is nothing new, but “it feels more intense, more hostile” now than previously, said Karl Pillemer, 69, a professor of psychology and gerontology at Cornell University. But as a society, we don’t value older adults or the people who care for them,” said Robert Kramer, 74, co-founder and strategic adviser at the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care.

Persons: —, ”, Alice Bonner, I’m, Karl Pillemer, “, ’, ’ ”, Andrew Achenbaum, Achenbaum, Covid, Edwin Walker, Robert Kramer, Kramer, John Rowe, Anne Montgomery, Allen Power, ” Power, it’s “, ” Pillemer Organizations: Health, America, CDC, Institute for Healthcare, gerontology, Cornell University, Texas Medical Center, Aging, Department of Health, Human Services, National Investment Center, Seniors Housing & Care, ”, Columbia University’s Mailman, of Public Health, National Committee, Preserve Social Security, Schlegel, University of Waterloo Research Institute, National Academy of Medicine’s, Healthy, University of Southern, Cornell, Kaiser Health, KFF Locations: Houston, Canada, University of Southern California

And yet, an antiviral treatment proven to lessen the chances of severe outcomes is going underused. The drug, Paxlovid, is lauded by experts as a powerful tool that can prevent hospitalization and death from COVID-19. One Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study found that Paxlovid can decrease hospitalization risks among adults by 51%. The study by Harvard researchers found that Paxlovid was disproportionately given to Medicare patients with lower risk of severe infection. “There are very few medications and very few patients whose potential medication interaction with Paxlovid is so severe that they’re better off not taking Paxlovid,” he said.

Persons: they’ve, ”, Amesh, Paxlovid, Kurt Proctor, Celise Ballow, Ballow, “ I’m, I’m, … I’m, ” Ballow, ’ ”, Sarah George, Michael Barnett, Robert Wood Johnson Organizations: Johns Hopkins University, Disease Control, Pfizer, National Community Pharmacists Association, St, Louis University, Harvard, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, AP Locations: COVID, U.S, Junction , Utah, Paxlovid, Harvard

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