Drop-Out Rate For Those Covered By Health Law Slightly Higher Than Predicted
The 13 percent of people who dropped coverage is more than predicted, since HHS had been actively trying to weed out problematic applications, but the attrition of nearly 1.6 million is in a "reasonable range."
The Associated Press:
About 1.6M Drop-Outs From Health Law Coverage This Year
About 1.6 million people who signed up for coverage this year under President Barack Obama's health care law dropped out by the end of March, according to administration figures released late Thursday. The report from the Health and Human Services department said some 11.1 million people were still signed up. But that's a drop of nearly 13 percent from the 12.7 million who initially enrolled for subsidized private coverage this year. Those dropouts failed to seal the deal by paying their premiums. (6/30)
In other national health care news —
Politico:
Anti-Opioid Bill Touted By Vulnerable Republicans Hits Snag
Republicans looking to pass legislation addressing the nation’s opioid crisis and Zika epidemic before skipping town to campaign for the summer are running into a nettlesome problem: Senate Democrats. The Senate minority blocked a $1.1 billion Zika funding proposal due to what they called “poison pill” riders earlier this week. And now, as Republicans try to wrap up House and Senate conference negotiations on fighting the spread of heroin and prescription pill addiction, Democrats are demanding that Republicans plow new funding into combating opioids. ... Democrats’ renewed demands for appropriating new spending, rather than authorizing spending but not actually providing new funds, could have serious political implications for Republicans. (Everett and Haberkorn, 6/30)
The Washington Post:
Americans Were More Worried About Ebola Than They Are About Zika
The global spread of the Zika virus and its links to severe birth defects have yet to worry most Americans, and few are taking measures to limit their exposure to the mosquito-borne disease, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. Two-thirds of Americans say they are “not too” or “not at all” worried about Zika infecting them or a family member, while one-third are at least “somewhat worried.” Fewer Americans are concerned about Zika infections today than were worried about the deadly Ebola epidemic at its height. (Dennis, Sun and Clement, 6/30)
Bloomberg:
Anthem-Cigna Meltdown Might Spark Deals for Smaller Health Plans
A breakup of Anthem Inc.’s $48 billion bid for Cigna Corp., under scrutiny by U.S. antitrust regulators, could spark new deals for smaller health plans in a continued wave of industry consolidation. Smaller insurers could become targets for Cigna, including WellCare Health Plans Inc., Centene Corp. and Molina Healthcare Inc. Anthem, meanwhile, may chase after assets that might be sold by industry rivals Aetna Inc. and Humana Inc. as they seek approval for their $35 billion tie-up. (Tracer and McLaughlin, 6/30)
Bloomberg:
Drug, Device Makers Gave U.S. Doctors, Hospitals $6.49 Billion
U.S. doctors and teaching hospitals got $6.49 billion in research and speaking fees, food and other goods or services from drug, biotechnology and medical-device companies in 2015, according to an annual report by the government. The data released Thursday represent the second full year of disclosures from the industry, describing financial links with clinicians who prescribe and use their products. The amount paid by manufacturers is on par with 2014, when they made $6.43 billion in payments. (Chen and Tracer, 6/30)