Hundreds laid off across region after Kaiser Permanente changes contractor
A new firm was selected to take on a contract for environmental services at all of the managed care company's facilities in Maryland, Virginia and the District. (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Physician Practices headlines)
Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Physician Practices headlines - January 28, 2022 Category: American Health Authors: Carley Milligan Source Type: news

Biosimilars Could Cut Spending for Biologic Therapy in the U.S.
FRIDAY, Jan. 21, 2022 -- Biosimilar drugs could drive down prices for biologic drugs and generate savings of about $38.4 billion between 2021 and 2025, according to a study published online Jan. 3 in the American Journal of Managed Care. Andrew... (Source: Drugs.com - Pharma News)
Source: Drugs.com - Pharma News - January 21, 2022 Category: Pharmaceuticals Source Type: news

Survey of Americans Who Attempted Suicide Finds Many Aren ’t Getting Care
The number of people who try suicide has risen steadily in the U.S. But despite gains in health coverage, nearly half are not getting mental health treatment. (Source: NYT Health)
Source: NYT Health - January 19, 2022 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Ellen Barry Tags: Suicides and Suicide Attempts Research Mental Health and Disorders Health Insurance and Managed Care JAMA Psychiatry (Journal) United States Greg Rhee Deaths (Fatalities) Source Type: news

New Government Website for Ordering Covid Tests Is Active
Visitors can go to covidtests.gov and click through to a Postal Service web page where they can order four tests per household, free of charge. (Source: NYT Health)
Source: NYT Health - January 19, 2022 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Sheryl Gay Stolberg and Lola Fadulu Tags: Coronavirus Omicron Variant Health Insurance and Managed Care Tests (Medical) Postal Service (US) Biden, Joseph R Jr Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) United States Politics and Government Source Type: news

Why Rapid Tests in Stores May Not Be Free Upfront at First
Not all health plans will be ready for the Covid tests to be free upfront at stores, relying at first on receipts and reimbursement. (Source: NYT)
Source: NYT - January 19, 2022 Category: American Health Authors: Sarah Kliff Tags: Tests (Medical) Health Insurance and Managed Care Politics and Government Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Shortages Prices (Fares, Fees and Rates) Drugstores Source Type: news

Why Rapid Covid Tests May Not Be Free Upfront at First
Not all health plans will be ready for the Covid tests to be free upfront at stores, relying at first on receipts and reimbursement. (Source: NYT)
Source: NYT - January 15, 2022 Category: American Health Authors: Sarah Kliff Tags: Tests (Medical) Health Insurance and Managed Care Politics and Government Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Shortages Prices (Fares, Fees and Rates) Drugstores Source Type: news

Doctors Debate Whether Trans Teens Need Therapy Before Hormones
Clinicians are divided over new guidelines that say teens should undergo mental health screenings before receiving hormones or gender surgeries. (Source: NYT Health)
Source: NYT Health - January 14, 2022 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Azeen Ghorayshi Tags: Teenagers and Adolescence Health Insurance and Managed Care Gender Hormones Mental Health and Disorders Transgender and Transsexuals Youth Psychology and Psychologists World Professional Association for Transgender Health your-feed-scien Source Type: news

Insurers Will Have to Cover 8 At-Home Virus Tests Per Month
The Biden administration announced the new guidelines as it continued to work to get coronavirus tests to people regardless of their insurance status. (Source: NYT Health)
Source: NYT Health - January 11, 2022 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Noah Weiland and Sarah Kliff Tags: Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Tests (Medical) Health Insurance and Managed Care United States Politics and Government Health and Human Services Department Source Type: news

CMS: Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals
Notice from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid and Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking comment on the following information collections: 1) Medicaid Program; Eligibility Changes under the Affordable Care Act of 2010; 2) Children's Health Insurance Program Managed Care and Supporting Regulations; 3) Requirements Related to Surprise Billing; Part II; and 4) Student Health Insurance Coverage. Comments are due by March 7, 2022. (Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - January 5, 2022 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news

A New Ban on Surprise Medical Bills Starts Today
If you have a medical emergency, you will no longer need to worry about a large bill from a doctor you did not choose. (Source: NYT)
Source: NYT - January 1, 2022 Category: American Health Authors: Margot Sanger-Katz Tags: Health Insurance and Managed Care Emergency Medical Treatment Consumer Protection Hospitals Doctors Ambulances Prices (Fares, Fees and Rates) Law and Legislation Regulation and Deregulation of Industry Content Type: Service Source Type: news

Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine Demonstrates 85 Percent Effectiveness against Hospitalization in South Africa when Omicron was Dominant
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J., December 30, 2021 – Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) (the Company) today announced new preliminary results from the South African Phase 3b Sisonke study which showed that a homologous (same vaccine) booster shot of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine (Ad26.COV2.S) demonstrated 85 percent effectiveness against COVID-19-related hospitalization. The study, conducted by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), showed that the Johnson & Johnson booster reduced the risk of hospitalization from COVID-19 among healthcare workers in South Africa after Omicron became the dominant variant...
Source: Johnson and Johnson - December 30, 2021 Category: Pharmaceuticals Tags: Innovation Source Type: news

A New Ban on Surprise Medical Bills Starts This Week
If you have a medical emergency, you will no longer need to worry about a large bill from a doctor you did not choose. (Source: NYT)
Source: NYT - December 30, 2021 Category: American Health Authors: Margot Sanger-Katz Tags: Health Insurance and Managed Care Content Type: Service Consumer Protection Law and Legislation Hospitals Doctors Emergency Medical Treatment Ambulances Prices (Fares, Fees and Rates) Source Type: news

Biden Administration Rejects Medicaid Work Requirements in Georgia
The decision continued the administration ’s rollback of the Trump-era policy, targeting the only remaining state with federal approval for the requirements. (Source: NYT)
Source: NYT - December 24, 2021 Category: American Health Authors: Chris Cameron Tags: Georgia Medicaid Health Insurance and Managed Care Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services United States Politics and Government States (US) Biden, Joseph R Jr Trump, Donald J Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Source Type: news

A Hearing Test for Babies Has Angered Parents
A more advanced screening method has turned a low-cost procedure into a pricier one, drawing complaints from customers. (Source: NYT Health)
Source: NYT Health - December 23, 2021 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Jay Hancock Tags: Babies and Infants Hospitals Health Insurance and Managed Care Pregnancy and Childbirth Consumer Protection Ears and Hearing Prices (Fares, Fees and Rates) Source Type: news

On More Generous Terms, Obamacare Proves Newly Popular
Sign-ups, which set a record, have been especially strong in states that had resisted expanding coverage under the Affordable Care Act. (Source: NYT)
Source: NYT - December 23, 2021 Category: American Health Authors: Margot Sanger-Katz Tags: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (2010) Health Insurance and Managed Care American Rescue Plan (2021) Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Brooks-LaSure, Chiquita Source Type: news