by Tom Barrett | Apr 1, 2016 | Employer Issues, General Health, General Insurance Issues, Health Policy, Healthcare Issues, Healthcare Reform, Managed Care - Group Health, National News, News and Events, Pharmacy Costs, Pharmacy, PBMs and Pharma Costs, Providers, Uncategorized
There’s a lot in the news these days about what’s referred to as the opioid crisis or epidemic. Just yesterday for instance — highly respected healthcare consultant (and close friend) Joe Paduda, fresh off of speaking at a national drug summit in Atlanta, wrote...
by Mike Barrett | Mar 7, 2016 | Employer Issues, General Health, General Insurance Issues, Health Policy, Healthcare Issues, Healthcare Reform, Managed Care - Group Health, National News, Uncategorized
This is hot off the presses. The most important announcement this past week is that HHS published the increased out-of-pocket regulations for 2017. Originally, the ACA was to cap deductibles at $2,000. That seems like a long time ago and was never really followed. In...
by Mike Barrett | Feb 8, 2016 | Employer Issues, Health Policy, Healthcare Issues, Healthcare Reform, Managed Care - Group Health, Pharmacy Costs, Pharmacy, PBMs and Pharma Costs, Providers, Uncategorized
We are finding some crazy Rx trends that are translating into real world cost and care issues for our clients and their employees. Here’s a prime example. We recently found that a type 2 diabetes drug (GLUMETZA) increased in cost by 900%, nearly overnight. After...
by Tom Barrett | Jun 8, 2015 | Employer Issues, Health Policy, Healthcare Issues, Healthcare Reform, Medicare Medicaid, National News, Uncategorized
We’re keeping an eye on it; and, apparently so are many of the states. The healthcare reform law includes a waiver that, starting in 2017, would let states take federal dollars now invested in the implementation of the Affordable Care Act and redirect them and...
by Tom Barrett | May 7, 2015 | Employer Issues, General Health, Health Policy, Healthcare Issues, Uncategorized
The IRS released this week the inflation adjusted limits for health savings accounts (maximum contributions) and HSA-compatible health plans (minimum deductibles and maximum out-of-pocket costs). 2016 IRS Limits* Type of Limit Single Plan Family Plan Maximum HSA...
by Mike Barrett | Feb 24, 2015 | Announcements, Employer Issues, General Health, General Insurance Issues, Healthcare Issues, Healthcare Reform, National News, News and Events, Providers, Uncategorized
And What’s Being Done to Protect Those Affected… After attending a meeting, corresponding with an Anthem representative, and monitoring their website for updates, here’s more information on who’s at risk from the recent cyber attack and what steps Anthem...
