Consumer Driven Health Care

The average employer-sponsored health insurance premium for US families rose 7% this year – same as last year, according to the annual KFF survey of 2,100 companies.

The American Hospital Association has urged Pres. Biden to take immediate steps to address the "substantial shortages" of lifesaving products, since the closure of a major medical supply plant in North Carolina due to Hurricane Helene.

White households consistently held significantly more wealth than did Black and Hispanic households across income levels.

As a result of Hurricane Helene and the backlog from the suspended dockworkers' strike, "the market will be highly constrained," said Jesse Schafer, executive director of the Healthcare Industry Resilience Collaborative.

Usage could plummet if Congress fails to renew the current premium subsidy levels, the ACA exchange manager warns.

Texas is the latest state to join the legal fight with drug manufacturers and pharmacy benefit managers over the cost of insulin, which has increased 1,000% over the last decade, said AG Ken Paxton.

Now that the first round of price negotiations is complete, CMS' new guidelines will provide more time for drugmakers to make counteroffers, as selected drugs for round 2 will be announced by Feb. 1, 2025.

Nearly half of Americans report that a candidate's positions on lowering drug costs and mental health care policy are important in determining their vote in.