Why Telehealth Advocates Are Calling on the Trump Administration to Withdraw New Telemedicine Rules

By Marissa Plescia - For about half a decade now, Americans have had the ability to receive controlled substances via telehealth because requirements were relaxed during the Covid-19 pandemic. This has greatly expanded access particularly for those in remote areas. Read Full Article…

HVBA Article Summary

1. Restrictions on Telehealth Prescribing: The DEA’s proposed special registration rule would allow clinicians to prescribe Schedule III-V medications via telemedicine but imposes strict limitations on Schedule II drugs. These restrictions include requiring prescribers to be physically located in the same state as the patient and capping telehealth prescriptions for Schedule II drugs at 50%, which advocates argue undermines the accessibility and flexibility of telehealth services.

2. Concerns Over the Buprenorphine Rule: While the new rule permits patients to receive a six-month supply of buprenorphine for opioid use disorder via telemedicine, it mandates an in-person visit afterward. Critics argue this could disrupt care for vulnerable populations and increase the risk of relapse and overdoses, as patients may struggle with in-person access after six months.

3. Push for Policy Revisions: Telehealth advocates are urging the Trump administration to withdraw or modify these proposed rules, citing concerns that they interfere with clinical judgment and create unnecessary barriers to patient care. They specifically call for eliminating the 50% threshold for Schedule II prescriptions, removing geographic restrictions on prescribing, and making national Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) checks more feasible.

Trump administration indefinitely suspends meetings of HHS' health IT advisory committee

By Heather Landi - The Trump administration indefinitely canceled meetings of the Health Information Technology Advisory Committee (HITAC), an advisory panel that helps the federal government establish rules and standards for the use of healthcare data and technologies. Read Full Article…

HVBA Article Summary

1. Indefinite Suspension of HITAC Meetings Creates Uncertainty: The ONC has indefinitely canceled all HITAC meetings, raising concerns about the future of health IT policy and advisory functions. The lack of clarity on when HITAC will resume operations has generated uncertainty about regulatory efforts surrounding healthcare technology, particularly in areas like AI and interoperability.

2. Legal and Compliance Concerns Over HITAC's Suspension: HITAC member Deven McGraw argues that halting HITAC meetings places HHS in violation of the 21st Century Cures Act, which mandated the committee’s creation and defined its responsibilities. The ONC is required to collaborate with HITAC on interoperability initiatives and policy recommendations, making the suspension a potential legal issue.

3. Impact on Health IT and AI Policy Development: HITAC has played a key role in shaping national policies on health IT, including AI regulation and interoperability standards. With its work paused, there are concerns that progress in these areas will slow significantly, disrupting efforts to establish clear guidelines for the responsible use of technology in healthcare.

Updated: Drug prices likely to soar due to Trump tariffs, pharma bodies warn

By Anna Brown - Pharmaceutical industry groups caution that President Donald Trump’s tariffs on China, Mexico and Canada will likely exacerbate existing drug shortages in the US, raise drug prices and put generic manufacturers out of the market. Read Full Article…  ^{_{(Subscription required)}} 

HVBA Article Summary

1. Impact on Pharmaceutical Supply Chains: The US pharmaceutical industry heavily relies on imports, particularly from China for active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). The newly imposed tariffs will increase costs for drug manufacturers, exacerbating existing drug shortages and potentially making essential medications more expensive for patients.

2. Concerns from Industry Leaders: Key industry groups, such as the Association for Accessible Medicines (AAM) and the Healthcare Distribution Alliance (HDA), have warned that the tariffs will force generic drug manufacturers out of the market due to low profit margins. They are urging the Trump administration to reconsider including pharmaceuticals in the tariffs and to invest in domestic drug production to stabilize the supply chain.

3. International Retaliation and Trade Responses: Canada has responded with a 25% tariff on $107 billion worth of US imports, while Mexico has negotiated a one-month delay in its tariffs in exchange for strengthening border security. Some foreign pharmaceutical companies, like South Korea’s Celltrion, are taking preemptive steps by acquiring US factories to bypass import taxes.

The business case for supporting family caregivers

By Lois A. Bowers - Two recent developments reflect the increasing recognition that many workers have caregiving responsibilities outside of their jobs, and that employers can do something to alleviate the stress related to those responsibilities. In fact, these efforts suggest, employers that implement policies and benefits to make life easier for family caregivers will be putting themselves at a competitive advantage in the tight labor market. Read Full Article…

HVBA Article Summary

1. The Growing Impact of Family Caregiving on the Workforce: With an estimated 50 million Americans providing care for a loved one—over 60% of whom are also employed—family caregiving is increasingly affecting workers’ financial stability, career progression, and overall well-being. As the aging population grows, with 73 million Americans projected to be 65 or older by 2030, the demand for eldercare support in the workplace will only intensify.

2. Workplace Disparities in Caregiving Support: Research cited in the Milken Institute’s report highlights that 80% of caregivers believe companies are more accommodating of childcare responsibilities than eldercare. Given that eldercare is often unpredictable, triggered by sudden health events, organizations must recognize and address this disparity to better support employees managing both childcare and eldercare responsibilities.

3. How Employers Can Lead in Caregiver Support: Companies can implement adaptive work arrangements, such as flexible schedules and remote work, offer paid caregiving leave and financial resources, and integrate technology-enabled caregiving platforms. By prioritizing caregiver support, organizations can improve employee retention, engagement, and productivity, positioning themselves as leaders in an evolving workforce landscape.

Drugmakers increase prices on 800 medications: 5 things to know

By Alexandra Murphy - Drugmakers have raised the list prices of more than 800 prescription drugs — ranging from blood pressure medications to cancer treatments — by a median of 4% at the start of this year, The Wall Street Journal reported Jan. 28. Read Full Article…

HVBA Article Summary

1. Drug Price Increases Moderated: The average price increase for prescription drugs this year is lower than last year’s 4.5% rise, as pharmaceutical companies take a more cautious approach to avoid political scrutiny while securing support for industry priorities.

2. Widespread Impact on Major Drugmakers: Companies like Pfizer, Novartis, and Bristol-Myers Squibb have implemented price hikes on well-known medications, with some drugs seeing significant increases, such as Amgen's psoriasis treatment Otezla, which rose by 7% to $5,325 per month.

3. Higher Costs for Patients: While drugmakers justify price hikes by citing research costs and rebate structures, the increases often translate into higher out-of-pocket expenses for insured patients, particularly through larger deductibles and copays.

Majority of cyber insurers say risk to increase ‘slightly’

By Matthew Lerner - More than half the respondents, 58%, in Woodruff Sawyer & Co.’s annual survey of cyber insurers said cyber risk will increase “slightly” in 2025, according to a report Monday. This was up from 44% in 2024 but down from 74% in 2023. Read Full Article…

HVBA Article Summary

1. Cyber Risk Perception Trends: The percentage of respondents who believe cyber risk will “greatly” increase in 2025 has dropped to 37%, down from 56% in 2024 but still higher than 26% in 2023, indicating fluctuating concerns about cyber threats.

2. Cyber Insurance Pricing Shifts: Cyber insurance renewal costs have continued to decline, with 66% of renewals in the second half of 2024 seeing decreases, a trend that has significantly improved from prior years when renewal increases were far more common.

3. Key Cyber Threats in 2025: Technology supply-chain attacks, artificial intelligence risks, and privacy concerns remain the top factors contributing to cyber risk in 2025, shaping industry responses and insurance market dynamics.

New Data Shed Light on Who Stops Using GLP-1 Drugs, and Why

By Miriam E. Tucker - A majority of people with overweight or obesity prescribed glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) discontinue them within 1 year, with higher quit rates among those without type 2 diabetes (T2D), new research suggested. Read Full Article…

HVBA Article Summary

1. High Discontinuation Rates, Especially Among Non-T2D Patients: More than half (53.6%) of adults who started GLP-1 RA treatment discontinued it within a year, with higher rates among those without type 2 diabetes (64.8%) compared to those with T2D (46.5%). By two years, discontinuation rates reached 72.2% overall, highlighting significant adherence challenges.

2. Key Factors Influencing Discontinuation and Reinitiation: Discontinuation was associated with factors such as older age, higher income (linked to lower discontinuation), weight loss, and gastrointestinal side effects. Among those who stopped, reinitiation within a year was more likely if they had regained weight but was lower among older individuals and those who previously experienced GI adverse events.

3. Implications for Policy and Clinical Practice: Experts emphasize the need for improved insurance coverage, especially for non-T2D patients, and personalized treatment strategies that address affordability, side effects, and weight management goals. The study underscores the importance of long-term support for patients using GLP-1 RAs for sustained weight and metabolic benefits.

What would make workers comfortable with cash-for-coverage plans?

By Allison Bell - Some people like the idea of using an employer's cash to buy their own health coverage, many want the employer to buy the coverage, and it's possible that 2% of U.S. adults are already using employer-sponsored cash-for-coverage health plans. Read Full Article… ^{_{(Subscription required)}} 

HVBA Article Summary

1. Preference for Employer-Managed Health Plans: The survey found that most participants prefer their employer to handle health plan selection rather than receiving a stipend to shop for their own coverage. Only 20% favored using the employer’s cash to buy their own insurance, while 54% preferred employers to offer multiple plan options and 26% preferred a single employer-selected plan.

2. Mixed Comfort Levels with ICHRA: While 69% of respondents expressed some level of comfort with employers providing a cash stipend for health coverage, concerns remain. The biggest worries include choosing the wrong plan (30%) and paying too much (29%). Additionally, 63% believed that employer guidance in shopping for coverage would improve the experience.

3. Low Awareness but Growing Adoption of ICHRAs: A significant 78% of participants reported knowing little or nothing about Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements (ICHRAs), yet 2% indicated they are already using them. If extrapolated nationwide, this suggests approximately 6 million ICHRA users, aligning with expert estimates of around 5 million users.