Transparency has led to uniformity in healthcare costs—but not necessarily lower prices: white paper

By Noah Tong - Price transparency regulations are leveling the cost landscape for consumers, but that doesn’t always lead to lower prices, according to a new report from Turquoise Health. Read Full Article… 

HVBA Article Summary

1. Transparency Legislation and Cost Control: Bipartisan regulations aim to reduce healthcare costs by increasing transparency and addressing price disparities for the same services across different providers and insurers.

2. Price Convergence Trends: Price transparency has led to more consistent rates, but lower-tier prices are rising, and the overall goal of reducing consumer costs remains unclear.

3. Outpatient vs. Inpatient Services: Outpatient services show more price convergence due to easier comparison, while inpatient services like ICU beds remain less affected.

Almost 75% of ACA buyers will not compare plans for 2025

By Michael Popke - The vast majority of the millions of individuals in the market for Affordable Care Act (ACA) health coverage lack critical information necessary to make informed and confident decisions about their insurance in 2025. Read Full Article… ^{_{(Subscription required)}}

HVBA Article Summary

1. Widespread Unawareness of Enrollment Deadlines: Many independent workers (82%) are unaware of enrollment deadlines, and 73% don't plan to review or shop for new health plans.

2. Premium Increases Highlight Need for Plan Review: Premiums are set to rise by 7%, potentially increasing costs for those not reviewing their plans, underscoring the need for better education.

3. Confusion and Lack of Information Hamper Decision-Making: Most workers (78%) are frustrated by the insurance process, with 75% feeling underinformed about making confident coverage decisions.

White House says health insurance needs to fully cover condoms, other over-the-counter birth control

By Amanda Seitz - Millions of people with private health insurance would be able to pick up over-the-counter methods like condoms, the “morning after” pill and birth control pills for free under a new rule the White House proposed on Monday. Read Full Article… 

HVBA Article Summary

1. Expanded contraceptive access: The rule lets millions get birth control, condoms, and Plan B without a prescription, removing cost barriers.

2. Political context: VP Kamala Harris promotes women’s health access, contrasting with Donald Trump’s role in reversing abortion rights.

3. Cost-saving for women: The rule mandates insurers cover contraceptives without co-pays, ensuring timely and affordable access.

Novo seeks to block compounders' Ozempic copies

By Tina Reed - Novo Nordisk is pushing the FDA to block compounders from making copies of its Ozempic and Wegovy, saying the weight-loss treatments are too complex to safely replicate. Read Full Article…

HVBA Article Summary

1. Pharma vs. compounders: The battle focuses on whether compounders can make cheaper versions of drugs like Wegovy during shortages, impacting competition and access.

2. Cost gap: Compounders offer drugs for $100/month, while Novo’s version costs over $1,300, raising financial stakes.

3. Safety vs. profits: Novo cites safety risks in compounding, but critics argue the move aims to protect profits, not patients.

'Biosimilar' drugs are gaining market share, Tufts researchers find

By Allison Bell - The market for the new, expensive biologic drugs created by living drugs may be normal. A team of researchers led by Molly Beinfeld, a public health researcher at Tufts Medical Center, has published evidence for that possibility in a new paper on what happens when "biosimilar," or competitors to biologics, show up.Read Full Article… ^{_{(Subscription required)}}

HVBA Article Summary

1. Biosimilar Competition Does Not Raise Drug Costs: Beinfeld's team found no evidence that competition from biosimilars increases drug spending.

2. Rapid Biosimilar Adoption After Payer Coverage: Biosimilar use grows quickly once payers include them in formularies, driving market competition.

3. Biosimilars Dramatically Lower Original Drug Prices: After four years, biosimilars reduced the price of original drugs by 91%, showing strong market competition.

The value of caregiving support in the workplace

By Keri Robertson and Molly Minnick - An increasing number of working adults are now caring for their parents, with many also caring for their own children, not to mention themselves. Being stretched so thin takes a toll on the caregiver's health and personal life. Read Full Article… ^{_{(Subscription required)}}

HVBA Article Summary

1. Productivity Impact: Caregiving reduces productivity by 18.5%, costing businesses up to $33 billion annually, while also causing physical and emotional strain on employees.

2. Caregiver Challenges: Balancing work and caregiving leads to stress, disrupted schedules, and lack of self-care, increasing the need for employer support.

3. Employer Solutions: Offering flexible schedules, mental health benefits, and caregiving resources helps reduce stress and improve productivity and employee retention.

Why advisors shouldn't offer one technology solution to clients

By Frank Mengert - Benefit consultants know that there's no "one-size-fits-all" approach to building benefit packages for clients. Instead, you create tailored packages for each client by evaluating their unique needs and finding the best products from different carriers. Read Full Article… ^{_{(Subscription required)}}

HVBA Article Summary

1. Limited client satisfaction: A single technology solution often fails to meet diverse client needs, risking mismatched services and strained relationships.

2. High costs and resource strain: Managing one technology platform is expensive and requires internal expertise, which can hurt the firm's finances and stability.

3. Loss of clients: Offering only one solution signals inflexibility, pushing clients to seek consultants who provide more customized options.