12/2/11 – The Affordable Care Act requires states to establish one-stop marketplaces where consumers can choose a private health insurance plan. Earlier this week, the Department of Health and Human Services issued nearly $200 million in grant funding to help a number of states set up health insurance exchanges.
12/1/11 – Today is World AIDS Day and marks the 30th year since the beginning of the epidemic that has killed 30 million people worldwide. Over the past 30 years more than three dozen drugs have been developed and approved to treat HIV/AIDS.
11/29/11 – Yesterday, the Health Systems Redesign: Brooklyn Work Group, a work group of the New York State Medicaid Redesign Team (MRT), issued its final report to DOH Commissioner Shah. This work group was charged with assessing the strengths and weaknesses of Brooklyn hospitals and their future viability.
11/28/11 – It’s a bit dated but I’ve recently come across a Health Affairs article from January 2011 on the cost effectiveness of medication adherence. While previous research has shown a link between medication adherence and health cost savings, this study provides the strongest proof yet of the relationship.
11/18/11 – It often goes under the radar but prescription drug abuse is becoming a major problem in our country. Just two weeks ago, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the abuse of prescription drugs, for non-medical purposes, has reached epidemic levels.
11/18/11 – Yesterday’s Washington Post ran an article that highlights an interesting twist on the upcoming Supreme Court’s review of the federal health care reform’s insurance mandate. Supreme Court justices have also decided to review the law’s provision to broaden Medicaid eligibility to approximately 17 million new individuals.
11/17/11 – The NYS Business Council was joined by state elected officials and executives from locally-based life sciences companies in Buffalo yesterday to explain how growing the biopharmaceutical sector will have a big impact on New York’s economy.
11/17/11 – While we’re on the topic of chronic disease prevention, patient advocacy groups should remind their members about the Great American Smokeout, which starts today.
11/17/11 – This is a great development for Medicaid recipients who are worried about chronic disease prevention — one of the largest insurers in New York is now offering diabetes prevention programs to Medicaid recipients for the first time.
11/10/11 – The Associated Press is reporting that a new study from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) concludes that state cuts to mental health services are having a serious impact on access to care. The practical effect on the day-to-day lives of low income persons living with mental illness is that these cuts are coming at a time of increased demand for services.