Your Weekly Dose of Health October 9, 2015

Medicare Part B premiums are set to rise by 52% for around 7 million Americans in 2016.  Read more here in USA Today.

The United Hospital Fund held their annual Gala this week at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.  Three New Yorkers—Howard P. Milstein, Arnold P. Gold, and Stephen Berger—won awards for their contributions to improving healthcare.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio advocated for Congress to reauthorize the Child Nutrition Act.  The act funds school breakfast and lunch programs, as well as summer programs.

Healthcare.gov is getting a reboot which should make it easier for people to shop for healthcare plans, and get answers to their questions.

Tom DiNapoli released a report detailing the costs associated with caring for New Yorker’s who have Diabetes.

Governor Jerry Brown of California signed a bill to legalize assisted suicide in the state.

The Washington Post reported that there were no new cases of Ebola in West Africa last week.  It’s the first week of no new cases since March of 2014.

Medication decisions should be based on medical necessity, not cost. New York’s step therapy policy requires patients to fail one or more, typically lower cost, medications before allowing them to “step up” to another, more expensive medication. Click here to learn more about this dangerous policy.