WASHINGTON (Reuters)—U.S. Food and Drug Administration chief, Scott Gottlieb, criticized pharmacy benefit managers, health insurers and drugmakers on Wednesday for “Kabuki drug-pricing constructs” that profit the industry at the expense of consumers. The comments, made at a conference organized by a leading U.S. health insurer lobbying group, stoked speculation over what steps the administration of…
As 2018 Obamacare Deadline Nears, U.S. States Believe Every County Covered
NEW YORK (Reuters)—U.S. states have negotiated to the bitter end to keep health insurers selling Obamacare plans in every county next year, in some cases taking a hard-line to prevent exits that leave residents without access to health coverage. But states cannot rule out a last-minute pullout by an insurance company. Insurers must sign government…
CMS Announces 90% Cut to Obamacare’s Advertising Budget
WASHINGTON (Reuters)—The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) said on Thursday it plans to spend $10 million on advertising for the upcoming Obamacare open enrollment period that starts in November, a sharp cut from the $100 million spent last year. The agency also said it will cut funding for so-called navigators, who help…
As Obamacare Repeal Falters, Insurers Start to Press on Subsidies
NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters)—A failed Republican effort to replace Obamacare raised new concerns on Tuesday for U.S. health insurers over whether the government will continue to fund billions of dollars in medical benefit subsidies. The healthcare bill under consideration in the U.S. Senate would have settled the funding question, but was scrapped after Republican leaders were…