WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives today narrowly approved a bill to dismantle the Affordable Care Act. Legislators voted 217-213 to overturn many of the law’s popular consumer protections, eliminate the individual mandate, and recast the insurance market. “This bill delivers on the promises that we have made to the American people,” said House Speaker
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Starting tomorrow, hundreds of community pharmacists will be gathering in Washington, D.C., for the National Community Pharmacists Association 2017 NCPA Congressional Pharmacy Fly-In. NCPA said that on April 26 and 27 pharmacists will meet with members of Congress to advocate for a legislative agenda aimed at improving patient access to prescription drugs
NEW YORK — Entering the second quarter of 2017, the chain drug industry was awaiting answers to a couple of big, lingering questions. First, what will the chain drug landscape look like? A significant change in the field of players is likely in store pending antitrust clearance of Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc.’s (WBA’s) deal to
WASHINGTON — The effort to end Obamacare is not over, although whether the Affordable Care Act will be completely shelved or recast is unclear. Despite last month’s aborted House vote on a replacement bill, Republicans continue to seek an alternative to the ACA that the whole party — and possibly some Democrats — can get
CVS Health earlier this month named Tom Moriarty to the new position of chief policy and external affairs officer. As explained by president and chief executive officer Larry Merlo, the rationale behind the creation of the role is to “deliver an integrated approach to policy development and external engagement so the company can contribute to
WASHINGTON — Republicans remained divided on a replacement for Obamacare late last month, as a House vote on the replacement American Health Care Act was aborted due to lack of support for the bill. House leaders pulled back the legislation despite a vow from President Trump to leave Obama’s signature law in place if Congress
Any repeal or replacement of the Affordable Care Act shouldn’t impinge on pharmacy benefits for mental health patients, Genoa CEO John Figueroa said in a column for Managed Healthcare Executive. Figueroa noted in the article that last month the Senate mulled proposal to scale back or cut access to mental health services. Such a move would
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has called for bipartisan support for an overhaul of the Affordable Care Act, but his own party was divided on the issue. In his first speech to a joint session of Congress, Trump asked Republicans and Democrats “to save Americans from this imploding Obamacare disaster.” Reiterating his campaign rhetoric, the
WASHINGTON — The pace of growth in U.S. health care spending is expected to quicken this year, increasing 5.4% over 2016, according to a report by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Health care spending last year hit $3.4 trillion, an amount that represents a 4.8% increase from 2015, CMS said in a
WASHINGTON — Humana Inc.’s decision to pull out of the health insurance exchanges created by the Affordable Care Act threatens to cripple Obamacare before Republican lawmakers bent on its repeal can cobble together a replacement. The Humana decision came one day before the Trump administration issued a proposed rule that attempts to offer insurers more
WASHINGTON — Humana Inc.’s decision to pull out of the health insurance exchanges created by the Affordable Care Act threatens to cripple Obamacare before Republican lawmakers bent on its repeal can cobble together a replacement. The Humana decision came one day before the Trump White House issued a proposed rule that attempts to offer insurers
NEW YORK — More turbulence has hit the health insurance sector with the apparent breakup of the Anthem-Cigna merger and Humana Inc.’s plan to pull out of the exchange market. Anthem Inc. on Wednesday said it has filed a lawsuit in the Delaware Court of Chancery against Cigna Corp., which yesterday afternoon announced its aim
HARTFORD, Conn., and LOUISVILLE, Ky. — After being blocked by a federal court, Aetna Inc. and Humana Inc. have decided to terminate their $37 billion merger deal. The health insurance giants said Tuesday that, with the move, Aetna will pay Humana a $1 billion breakup fee. Aetna said it also has ended its agreement to
WASHINGTON — In his first executive order after taking office, President Donald Trump ordered federal agencies to waive or delay any provisions of the Affordable Care Act they consider onerous to individuals, states or insurers. The order contained few specifics, however, and raised more questions about the fate and direction of the country’s health care
