Trump admin defends IRA drug price negotiation program in Novartis lawsuit
The Trump administration, perhaps surprisingly, chose to defend the legality of the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA’s) drug price negotiation program enacted under President Joe Biden. In a filing Feb. 19, the government agreed with the legal arguments used by the prior administration and by a lower court, dealing a blow to pharmaceutical drugmakers enraged by the program. […]
Walgreens Closures: This Will Worsen ‘Pharmacy Deserts’ Across the U.S.
October 15, 2024, WASHINGTON, DC – Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) today announced plans to close approximately Walgreens 1,200 stores, representing roughly 10% of its global locations, as part of a larger strategy to streamline operations and bolster profitability. The closures will take place over the next three years and 500 will shutter in the U.S. by […]
Reduce wait times by allowing patients to seek care of out of country
The European Union has set an example for how to reduce health-care waitlists. Canada should follow suit It’s no secret that if you need elective surgery in Canada, you’d better be prepared to wait for a very long time. Is the problem a shortage of doctors and nurses? Underfunding? Administrative inefficiency? Pretty much everything has […]
Consumer Coalition Sends Letter to OPM Opposing Health Insurance Denials
On September 19th, the Consumer Choice Center, alongside individuals impacted by the actions of Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS), sent a letter to the Office of Personnel Management regarding BCBS denying legitimate medical claims from members of the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agencies for equipment needed to do […]
Les patients canadiens devraient avoir accès au même choix que les patients européens
Ce n’est un secret pour personne : si vous avez besoin d’une opération chirurgicale au Canada, vous feriez mieux d’être prêt à attendre longtemps. Le problème est-il une pénurie de médecins et d’infirmières ? Un sous-financement ? L’inefficacité administrative ? On a pratiquement rejeté la faute sur tout et sur tout le monde au fil des ans. Malgré des […]
La couverture publique des soins transfrontaliers aiderait à réduire les délais d’attente
Montréal et Vancouver, le 11 septembre 2024 – Permettre aux patients canadiens d’obtenir un remboursement du gouvernement pour des soins reçus hors du pays – comme en Europe – contribuerait à réduire les délais d’attente, selon une note économique publiée conjointement par l’Institut économique de Montréal et SecondStreet.org ce matin. « Les longs délais d’attente en chirurgie au […]
Consumer Choice Center Urges Immediate Action on Insurance Denials for Federal Agents’ Protective Equipment
September 19, 2024 The Honorable Rob ShriverDirectorOffice of Personnel Management19000 E St NWWashington D.C. 20415 Dear Director Shriver, We are writing to you about an important consumer issue that requires your attention and immediate action. Our coalition is made up of consumer advocates and individuals that have been directly impacted by the actions of Blue […]
Public coverage of cross-border health care would help reduce waiting times
Allowing Canadian patients to get reimbursed from the government for care received outside the country – just like Europeans do – would help reduce waiting times, according to an economic note published jointly by the Montreal Economic Institute and SecondStreet.org this morning. “Long waiting times for surgery in Canada have damaging effects on patients‘ health […]
Healthcare Denied: Should Insurance Companies Direct Doctors?
Step Therapy: Health Insurance Companies Control Patient Care Step therapy, also known as “fail-first” therapy, is a shockingly common strategy used by health insurance companies to cut their costs. This method forces patients to experiment with cheaper drugs and treatments before the health insurance company finally approves more expensive options, even if their doctor determines […]
Healthcare denied: Blatant Coverage Denials
Health Insurance Coverage Denials: A Threat to Consumer Choice Health insurance companies are facing justified criticism for denying claims more often and becoming increasingly unlikely to cover vital, sometimes life-saving, treatments. These denials go beyond complex medical procedures or expensive experimental drugs – they are now affecting even basic preventative care, which consumers expect as […]
Healthcare Denied: Pre-Authorizations Denials
Insurance Holdups & Hassles The US healthcare system has a lot of problems, but here’s a big one: health insurance companies demand pre-authorization for many vital treatments and services. They say it is to keep costs down, but in reality, it makes it even more challenging for patients to get the healthcare they need…when they […]
The Hidden Costs of Unionizing PA Pharmacists
Local pharmacies in Pennsylvania face an uphill battle for survival. That’s why Gov. Josh Shapiro recently signed the Pharmacy Audit Integrity and Transparency Act, aimed at keeping those businesses open. In just the last six months, 40 Pennsylvania pharmacies across the state have shut down. America is facing a huge boom in retiree numbers, and that […]
