If leaders find themselves lagging, they should avoid taking what Scott Cochrane calls "shortcuts," such as implementing new policy, reorganizing staff or losing composure. Being a good leader includes tackling the hard stuff, and leaders should cultivate the patience needed to do that work by learning from failures and cutting themselves some slack. "Surround yourself with supportive, positive people who encourage and uplift you during challenging times," writes Steve Keating.

A study by Harvard Medical School and Inovalon found that enrollees in zero-premium Medicare Advantage plans were more likely to be nonwhite and belong to socioeconomically disadvantaged populations, including people who struggle to speak English, do not own a vehicle or a home, have a high school education or less, and have lower net worth, compared with traditional Medicare members and other MA enrollees. "Our study findings suggest that the breadth of different MA plan types available to beneficiaries is a key part of MA's appeal, and what allows MA to attract such a large proportion -- more than 50% in 2023 -- of all Medicare beneficiaries," authors wrote.

James Bullard, former president of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, still forecasts three interest rate cuts by the US central bank this year, aligning with the Fed's current stance but contrasting with market expectations, which are leaning toward fewer rate reductions. Bullard's prediction, made at HSBC's Global Investment Summit, is based on inflation moving closer to the Fed's target amid a strong economy, suggesting a potential soft landing for the US economy.

Two-thirds of Americans said in a survey that they want a phased retirement and would like to spend their later years working for pleasure, according to a Fidelity Investments analysis. Sixty percent of Generation Z respondents and 58% of millennials said they were not interested in a traditional retirement, and both of those groups were more likely than their older counterparts to envision relocating or opening a business during retirement.

Medicare physician reimbursement reform is a topic of discussion for Senate Finance Committee and Medicare Payment Advisory Commission meetings this week. Dr. Steven Furr of the American Academy of Family Physicians and Dr. Patricia Turner of the American College of Surgeons are among those scheduled to speak at the Finance Committee hearing.

A total of 46 cancer drugs received accelerated approval from the FDA from 2013 to 2017, but only 43% have demonstrated a clinical benefit in either quality of life or overall survival in confirmatory trials within five years, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Only 29 of the accelerated cancer drugs were converted to regular approval, and only 69% of these drugs showed clinical benefit.

A Supernus Pharmaceuticals drug-device combination therapy for Parkinson's disease patients has failed to garner FDA approval a second time. The agency said the therapy, intended to treat movement-related "off episodes" of the condition, still has two device and product quality issues that require resolution before the application can be approved.

Statin therapy increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, particularly in individuals with higher baseline glucose levels, but the cardiovascular benefits outweigh this risk, according to a study published in the journal Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology. The slight increase in T2D risk associated with statin use should be weighed against its significant reduction in CV events, emphasizing the importance of holistic care and preventive strategies for at-risk individuals.

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For plans seeking to contain administrative costs, outsourcing can be a smart solution. TPA Direct Members are experts in delivering back-office efficiencies. Insurance Administrative Solutions (IAS) administers life, health, and MedSupp products and services, with a focus on the senior market. IAS performs all of the functions necessary for an insurance company to operate their business, including insurance and reinsurance account reporting.