AHIP says a CMS rule requiring Medicare coverage of breakthrough medical devices does not sufficiently address patient safety concerns and could lead to fraud, waste and abuse. The Medicare Coverage of Innovative Technology rule, which has been delayed for CMS review, also poses operational challenges, and projections underestimate the number of devices that will qualify, AHIP says.

A Kaiser Family Foundation analysis found the top 50 drugs paid for by Medicare Part B made up 80% of total Part B drug spending, and the 250 top-selling Medicare Part D drugs that had one manufacturer and no generic or biosimilar accounted for 60% of net Part D spending. "This analysis shows that Medicare Part D and Part B spending is highly concentrated among a relatively small share of covered drugs, mainly those without generic or biosimilar competitors," the report said.

Health care professionals and organizations are working to understand and address racism in health care and health equity, and experts say it requires systemic change as well as creating community partnerships. "We need to acknowledge, openly, loudly, that there were flaws in the way we treated minority communities which have led to the underlying health care disparities that we see today," New Orleans East Hospital CEO Dr. Takeisha Davis said.

All US individuals ages 16 and older can now receive a COVID-19 vaccine, according to the CDC, which said those with underlying medical conditions that raise the risk for serious complications should be given priority. Nearly 211.6 million COVID-19 vaccine doses had been administered in the US as of Monday, with more than 85.3 million people now fully vaccinated.

The number of new COVID-19 cases in the US fell by 0.4% for the week ending April 18, following four consecutive weeks of increase, but the country still logged almost 70,000 new cases per day last week as variants continue to spread. The average number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 climbed by 5% to over 41,000, marking the third straight weeks of increase, while related fatalities dropped 2.8%.

Higher consumption of red and processed meat was linked to poorer cardiac function, adverse ventricular remodeling and higher arterial stiffness, while higher consumption of oily fish was linked to greater arterial compliance and better ventricular function, according to a study presented at the virtual ESC Preventive Cardiology 2021. The findings were based on data from 19,408 individuals with cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging data.

HealthPartners and Allina Health are partnering on a five-year value-based contract to prevent hospital admissions and readmissions by boosting routine and preventive care, sharing electronic health information, and screening for social determinants of health. HealthPartners members who get care at Allina Health hospitals or clinics will be automatically enrolled in the new arrangement, and Allina Health will be eligible for financial incentives from HealthPartners.

Fifteen percent of Americans said their financial situation has become worse than it was before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, while 55% said their circumstances are largely unchanged and 30% said they are better off than they were previously, a survey by Impact Genome and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found. Among people who reported living below the poverty line, 29% said their personal finances worsened and only 16% reported being able to save money in the past three months, and the survey of more than 2,300 adults also found racial disparities, as 39% of Black Americans reported saving money recently compared with 57% of white Americans and 47% of Hispanics.

Combining genomic data with health outcomes data in EHRs can provide deeper insight into population health disparities than simple race and ethnicity data, and may improve health equity and outcomes, according to a study published in Cell. Embedding genomic data and using it to infer genetic ancestry "will allow the development of evidence-based means to utilize race and ethnicity, genetic ancestry, and the socioeconomic determinants of health for both rare and common diseases," researchers wrote.

The FDA has asked Emergent BioSolutions to stop manufacturing a new drug substance for Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine at its Baltimore plant while the agency investigates a contamination issue that resulted in the destruction of millions of doses last month. J&J said it will work with the agency and Emergent to address any issues uncovered in the investigation.

The CDC could decide by Friday if restrictions will be added to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine after six women reported blood clotting issues after receiving the shot, according to National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci. The US paused use of J&J's vaccines last week.

Join us on Wednesday, April 28 from 1 to 2 p.m. ET for "The Role of Integrated Mental Health in Chronic Condition Care" as Vida Health's panel of clinical leaders shares unique insights into digital solutions that provide integrated polychronic care and are changing how health insurance providers engage with members. Examine existing programs to assess opportunities for improvement.

Agents and brokers: Discover how an AHIP Individual Membership can grow your business. Gain access to the latest industry news and timely information that helps you better serve your clients. Benefits include discounts on dozens of AHIP online courses, including Health Insurance 101, Long-Term Care Professional (LTCP)--Combined Course, courses on health care management, and much more. Learn more and join today.

As partnerships continue to be even more critical in our post-pandemic health care system, make sure you're part of Institute & Expo Online, June 22 through 24. Share your solutions and build your brand with thousands of health care professionals. Sponsorship packages can be customized for your goals and budget. Let's talk today. Contact BusinessDevelopment@ahip.org for details.