More On Health and Politics: The Peculiar Timing of Republican Health Policy Plans April 9, 2024 From Drew Altman In this column, KFF President and CEO Drew Altman examines the conservative Republican Study Committee’s sweeping proposals to remake Medicare, Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act and their potential to make waves in this year’s elections. Whether former President Trump ignores, embraces, or repudiates their ideas will be key.
10 Key Facts About Women with Medicare April 30, 2024 Issue Brief This brief examines 10 key facts about women with Medicare and presents new statistics on the health, economic and functional status of women with Medicare.
Coverage of Sexual and Reproductive Health Services in Medicare April 30, 2024 Issue Brief This brief describes Medicare coverage of sexual and reproductive health services, including contraception, and compares that coverage with private insurance plans and Medicaid. These benefits are particularly relevant to nearly 1 million women of reproductive age (20-49) who are eligible for Medicare due to having a long-term disability.
A New Use for Wegovy Opens the Door to Medicare Coverage for Millions of People with Obesity April 24, 2024 Issue Brief The FDA recently approved a new use for Wegovy, the blockbuster anti-obesity drug, to reduce the risk of heart attacks and stroke in people with cardiovascular disease who are overweight or obese – a decision that opens the door to Medicare coverage of Wegovy, which is prohibited by law from covering drugs used for obesity. This brief analyses how many Medicare beneficiaries could be eligible for the new use of Wegovy and the potential impact on Medicare spending.
Retiree Health Benefits: Going, Going, Nearly Gone? April 12, 2024 Issue Brief This data note analyzes five national surveys to assess trends in retiree health coverage among people ages 65 and older. These five surveys produce somewhat different estimates of retiree health coverage, but together paint a clear picture: the share of Medicare-age adults with employer- or union-sponsored retiree health coverage has been shrinking and appears to be on the way to extinction.
Gaps in Medicare Advantage Data Remain Despite CMS Actions to Increase Transparency April 10, 2024 Issue Brief The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has recently taken actions to increase transparency in Medicare Advantage, however substantial data gaps remain that limit the ability of policymakers and researchers to conduct oversight and assess the program’s performance, and for Medicare beneficiaries to compare Medicare Advantage plans offered in their area.
Medicare Households Spend More on Health Care Than Other Households March 14, 2024 Issue Brief This brief examines the financial burden of health care spending among households where all members are covered by Medicare compared to non-Medicare households.
Gross Medicare Spending on Ozempic and Other GLP-1s Is Already Skyrocketing – Even Though Medicare Cannot Cover The Drugs for Weight Loss March 23, 2024 News Release A KFF analysis shows that gross total Medicare spending on Ozempic and other similar drugs has increased dramatically in recent years – even though Medicare is explicitly prohibited by law from covering the drugs for obesity. That’s because Medicare now covers the drugs, known as GLP-1s, for other medically accepted…
Final Prior Authorization Rules Look to Streamline the Process, but Issues Remain May 2, 2024 Issue Brief This brief examines the final CMS regulations governing prior authorization in Medicare Advantage, Marketplace, Medicaid, and other plans, how they might address some current consumer concerns, and some issues that remain.
Medicare Spending on Ozempic and Other GLP-1s Is Skyrocketing March 22, 2024 Blog This policy watch analyzes the latest data on Medicare Part D spending on GLP-1 drugs, initially approved to treat diabetes but in high demand as treatments for obesity, and shows how spending on these drugs has increased substantially in recent years.