Coverage and Payment
Coverage and reimbursement shapes patient access and affordability. Life sciences companies rely on favorable coverage decisions to ensure market access and adoption of their products, while health plans need effective reimbursement strategies to manage costs and provide comprehensive benefits to their members.
Measuring Scope of COVID-19 Relief Coverage Expansion Provisions
Avalere analysis finds that Congress's healthcare reforms under the COVID-19 relief bill could expand exchange coverage subsidies for up to 18.3 million individuals.
Measuring the Scope of Presidential Candidates’ Coverage Proposals
Avalere analysis finds that the candidates’ healthcare coverage reform proposals could impact a range of 23M to 153M individuals across insurance markets.
SCOTUS Ruling on ACA Could Impact Coverage and Policy Outlook
With the US Supreme Court set to hear arguments starting November 10 on California v. Texas, and Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination under consideration in the Senate, questions remain regarding the future of the law.
COVID-19 Therapies Could Benefit from NTAP Reimbursement Opportunity
Therapies currently being developed to treat COVID-19 in the inpatient setting have opportunity for additional Medicare reimbursement.
Will Your Organization Be Ready for the MA-ESRD Coverage Expansion?
With the release of the 2021 Medicare Advantage (MA) and Part D Final Rule, the details of the upcoming policy change that allows beneficiaries with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) to enroll in MA are set. Stakeholders need to adapt quickly to be prepared.
Prostate Cancer Patients in Employer Part D Plans Stay in the Coverage Gap Longer Than Those in Non-Employer Part D Plans
New Avalere analysis finds that Medicare Part D patients taking brand prostate cancer drugs enrolled in Employer Group Waiver Plans (EGWPs) have more prescriptions in the coverage gap than patients in non-employer plans.
States Act to Ensure Coverage Protections in Advance of ACA Decision
The majority of 2020 state legislative sessions are either approaching crossover deadlines or adjournment. In 2019 and 2020, at least 15 states (CT, DE, FL, HI, IN, LA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NM, NV, OR, VT, and WA) have enacted laws to create or study coverage protections against pre-existing condition exclusions or coverage of all essential health benefits (EHB) provided for in the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
SCOTUS Decision to Review ACA Case Could Undermine Coverage and Access
On March 2, the Supreme Court (SCOTUS) announced that it will review an appeal of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeal’s decision in Texas v. Azar regarding the legality of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA’s) individual mandate and other provisions.
2020 Election: Healthcare Coverage Landscape Varies in Super Tuesday States
Ahead of the Super Tuesday primaries on March 3, healthcare remains a top issue among voters. According to January 2020 polling from Bipartisan Policy Center, 56% of individuals ranked healthcare as one of their top 3 issues when determining how to vote in the upcoming election, above the economy (44%), immigration (33%), taxes (31%), gun control (30%), and environmental policy (23%).
The Administration Provides Employers and Employees with Enhanced Flexibility in Connection with Health Reimbursement Arrangements
Final rule by the Treasury Department, Department of Labor, and the Department of Health and Human Services reverses previous Treasury Department guidance blocking tax-advantaged HRAs that were not integrated with a comprehensive employer-sponsored plan.
Is Tiered Provider Reimbursement on the Horizon for Medicare Part B?
As policymakers explore opportunities to reform Medicare Part B, a tiered average sales price (ASP) add-on payment may be under consideration to align system incentives and curb spending.
Medicare Reimbursement of Virtual Care Delivery and Remote Monitoring
Beginning in 2019, CMS will reimburse for 5 codes relating to virtual care delivery and remote monitoring
Medicare Part B Payment Increases Will Offset 340B Drug Reimbursement Cuts for 85% of Hospitals
Rural hospitals will see an average 2.7% net increase of Part B payments.
New Analysis Identifies Factors That Can Facilitate Broader Reimbursement of Pharmacist Services
Pharmacists are increasingly providing direct patient care based on each state's scope of practice regulations in a variety of settings spanning inpatient, outpatient, and community pharmacies. Examples of these direct patient care services include immunizations, wellness and prevention screening, medication management, chronic condition management, and patient education and counseling. While opportunities for pharmacists to provide direct patient care services emerge, options for obtaining reimbursement for these services continue to be limited. Avalere Health assessed the current healthcare delivery and payment landscape to identify factors that can facilitate broader reimbursement of pharmacist services.