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Tripling Drug Prices - Health Coverage Disparities – Food Insecurity

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Prices for Top Medicare Part D Drugs More Than Tripled Since Entering Market

The list prices for the 25 top Medicare Part D drugs have increased an average of 226% since they first entered the market, far exceeding the rate of general inflation, according to an AARP Public Policy Institute analysis. The dramatic increases often escalate the longer the product is on the market. The findings highlight the importance of a provision in the Inflation Reduction Act that will penalize drug companies when prices rise faster than the rate of inflation.

Will Medicare Continue to Pay for Audio-Only Telehealth Visits after 2024?

With Congress expanding coverage of telehealth services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, about 40% of people with Medicare used telehealth visits in 2020—up from fewer than 1% in 2019. Many Medicare recipients were able to turn to the phone, not just online video, to access care. Congress will weigh a number of issues in deciding if these telephone appointments should continue to be covered after 2024, when many pandemic-related Medicare expansion policies expire.

Medicaid Expansion Population and Cost Estimates for 10 States

Ten states have yet to expand their Medicaid programs through the Affordable Care Act, leaving millions of low-income adults ages 50-64 uninsured. A set of fact sheets from the AARP Public Policy Institute on each of these states breaks down the number of people who would benefit and potential state cost savings that expansion would bring. The fact sheets feature 11 states, including North Carolina, since its expansion has yet to be implemented: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities Remain in Health Insurance Coverage Among Older Adults: Analysis

While the Affordable Care Act led to widespread gains in health insurance coverage and health care access among adults ages 50 to 64, racial and ethnic disparities in coverage and access remain, a new report shows. What’s more, the disparities cannot be fully explained by factors related to income and employment. Factors — which can point toward solutions — include such potential barriers as eligibility criteria, enrollment processes, health literacy, awareness, and systemic social issues.

Food Insecurity Plagued 9.4 Million Adults Ages 50-Plus in 2021

About 8% of Americans ages 50 and older were food insecure in 2021, meaning they had limited or uncertain access to adequate, nutritious food. A new report notes significant differences among states as well as various demographic groups — likely rooted in longstanding inequities such as employment, housing, and health care.

Medication Management: An AARP Policy Now Video

A new AARP Policy Now Video explains the formal medication management program available through Medicare. The video details recent changes that expand eligibility for the program, including revamping enrollment criteria to include more chronic conditions and lowering the spending threshold needed to qualify. The program, while aimed at Medicare recipients taking five or more drugs, is also a useful tool for the 83% of family caregivers who manage medications for older adults.

AARP’s Susan Reinhard Joins National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing

Susan Reinhard, AARP senior vice president and director of the AARP Public Policy Institute, is serving a two-year term with the National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing. Reinhard, who is also chief strategist at AARP’s Center to Champion Nursing in America‚ joins the commission’s effort to develop strategies for addressing racism within nursing. Reinhard notes that the commission’s work confronts not only racism’s systemic and persistent impact on nurses and health professionals but, in doing so, addresses the health disparities experienced by patients and communities.

Long-Term Services & Supports State Scorecard Publishes September 28

AARP’s groundbreaking fifth edition of the Long-Term Services & Supports State Scorecard releases September 28. Filled with comprehensive data and in-depth analysis on all states’ long-term services & supports (LTSS) systems, the Scorecard looks across the full range of LTSS areas to measure state-level system performance. Accompanying the release is the launch of a new, regularly updated LTSS Choices website and a monthly newsletter highlighting the ongoing conversations and policies surrounding LTSS‚ including insights into promising practices and innovations.

In the News

How to Choose a Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan
Fortune

AARP Analysis Finds Sharp Lifetime Price Hikes for the Most Expensive Drugs
Racine County Eye

Editor-in-Chief: Susan C. Reinhard, RN, PhD, FAAN
Senior Writer/Editor: Carl Levesque

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