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To limit health care spending, more states are setting cost growth targets. But by lumping together all payers, these targets may not realistically capture spending trends, #USCSchaeffer scholar Glenn Melnick tells @modernhealthcare.bsky.social. www.modernhealthcare.com/providers/co...
Rising spending tests the limits of state cost growth oversight
While states continue to bolster cost growth benchmarks, critics argue those programs do not have the regulatory teeth to slow spending.
www.modernhealthcare.com
April 2, 2025 at 8:32 PM
schaeffer.usc.edu
Expanded coverage of GLP-1s, which have proven incredibly effective at inducing weight loss in people with obesity, is “probably the single most effective policy” for improving public health, says #USCSchaeffer Director Dana Goldman.
May 21, 2025 at 4:34 PM
schaeffer.usc.edu
The collapse of community is a threat to democracy. Young people didn’t create this problem, but they have power to fix it, former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown of #USCSchaeffer and Robert Putnam told an audience at the @usc.edu Capital Campus in Washington, DC.
Gordon Brown and Robert Putnam Call on Students to Lead Civic Revival - October 2, 2026 - USC Schaeffer
The former UK prime minister and renowned researcher said the work of strengthening democracy starts with rebuilding community for the smartphone age. - October 2, 2026
schaeffer.usc.edu
October 2, 2026 at 6:23 PM
eugelin06.bsky.social
For my commentary on this very insightful study @JAMANetworkOpen
, link here: jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

The study itself is here: jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

@KeckMedicineUSC
@USCSchaeffer

Fin/
Medicare Advantage Advertising and Patients Receiving Dialysis
Enrollment in Medicare Advantage (MA)—in which private insurance companies coordinate Medicare benefits—has quickly grown from 25% of Medicare in 2010 to 54% in 2024. Historically, MA enrollment by pa...
jamanetwork.com
June 18, 2025 at 7:54 PM
schaeffer.usc.edu
If Medicare Advantage plans covered out-of-network care similarly as in-network care, more enrollees would likely use it, recent #USCSchaeffer research suggests.

Read on the @commonwealthfund.org blog: www.commonwealthfund.org/blog/2025/do...
Do Medicare Advantage Provider Networks Change the Way Beneficiaries Use Health Care?
Patients with complex health problems need to see a range of specialists, but not all of those providers are likely to be part of Medicare Advantage plan networks.
www.commonwealthfund.org
February 27, 2025 at 5:18 PM
schaeffer.usc.edu
Cuts to federal #HIV prevention programs could discourage pharmaceutical innovation, ultimately leading to higher long-term costs, #USCSchaeffer Scholar John Romley told Inside Health Policy.

“I do worry this could be penny wise and pound foolish,” he said. insidehealthpolicy.com/daily-news/n...
No Nixed HIV Staff Returning To HHS | InsideHealthPolicy.com
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy has said some personnel originally terminated from HHS will come back, but sources tell Inside Health Policy that there are no plans to bring back staff working on HIV/...
insidehealthpolicy.com
April 17, 2025 at 3:59 PM
schaeffer.usc.edu
#USCSchaeffer scholars cited in @cnbc.com say Most Favored Nation "can't undo the basic economics" of the global drug marketplace. Rather than face deep cuts to US prices, many drug firms will likely withdraw from overseas markets.
cnbc.com CNBC @cnbc.com · May 12
White House officials did not disclose which medications the order will apply to, but said it will impact the commercial market as well as Medicare and Medicaid.
Trump signs order aiming to cut some U.S. drug prices to match lower ones abroad
The order is a blow to the pharmaceutical industry, which is already bracing for Trump's planned tariffs on prescription drugs.
cnb.cx
May 13, 2025 at 5:39 PM
schaeffer.usc.edu
U.S. dominance in biotech is at a crossroads. Without a compelling vision for continued leadership, the industry will lose out while China races ahead, argues #USCSchaeffer Scholar Joe Grogran in @statnews.com. www.statnews.com/2025/05/07/t...
The biotech industry needs to make its case for bold change to the White House
Now is the time for the biotechnology sector to ask for big changes to the FDA, NIH, reimbursement, intellectual property and tax rules, writes former Trump administration official Joe Grogan.
www.statnews.com
May 7, 2025 at 4:16 PM
schaeffer.usc.edu
Retail pharmacies excluded from Medicare prescription drug networks maintained by #PBMs were much more likely to close over the past decade, finds new #USCSchaeffer research in @healthaffairs.bsky.social
schaeffer.usc.edu/research/pha...
Pharmacies Excluded from Preferred Networks Face Much Higher Risk of Closure - May 5, 2025 - USC Schaeffer
The increasing use of pharmacy networks in Medicare Part D is contributing to the growing problem of pharmacy closures, according to new USC Schaeffer research in Health Affairs. - May 5, 2025
schaeffer.usc.edu
May 6, 2025 at 4:00 PM
schaeffer.usc.edu
The three largest #PBMs appear to each be targeting different payer markets, #USCSchaeffer research has found.
schaeffer.usc.edu/research/pbm...
PBM Market Concentration Varies Among Payer Types - September 10, 2024 - USC Schaeffer
A few pharmacy benefit managers dominate each of the payer markets, and the three biggest PBMs appear to be targeting different markets. - September 10, 2024
schaeffer.usc.edu
April 21, 2025 at 6:00 PM
schaeffer.usc.edu
Medicare coverage of obesity drugs could improve life for millions of Americans and curb obesity-related costs, writes #USCSchaeffer Scholar Joe Grogan.

But subjecting the drugs to price controls is bound to crush innovation in this crucial new class, he argues. www.statnews.com/2025/01/17/f...
Former Trump health official: Medicare should cover Wegovy — but not negotiate its price
Former Trump administration health official Joe Grogan applauds Biden proposal that Medicare and Medicaid cover GLP-1 weight loss drugs — but says subjecting Wegovy to price controls is a bad move.
www.statnews.com
March 31, 2025 at 5:59 PM
schaeffer.usc.edu
We’re excited to welcome Jonathan Blum, Phyllis Ferrell and Ryan Long to #USCSchaeffer as our newest scholars! Learn more about all our scholars here: schaeffer.usc.edu/people/
March 21, 2025 at 7:26 PM
schaeffer.usc.edu
As retail pharmacies struggle, there may be more closures and a greater shift to online or at-home services, #USCSchaeffer Scholar Dima Qato predicts.

That raises big questions about consumer access, she told @marketwatch.com. www.morningstar.com/news/marketw...
The drugstore industry is struggling. Here's what could be in its future.
www.morningstar.com
March 18, 2025 at 6:41 PM
schaeffer.usc.edu
Air ambulance firms won 86% of disputes under the No Surprises Act's arbitration system, finds new #USCSchaeffer research that offers the first in-depth look at air ambulance cases. PE-backed firms were involved in 3/5 disputes.

Read in @jama.com Network Open: jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
No Surprises Act Independent Dispute Resolution Outcomes for Air Ambulances
This cross-sectional study describes independent dispute resolution cases arbitrated in 2023 for fixed and rotary wing air ambulance services following the No Surprises Act.
jamanetwork.com
March 6, 2025 at 5:34 PM
schaeffer.usc.edu
Drug ads can be annoying, but do they help? Do they hurt? Here are 6 key findings from #USCSchaeffer Scholar Neeraj Sood: healthpolicy.usc.edu/article/shou...
Should the Government Restrict Direct-to-Consumer Prescription Drug Advertising?  Six Takeaways on Their Effects.
Policymakers should proceed with caution as they design proposals to restrict advertising.
healthpolicy.usc.edu
March 3, 2025 at 5:10 PM
schaeffer.usc.edu
The U.S. death toll from COVID-19 was so immense that Social Security experienced a net increase of $205 billion due to retirement payments that won't be made, finds new #USCSchaeffer research.

Read more in @marketplace.org. www.marketplace.org/2025/02/19/h...
How Social Security was impacted by excess COVID-19 deaths - Marketplace
New research finds that the number of COVID-19 deaths was large enough to result in a $205 billion net increase to the Social Security fund.
www.marketplace.org
February 20, 2025 at 7:57 PM
schaeffer.usc.edu
The share of standalone Part D plans using coinsurance for preferred brand name drugs surged from 10% to over 70% since 2020, finds new #USCSchaeffer research in @jama.com.

This shift is exposing more patients to list prices that are often artificially inflated. healthpolicy.usc.edu/article/medi...
Medicare Beneficiaries Face Much Higher Drug Costs as Plans Quickly Shift to Coinsurance
The share of stand-alone prescription drug plans using coinsurance for preferred brand name drugs surged in recent years, exposing more patients to list prices that are often artificially inflated.
healthpolicy.usc.edu
February 14, 2025 at 5:27 PM
schaeffer.usc.edu
Rural men are expected to live significantly shorter, less healthy lives than urban counterparts, #USCSchaeffer researchers found.

“Diseases of despair”—like smoking, obesity & heart disease—are fueling this widening gap, they write in @us.theconversation.com. theconversation.com/rural-americ...
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Rural Americans don’t live as long as those in cities − new research
The study shows rates for smoking, obesity and chronic conditions such as heart disease are comparatively higher in rural areas, leading to shorter life expectancy.
theconversation.com
February 13, 2025 at 8:24 PM