Study: Higher Share of Plans Charging Patients Higher Fees for Certain Drugs

Healthopolis

Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015 | Roll Call Home »

Study: Higher Share of Plans Charging Patients Higher Fees for Certain Drugs  By Melanie Zanona More health insurance plans on the exchanges are placing drugs to treat complex diseases at the highest cost-sharing tier in 2015 when compared to the previous year, according to a new analysis from the Avalere Health consulting firm. Full story Another Health Care Program Added to Federal High Risk List  By Paul Jenks The complexities and cumbersome operations of federal programs were highlighted on Wednesday, as the Government Accountability Office updated its ongoing list of high-risk programs. The special tally identifies the most troublesome government programs due to vulnerabilities that can lead to waste, fraud, abuse, or mismanagement. The programs are deemed a high risk not only for the vulnerabilities but also an apparent lack of an effective policy for improvement. This year, after a year-long scandal over veterans' treatment wait times, the Veterans Administration's medical system has been added to high-risk list. The GAO notes that while Congress has passed legislation that addresses VA system problems and adds funding, the audit agency still needs to monitor how the VA implements the changes. Full story Embedded Connections in the Health Insurance Exchange Website