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What's a PBM? (and why you should care) Health Care Reform Forum  The Health Care Reform Forum continues to search out good information about health care in the US. Kaiser Health News is a great nonpartisan health care source. Watch their video Pharmacy Benefit Managers: Companies in The Thick of Prescription Drug Pricing here.
Frank Samuelson
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Queer people face discrimination in health care - Here are the people changing thatNo Hate In Our States
LGBTQ Nation LGBTQ Nation is an online news magazine, reporting on issues relevant to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer community. Many barriers exist for queer people and health care discrimination causes serious harm to the LGBTQIA+ community. Happily, things are changing for the better. This article dives into a range of queer people inspired by their experiences to become health care advocates and providers. Read it here. Dee VanThournout Get medical help without insurance: An Arm and a LegHealth Care Reform Forum
This Kaiser Health News podcast discusses ways people can get medical help when out of a job or when they lack the money needed for health insurance. It’s titled ‘An Arm and a Leg’: No Money, No Job, No Health Care? Not Always. It runs about 26 minutes, but there’s also a transcript of the episode available at this link. Frank Samuelson How to avoid hospice fraudHealth Care Reform Forum
Frank Samuelson’s Letter to the Editor was published in the Quad City Times on February 12, 2023. Our forum believes this is an important article in that it helps us understand Hospice fraud and how to avoid it. Read it here. If you’d like to learn more, please go to this ProPublica link for three articles: 1. Congress and Industry Leaders Call for Crackdown on Hospice Fraud 2. How to Research Your Hospice and Avoid Hospice Fraud 3. Endgame: How the Visionary Hospice Movement Became a For-Profit Hustle. Frank Samuelson Bi-partisan federal bill to lower drug pricesHealth Care Reform Forum
PACG’s Health Care Reform forum works to promote the idea of health care as a right for all, not a privilege for a few. Currently, we are working to inform the community of critical federal legislation being moved through the Senate that would help lower drug prices. This is a bi-partisan effort involving Senator Chuck Grassley, (R-IA), and Senator Amy Klobuchar, (D-MN). Contact your Senators and encourage them to support this life saving legislation. “Our bipartisan legislation deters practices such as pay-for-delay and sham petitions that undermine competition and limit Americans’ access to affordable and life-saving drugs...," said Senator Klobuchar. "...I’m glad to see these bipartisan bills receive committee approval, and the full Senate ought to take action on them without delay,” said Grassley. Read more from a recent news release here. Past efforts of our Health Care Reform Forum have included the Make Meds Affordable campaign. Click here to read more. Frank Samuelson Covid 19 toolkitHealth Care Reform Forum
You can learn a lot about Covid on this informational link provided by the U.S. government. Scroll through some tips below before clicking on the link: https://www.covid.gov Put in your county to find out if the Covid levels are low, medium, or high. (As of Jan 23rd, Scott Co, IA and Rock Island Co, IL were low.) Low, medium and high Covid ratings are based on hospitalizations, cases, and patients in hospital beds. If your county is in the medium range, the local health system is starting to feel the strain. They post a “Covid-19 Toolkit” with links to resources to keep yourself and others safe: 1. find masks 2. vaccines or boosters 3. test-to-treat locations 4. order free tests from the federal government. There are two phone numbers listed if you need to speak to someone about your status. Watch for an informational link on “Long Covid,” the long terms effects some people can experience after having the Covid virus. Don’t stop scrolling; at the bottom you will find more resources: 1. Symptoms and care for the immunocompromised 2. Travel 3. At-home testing 4. Air ventilation 5. Long COVID Study Frank Samuelson Free Covid tests available againHealth Care Reform Forum
The Biden administration has decided to once again offer free Covid tests for households. From CNBC: The relaunch of the free at-home test program is part of the Biden administration’s preparedness plan for Covid this winter. Covid infections are increasing again as hospital emergency departments are already battling a surge of patients sick with the flu and respiratory syncytial virus. There is a limit of one order per household, which includes a total of four tests. Check this webpage for a link to participate in this offer. Frank Samuelson Medicare help for seniors with diabetesHealth Care Reform Forum
Congress approved a $35 cap on what seniors will pay for insulin as part of the Inflation Reduction Act. But the change came too late to add to the Medicare plan finder, the online tool that helps beneficiaries sort through dozens of drug and medical plans for the best bargain. To fix anticipated enrollment mistakes, Medicare officials will give beneficiaries who use insulin a chance to switch plans next year. They can make one change after December 8th and throughout 2023 through a special enrollment period for “exceptional circumstances.” Typically, people are locked in for an entire year. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services provided initial details of the opportunity in a document distributed to the State Health Insurance Assistance Program, or SHIP, which assists Medicare enrollees in every state. Beneficiaries can get more information by contacting their local SHIP office. Frank Samuelson ACA enrollment surges!Health Care Reform Forum
The Biden administration is seeing a big increase in the number of new customers buying private health insurance for 2023 from the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) marketplace. Nearly 3.4 million people have signed up for coverage — an increase of 17% compared to the same time last year. The number of uninsured Americans this year reached a historic low of 8%. The marketplace also saw large gains in the number of Black, Latino and Native Americans who sought coverage. If you don’t have health insurance simply go to the official government website, HealthCare.gov. and find a plan that suits you. Low income families can qualify for generous subsidies. If you enroll and pay your first premium by December 15th, your coverage will start January 1, 2023. The 2023 Open Enrollment Period continues through January 15, 2023. Frank Samuelson |
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