Gene Therapy Payment Innovation

Outcomes-based payment models are emerging to address high-cost, high-value gene therapy. The strategies – from the likes of Cigna, CVS, and Anthem – are important for all of healthcare, as they illustrate how leading insurers and manufacturers will pay based on treatment success and, if successful, could be adapted to the chronic care payment space. In this special edition of Managed Care Friday, we take a look at some of the most creative approaches to paying for gene therapy and what it may mean for the future. Click to read more.

Surge in Exchange Enrollments Due to Job Losses

Nearly a million people enrolled in individual market Exchange health insurance plans in the 38 federally-run states through May 2020, using a special election period, with over half of new enrollees doing so because they lost another source of health insurance coverage. This reflects a nearly 50% increase over last year, directly attributable to COVID-19-related job losses and associated health insurance. Click to read more.

BRG Medicaid Update

The brief highlights recent Medicaid policy developments in key states over the past week, including, but not limited to: –  National: CMS extends Medicaid/CHIP provider relief funding application deadline to August 3 –  GA: State to submit waiver application to CMS expanding Medicaid coverage for new mothers –  OH: Gov. makes COVID-19-related telehealth polices permanent –  PA: State publishes medical necessity guidelines for intensive behavioral health services and ABA Click to read more.

Managed Care Friday

700: The amount of primary care clinics Walgreens is planning to open up in the next five years through a partnership with VillageMD, the home-based primary care group. The clinics will be called Village Medical at Walgreens and will integrate digitally with Walgreens to simplify the prescription process. The first clinics will be opened in Texas and Arizona, and more than half will be in government-designated medically underserved geographic areas. Match Game: Like a page out eHarmony’s book, a former teacher we chatted with this week has plucked 24 college kids in New England, started...