Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

seniorpharmassist.bsky.social @seniorpharmassist.bsky.social · 15d

Disappointing. What @ the actual "patients?" Widgets in our industrialized healthcare? FYI - most NC State Health Plan retirees are enrolled sponsored Humana plans - not Aetna 70/30 FFS.
Duking It Out: State Health Plan Negotiations Continue As Deadline Looms www.theassemblync.com/health/duke-...

Duking It Out: State Health Plan Negotiations Continue As Deadline Looms

With one month remaining before the current contract between state employees’ insurer, Aetna, and Duke Health expires, the biggest state players in health care aren’t even close to a deal.

www.theassemblync.com

seniorpharmassist.bsky.social @seniorpharmassist.bsky.social · Aug 24

Clearly - healthcare spending doesn't impact all the same. Great info - thanks @kffhealthnews.org

Health Costs Consume a Large Portion of Income for Millions of People with Medicare | KFF

To document the affordability challenges posed by out-of-pocket health care costs for people with Medicare, this brief analyzes out-of-pocket health care costs as a share of Social Security income and...

www.kff.org

seniorpharmassist.bsky.social @seniorpharmassist.bsky.social · Aug 24

Love Stefanie Ferreri's passion for community-based pharmacists and what they/we can do to improve health in our communities!

seniorpharmassist.bsky.social @seniorpharmassist.bsky.social · Aug 20

Follow the money - generally, good advice! @nchealthnews.bsky.social

NC employers look to smaller PBMs without “shenanigans”

With many PBMs under scrutiny, smaller startups that bill themselves as transparent are seeing interest from employers.

www.northcarolinahealthnews.org

seniorpharmassist.bsky.social @seniorpharmassist.bsky.social · Aug 16

Not good news.... #medicarepartd Breaking Down Why Medicare Part D Premiums Are Likely to Go Up www.medpagetoday.com/publichealth...

Breaking Down Why Medicare Part D Premiums Are Likely to Go Up

Hikes could potentially increase by up to $50 per month

www.medpagetoday.com

seniorpharmassist.bsky.social @seniorpharmassist.bsky.social · Jul 29

Begins next month: Tariffs on Medicines From Europe Stand to Cost Drugmakers Billions www.nytimes.com/2025/07/28/h...

Tariffs on Medicines From Europe Stand to Cost Drugmakers Billions

www.nytimes.com

seniorpharmassist.bsky.social @seniorpharmassist.bsky.social · Jul 24

We agree; excellent information and the video is so clear.

Medicare Rights Center @medicarerights.bsky.social · Jul 23

We're excited to announce Part 2 of our Medicare Sustainability series and share new materials explaining the overabundance of Medicare Advantage plans and how to better support people with Medicare navigate plan decisions—all while saving Medicare dollars.

Medicare Advantage Proliferation: Too Much of a Complicated Thing - Medicare Rights Center

Medicare Advantage (MA) has grown significantly in recent years. While it provides an alternative coverage pathway for people with Medicare, there are important tradeoffs with Original Medicare that m...

www.medicarerights.org

seniorpharmassist.bsky.social @seniorpharmassist.bsky.social · Jul 1

We agree! Medicaid is critical to the health of so many - in many ways. That includes people and communities.

Medicare Rights Center @medicarerights.bsky.social · Jun 30

After doubling down & deepening the House's proposed cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, the ACA, & SNAP, the Senate is expected to vote on a reconciliation bill as early as this evening. Tell your senators: NO CUTS TO HEALTH CARE. NO CUTS TO SNAP. #HANDSOFFMEDICAID

Protect Medicaid—Tell Your Senators to Reject Harmful Cuts! - Medicare Rights Center

Republicans in the House of Representatives recently pushed through a bill that would implement devastating cuts to Medicaid. Now, Senate Republicans have followed the House’s lead, advancing a reckle...

www.medicarerights.org

1 1

seniorpharmassist.bsky.social @seniorpharmassist.bsky.social · Jun 3

Excellent work...per usual.

Stacie Dusetzina @dusetzinas.bsky.social · Jun 2

New paper out in #HealthAffairs on potential savings with the #InflationReductionAct in Medicare #PartD. Lots of savings for those needing specialty drugs but a note of caution for those with lower spending. Need to shop for a new plan if you take a preferred brand, especially in stand-alone plans!

Medicare Part D Redesign Savings May Be Lower For Beneficiaries With Spending Below The Out-Of-Pocket Cap | Health Affairs Journal

The Medicare prescription drug plan redesign under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 aims to simplify the Part D benefit while capping out-of-pocket spending for Part D–covered drugs. Whether and wh...

doi.org

1 1

seniorpharmassist.bsky.social @seniorpharmassist.bsky.social · Jun 3

Way to keep your eye on the prescription ball!!! Excellent work - per usual!

1

seniorpharmassist.bsky.social @seniorpharmassist.bsky.social · Jun 3

The opaque world of prescription payments - great description of the biggest middlemen - #PBMs and how they are damaging #pharmacy access; original mission gone off track for big bucks. @nchealthnews.bsky.social

NC lawmakers target pharmacy “middlemen” in proposed reforms

State House, Senate pass legislation that would regulate pharmacy benefit managers, which manage prescription drug benefits for insurance companies.

www.northcarolinahealthnews.org

seniorpharmassist.bsky.social @seniorpharmassist.bsky.social · May 19

Critical to watch how manufacturers with medicines that are in "protected drug classes" and taken orally, set their launch prices in light of the IRA's $2,000 annual cap on Rx spending for Medicare beneficiaries. Terrific job @dusetzinas.bsky.social

Stacie Dusetzina @dusetzinas.bsky.social · May 16

Excited to share new work in @jama.com on launch prices for cancer drugs in Medicare Part D. Prices are going up, but no trend change post-IRA. Mean monthly launch prices increased from $10,954 in 2012-2014 to $27,891 in 2023-2025. Many thanks to @arnoldventures.bsky.social for funding this work!

Trends in Launch Prices and Price Increases for Self-Administered Anticancer Drugs in Medicare

This study examines trends in launch prices and price increases for anticancer therapies covered under Medicare Part D and approved from 2010 to 2024.

jamanetwork.com

1 1

seniorpharmassist.bsky.social @seniorpharmassist.bsky.social · May 13

This is great reporting that should be a WAKE UP CALL to all in North Carolina (and beyond). This would trample on some of our most vulnerable neighbors.

NC Health News @nchealthnews.bsky.social · May 13

A push in Congress to limit provider taxes could strip billions in Medicaid funding from North Carolina.
buff.ly/jXv5hxF

Hospitals, nursing homes at risk if Medicaid provider tax cap is lowered

A Republican-led push to limit provider taxes could strip billions in Medicaid funding from North Carolina.

buff.ly

seniorpharmassist.bsky.social @seniorpharmassist.bsky.social · May 10

Proud to know and work with two of these pharmacy leaders! Tasha Woodall with MAHEC in Buncombe County and UNC-CH and Megan Carr at High Point SOP. Great pharmacy leadership #AGS25

1

seniorpharmassist.bsky.social @seniorpharmassist.bsky.social · May 10

PIM - Potentially inappropriate medication.

1

seniorpharmassist.bsky.social @seniorpharmassist.bsky.social · May 9

Always good to hear from DeLon Canterbury with @geriatrix.bsky.social and his passion for @deprescribing.bsky.social

1

seniorpharmassist.bsky.social @seniorpharmassist.bsky.social · May 9

Wise advice #AGS25 from Michelle Keller!

1 1

seniorpharmassist.bsky.social @seniorpharmassist.bsky.social · May 9

Pharmacoequity matters. Appreciate this work! #AGS25 @uressien.bsky.social

1 2

seniorpharmassist.bsky.social @seniorpharmassist.bsky.social · May 9

Thanks to advocates for aging in Congress, including Jan Schakowsky. Proud to be on the public policy committee for AGS. #AGS25

1

seniorpharmassist.bsky.social @seniorpharmassist.bsky.social · May 8

Proud to be an AGS member today...LGBTI+ position statement...talking about how to ensure all feel safe and cared for as we age. #AGS25

1 2

seniorpharmassist.bsky.social @seniorpharmassist.bsky.social · May 7

Happy to attend the @deprescribeus.bsky.social meeting in Chicago...preconference to the #AGS25 mtg!

2

seniorpharmassist.bsky.social @seniorpharmassist.bsky.social · May 5

The "system" is the major problem, and transparency about where the money flows - and for what value - is critical.

NC Health News @nchealthnews.bsky.social · May 5

A number of bills introduced in the General Assembly this session are intended to lower health care costs and make the health care system a little less painful to navigate.
buff.ly/651djfd

Can NC lawmakers fix our health care headaches?

Several bills introduced in the General Assembly this session are intended to lower health care costs and make health care less painful.

buff.ly

seniorpharmassist.bsky.social @seniorpharmassist.bsky.social · Apr 24

Yes, we need more geriatricians and other professionals working in geriatrics. Direct care workforce is also particularly challenged - and immigration policies may make things much worse for those trying to age with dignity.

Geriatricians wanted: medical schools work to recruit aging health specialists

Medical students’ lack of exposure to the field and lower compensation are barriers to growing the geriatrician workforce.

www.northcarolinahealthnews.org

seniorpharmassist.bsky.social @seniorpharmassist.bsky.social · Apr 12

MedPAC: Medicare Paid MA Plans $38 billion for Non-Medicare Services in 2024 www.medpagetoday.com/publichealth...

MedPAC: Medicare Paid MA Plans $38 billion for Non-Medicare Services in 2024

It's an 'enormous amount of money ... we don't track,' says one MedPAC member

www.medpagetoday.com

seniorpharmassist.bsky.social @seniorpharmassist.bsky.social · Apr 11

Trump pledges tariffs on pharmaceuticals, setting up fight over who pays

www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
Not good!!

Trump pledges tariffs on pharmaceuticals, setting up fight over who pays

President Trump’s threatened tariffs could lead to higher out-of-pocket costs or insurance premiums, depending on whether drugmakers try to pass on the costs.

www.washingtonpost.com