 Health Care |
Health Care |
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Insurers: COVID vaccination hiccups are clearing up |
Health insurers and the Biden administration say they've mostly resolved the glitches that have marred the early days of the rollout of the updated COVID-19 vaccine. | © JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images |
Health And Human Services Secretary (HHS) Xavier Becerra met with health insurance company leaders and national stakeholders, according to a readout provided by the agency, and discussed the widely reported barriers people have been facing. Vaccine deliveries to pharmacies have been delayed, leading to canceled appointments. According to HHS, more than 6 million vaccines have been shipped to pharmacies. Insurers also haven't had the updated codes to cover the costs of the shots, but the companies told Becerra on Wednesday that this issue was "largely, if not completely" resolved. Along with these assurances, the insurers also made commitments to covering the shots with no-cost sharing as is required under the Affordable Care Act. "You have our commitment that health insurers are fully covering the new COVID-19 shots, as required, with no cost sharing when consumers access them from a network provider or receive them through an out-of-network provider when in-network options are unavailable," a coalition of health insurance stakeholders said in a letter to Becerra on Wednesday. Most private insurance plans are required to cover the updated vaccines, which cost more than $120 without coverage. If you are out of network, you will have to pay, unless there is no in-network pharmacy with the shots available. HHS said on Wednesday that more than 2 million people have gotten vaccinated against COVID-19 in the weeks since the shots became available, noting this to be comparable to last year's fall campaign. |
Welcome to The Hill's Health Care newsletter, we're Nathaniel Weixel and Joseph Choi — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health. |
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How policy will be impacting the health care sector this week and beyond: |
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The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) met with representatives from the health insurance industry on Wednesday, receiving commitments that the updated COVID-19 vaccines will be covered after reports arose of some people having to pay out-of-pocket for their immunizations. HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra met with executives from Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS), the Better Medicare Alliance, CareFirst, Cigna, Humana, … |
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| The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) updated the label for Ozempic, a type 2 diabetes drug that is often used for weight loss, to now note the potential side effect of intestinal blockage. In a series of labeling changes for Ozempic, the FDA said the medication will now include a warning of increased reports of ileus, or the blockage of intestinal contents, according to the National … |
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The House GOP's bill to fund the Department of Agriculture, rural development and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is on thin ice after a handful of moderate Republicans said they are opposed to the legislation because of a provision that would limit access to an abortion pill. Reps. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) and Marc Molinaro (R-N.Y.) told reporters Wednesday morning that they do not support the agriculture spending bill in … |
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A MESSAGE FROM PLASMA PROTEIN THERAPEUTICS ASSOCIATION |
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Branch out with a different read from The Hill: |
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California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs law to protect doctors who mail abortion pills to other states |
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a new law on Wednesday that aims to stop other states from prosecuting doctors and pharmacists who mail abortion pills to patients in places where the procedure is banned. California already has a law protecting doctors who provide abortions from out-of-state judgements. But … |
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Local and state headlines on health care: |
- Maryland health department report shows increase in medical errors in state hospitals (CBS News)
- Tennessee's lost reproductive healthcare funding will go to Planned Parenthood (The Commercial Appeal)
- Physician assistants say proposed regulations could spell disaster for rural Alaska health care (Alaska Public Media)
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Health news we've flagged from other outlets: |
- As Covid infections rise, nursing homes are still waiting for vaccines (New York Times)
- Biden administration doles out $100M to research drug-resistant infections (Endpoints News)
- Why is it still so hard to find Covid vaccines for babies & toddlers? (Romper)
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A MESSAGE FROM PLASMA PROTEIN THERAPEUTICS ASSOCIATION |
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Most read stories on The Hill right now: |
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Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) told members of the House GOP conference Wednesday morning that he will not bring the Senate's bipartisan continuing … Read more |
| House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) on Wednesday fired back at Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (D) for her "hostile response" … Read more |
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You're all caught up. See you tomorrow! |
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