Content about Insurance

SAN FRANCISCO — Biotech companies saw a decline in project delays due to regulations over the past year, as more than half have said insurance coverage and reimbursement issues have become more difficult, according to a new report.

The 2013 California Biomedical Industry Report — by PwC, the California Healthcare Institute and BayBio — looked at California's biotech industry and how it faired in 2012.

As many as 26% of consumers increased their usage of over-the-counter products in the past year, according to an online survey of more than 900 AccentHealth viewers conducted in September. Anticipated increases in OTC use for the upcoming year are driven by those who have already reported a rise in usage in the past year.


To see more Patient Views, click here.

The lower cost of OTCs was cited as the primary reason viewers have increased and plan to increase their OTC usage. 


PHILADELPHIA — More health insurers are credentialing nurse practitioners as primary care providers, but there is room for improvement, according to a recent national survey of health insurers.

The survey of health insurers, specifically Health Maintenance Organizations — conducted by the National Nursing Centers Consortium, a support organization for nurse-led care — found that 75% of HMOs credential with nurse practitioners as primary care providers, an increase over previous years.

BENSALEM, Pa. — Thirteen million more Americans had health insurance in June 2012 than 18 months earlier, according to a new report by BusinessOne Technologies, a healthcare technology and data company.

RALEIGH, N.C. — A provider of specialty pharmacy services to clients with chronic illnesses who need clotting factor, IVIg and other specialty pharmacy medications has been awarded specialty pharmacy accreditation from URAC.

MedPro Rx said "receiving this accreditation demonstrates [the] company's commitment to quality and accountability in the healthcare industry."

This month, DSN C2B Mobile Insights presents the Drug Store Shopping Report Card. We asked our C2Bers to rate their most recent trip to the drug store — or wherever it is they go primarily to shop for pharmacy and health and beauty items. We received more than 1,500 responses from all over the country.

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Tuesday morning heard arguments on whether the individual mandate portion of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is constitutional. The final decision, expected in June, could mean a swing between 15 million and 27 million Americans, along with their prescription and other healthcare needs, entering the insurance market in 2014, according to a recent study published by the Rand Corp.

IRVINE, Calif. — A pharmacy benefit management organization has received accreditation for its specialty pharmacy program.

OptumRx said it earned accreditation from URAC, an independent, nonprofit organization that promotes healthcare quality through its accreditation, education and measurement programs.

The specialty pharmacy program offers members comprehensive and coordinated delivery and support services for high-cost oral or injectable medications, which are used to treat complex chronic conditions, OptumRx said.

HOUSTON — Pet medications now are available at all Kroger pharmacies in the Houston area, the company said.

Customers with four-legged family members now can pick up their pets' prescriptions at the pharmacy counter. Popular medications, such as Frontline Plus and Rimadyl Chewables, are available, as well as $4 and $10 generic medications.

MENLO PARK, Calif. — The unemployed and underemployed have limited access to health care and, in many cases, are putting off seeking medical care, according to the "Long-Term Unemployed Survey" released on Monday by NPR News and the Kaiser Family Foundation.

When they are sick or need medical advice, the long‐term unemployed and underemployed are much more likely than those with full‐time jobs to say they rely on a hospital emergency room or that they have no usual place to go for care (39% compared with 15% of full‐time employees).

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Community Pharmacists Association on Monday touted the benefits community pharmacies can provide for health insurance exchanges once those exchange open in 2014 in a letter addressed to the Department of Health and Human Services.