ZorroCard Round Up (10/17/2024)

Hey all,

In today’s round-up I was especially interested to read about BCBS’ antitrust settlement. There are a lot of anti-competitive policies in healthcare that don’t seem kosher. I do wonder if this settlement, like any with large health insurance companies, will meaningfully change how they operate.

Enjoy the roundup!

Jacob Brody (Co-Founder & CEO, ZorroCard)

TruePill Founder’s HIV / Hep C Focused 340B Startup (Forbes):

Sid Viswanathan, co-founder of Truepill, has launched Alchemy, a new startup focused on HIV care, backed by $31 million from investors like Andreessen Horowitz and Magic Johnson. The company has set up pharmacies in 15 Federally Qualified Health Centers across the U.S., targeting underserved HIV and hepatitis C populations. While Alchemy uses the 340B program to lower drug costs, the exclusion of Medicaid patients from these discounts presents challenges for serving the lowest-income individuals. Full Article.

BCBS Agrees to Record $2.8 Billion Settlement in Antitrust Case (Benefits Pro):

Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) has agreed to a $2.8 billion settlement to resolve an antitrust lawsuit filed by healthcare providers in 2012. The lawsuit accused BCBS of dividing markets to reduce competition, raising costs, and lowering reimbursements. This follows a separate $2.7 billion settlement in 2020 for a second 2012 antitrust lawsuit filed by BCBS customers, which challenged anti-competitive rules limiting competition for large employer contracts. Combined, the two settlements total $5.5 billion. Full Article.

Breast Arterial Calcification ^(BAC) on Mammograms Predicts Cardiovascular Disease Risk (ScienceDirect):

This study highlights the powerful role of breast arterial calcification (BAC) on mammograms as a predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality. Analyzing data from over 18,000 women, researchers used artificial intelligence to quantify BAC, finding that women with BAC had a 49% higher risk of death and a 56% greater chance of CVD events like heart attacks and strokes. The risk was particularly striking in younger women, showing that BAC can be a critical, underutilized tool in early CVD detection and personalized risk stratification. Full Article.