ZorroCard Round Up (10/8/24)

Hey all,

today we dive into a number of stories on how healthcare is delivered and paid for, especially prescription drugs.

Enjoy!

Jacob Brody (Co-Founder & CEO, ZorroCard)

JAMA Health Forum (340B Program Use by FQHCs): A study on 1,468 federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) from 2004 to 2022 found that increases in locations dispensing 340B-discounted drugs were linked to higher volumes of low-income, uninsured, and non–English-speaking patients. Additionally, more preventive services like HIV testing and tobacco cessation were provided. The findings suggest that FQHCs utilize the 340B program to enhance care for vulnerable populations. Full Article.

Trilliant Health (2024 Health Trends Report): The report highlights that the U.S. healthcare system is poorly structured to prevent the growing chronic disease burden, projected to impact 63.5% of adults by 2050. Despite skyrocketing healthcare costs, hospital admissions and surgeries have decreased, and while AI shows promise for improving diagnostics, only 39% of patients are comfortable with its use in their care. At the same time, hospital administrative costs have surged nearly 40%, nearing labor costs without improving outcomes. These inefficiencies will further strain a system unable to curb the spread of chronic illness. Full Report.

Stat New (Trump Backs Off Drug Pricing Plan): Former President Trump has retreated from his controversial 2020 drug pricing policy, which sought to cap Medicare payments for prescription drugs based on prices in other developed nations. This policy could have cut $10 billion annually from pharmaceutical profits but was blocked by courts and ultimately rescinded by the Biden administration. While his campaign initially indicated a potential revival of the plan, a spokesperson clarified that there is no push to reinstate it should Trump win reelection. Full Article.