Ohio Association of Health Plans

Sky-high drug prices hurt all consumers, but a new report by Patients for Affordable Drugs finds that they hit older Black and Latino Americans hardest. The result? They’re twice as likely to say they’re struggling to afford the medications they need. Considering that Black and Latino families also are more likely to suffer from chronic conditions and certain cancers, it’s a cruel and possibly deadly combination. NBC News has a recent report: https://lnkd.in/gRjrEV85

Biosimilar medications offer the promise of much-needed lower-cost therapies. AHIP, our national affiliate, is concerned that new draft guidance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration addressing manufacturing changes could create unnecessary hurdles. Read more from Regulatory Focus: https://lnkd.in/gTRedxCi

As cold weather approaches and we all prepare to head back indoors where viruses thrive, the federal government is stepping up again with free COVID-19 tests available through the mail. Each household can have up to four; you can order via COVIDTests dot gov. Bonus: New features make the tests more accessible to those with vision or dexterity challenges. https://lnkd.in/gEZm8c4G

October 8, 2024 was a great day for health and wellness in southeast Ohio as Gov. Mike DeWine helped break ground for a new Women and Children’s Hospital that will be part of the Memorial Health System - Ohio Belpre Medical Campus. When the hospital opens in the fall of 2026, it will be the region’s only facility able to provide advanced care for high-risk pregnancies, babies born prematurely and others who need specialized OB/GYN care. Currently, women have to travel two hours to Columbus, Akron or Morgantown, WV. to access such care, forcing families to separate during an especially traumatic time. This $125 million project is possible thanks to a great partnership between Memorial and Akron Children's Hospital, backed by a $30 million grant from the Ohio Department of Health. https://lnkd.in/eS3fGVGr

Anxiety, depression and overdose deaths are at elevated levels across the country and Ohio is worse than average: The number of deaths from overdosed increased from nearly 17 per 100,000 people in 2011 to more than 48 per 100,000 just a decade later. We’re extremely proud that Molina Healthcare is stepping up in a big way, with a $1.25 million investment in the Ohio Behavioral Healthcare Provider Network, which is working to integrate care among multiple providers, hospitals and social organizations. Sharing data and best practices will help with outreach to hard-to-engage members. Thanks to Molina for supporting this critical effort. https://lnkd.in/eSR9E2VG

Unreasonably high prescription drug prices aren’t just a budget headache; they’re a health threat to some of the most vulnerable Americans. Most Americans 65 or older are prescribed at least one drug, but federal researchers, in a study published National Health Statistics Reports, find that a sizeable minority — more than 3%, or well over a million seniors — did not get their prescriptions filled because they couldn’t afford them. A similar number took less medication than prescribed, due to cost. The trend is concentrated among the poorest and the sickest seniors — those who can least afford to scrimp on needed medications. This is the ultimate cost of a prescription drug system that charges Americans more than 3 times as much for drugs as what people in other wealthy nations pay. https://lnkd.in/e6Qj6EVS

Here’s some health news to celebrate: Teen use of e-cigarettes is at its lowest level in a decade, according to the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The National Youth Tobacco Survey found that 1.6 million middle- and high-schoolers currently vape — still too many, but down from 2.1 million the year before. Important progress! https://lnkd.in/eznQfNCs

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the National Breast Cancer Foundation has resources aimed at “Helping Women Now” — visit the link below to learn more about early detection, the key to surviving breast cancer, and to join the 10,000-plus women who have taken the Mammo Pledge, committing to having screenings and mammograms in the coming year. https://lnkd.in/eRq9PX2

More and more of us in health care understand the tremendous importance of SDOH — social drivers of health, also called social determinants — to the health and wellness of individuals and communities. But we’re still figuring out how best to understand and respond to them, so it’s great news that the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association have teamed up to develop data elements and definitions that could lead to a “standard vocabulary” for SDOH in cardiology. We need to be smarter about SDOH in all areas of health care! https://lnkd.in/e9Bgiw98

We’re super-excited to welcome Megan Richwine as our new director of government affairs and we want everyone to get to know her, so we did a Q&A! Check it out on our website and get to know more about her impressive background, her thoughts on government relations and why you probably don’t want to challenge her or one of her FOUR teams to a friendly game of soccer. https://lnkd.in/eFceHn_j