Healthcare had another busy week.
Here’s some of our top analyses to help you make sense of it all.
Insurers brace for pharmaceutical tariffs
Looming tariffs on pharmaceuticals are creating uncertainty for health insurance companies and their clients, distressing a sector that relies heavily on accurately predicting costs.
President Donald Trump has signaled “major” tariffs for imported medicines are coming, putting drugmakers, health systems, medical technology companies, insurers, employers and patients on edge. What the drug tariffs would look like — if they even happen — remains to be seen, fueling unease.
States reconsider Medicaid expansion 'trigger laws' as cuts loom
Democratic state legislators have embarked on long shot bids to preserve Medicaid expansion as threats of massive federal cuts hang over the program for low-income people.
Forty states and the District of Columbia broadened Medicaid eligibility for adults without disabilities through the Affordable Care Act of 2010. Nine expansion states have "trigger laws" in place that would end the expansions if Washington tightens the purse strings, as the congressional GOP is gearing up to do. Three more states have laws requiring reviews that could lead to terminations under those circumstances.
Government health programs weighed on insurers in Q1
Health insurance companies can't seem to shake high medical costs, although some are enduring the pressure better than others.
UnitedHealth Group, CVS Health, Elevance Health, Humana and other companies operating health insurance businesses over the last few weeks reported first-quarter earnings that shed light on cost and utilization trends.
Quote of the week
"Medically Home really began in the hospital-at-home space, partnering and enabling hospital systems to deliver care in the home. DispatchHealth really has a history of keeping people from going to the emergency room, being admitted to the hospital and ultimately readmitted to the hospital. So, we have to sort of merge and bring those capabilities together."
