A new program could cut drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries. Here's what this means for you.
| Headlines for a healthier you | | | Claire Bugos, Staff Writer | | | | A New Program Could Cut Drug Costs for Medicare Beneficiaries |  | | Medicare beneficiaries often don't know how much their copay will be until they pick up their prescriptions from the pharmacy. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is testing a new program to remedy that. The model would allow enrollees to access 150 different generic drugs for a copayment of just $2 a month per drug. | | Know More | | The CMS said it's still ironing out the details of the program and it's not likely to launch before the 2024 Medicare open enrollment period. It will also only be available for people who are covered under Medicare Part D. | | Feel Better | | The $2 drug list will cover the generic drugs that treat the most common conditions among Medicare beneficiaries. The CMS is also testing ways to improve affordability of expensive new cell and gene therapies, as well as increasing access to drugs that get accelerated approval from the FDA. | | |  | What Else Should You Know | | | What Are the Symptoms of Norovirus and How Long Do They Last? | | The stomach bug is going around and it's not pretty. The highly contagious norovirus can cause vomiting, stomach cramps, and diarrhea. There's no norovirus treatment, but washing your hands frequently and cleaning food before cooking it can reduce your chances of getting sick. What happens if you do catch the stomach flu? Read on to find out. | | | | | | Erythritol May Lead to Heart Disease | | A recent study linked erythritol, a popular low-calorie sweetener, to an increased risk of heart disease. But the study caught some flak for its methods–the findings came mostly from mice and a cohort of 8 people, and the researchers did not control for the subjects' diets before and after they developed heart disease. Erythritol could be an indicator of cardiometabolic dysfunction, which begs the question, is the chemical the cause for heart disease, or a warning sign? | | | | |  | In Other News | | | | |
No comments:
Post a Comment