#medicare-regulation

#medicare-regulation

Many of the medicines on TrumpRx include brand-name drugs that patients can find cheaper elsewhere as generics. For instance, Protonix for heartburn is available for $200 on TrumpRx, but the generic version, pantoprazole, costs less than $30 with a GoodRx coupon.

Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) are opaque intermediaries-and they are unpopular with figures including Mark Cuban, who told Fortune that the way they bargain over drug prices is absurd, something that would never happen at the very same pharmacies buying a package of Pringles potato-chip products.

In light of the systemic dismantling of America's public health agencies, these moves essentially create a shadow infrastructure to maintain some of what is being lost. While this is a promising development, it does nothing to stop a troubling trend that has been emerging for some time: The country is quickly becoming fragmented along partisan lines when it comes to public health.

Industry lawsuits quickly blocked most of the regulation, with two federal courts ruling that Medicare exceeded its authority. Following the 2024 elections, Congress barred implementation of the standards before 2034. Last month, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) repealed the rule entirely. Hunter called the move devastating with advocates saying it signals a retreat from oversight. It's clear (CMS) has no interest in ensuring adequate staffing, said Sam Brooks of the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care.

States like Florida, Ohio, North Carolina, and Georgia saw the most significant dips. "People have less access to care, and that tends to translate into worse health outcomes," said Matthew Fiedler, a senior fellow at The Brookings Institution. He added that many households' financial security is at risk: "People will face big bills that they either can't pay, and that hurts their credit. Or they do pay, but it requires them to skimp in other areas."

Her monthly health insurance premium jumped from $3 to $164 a month in January, a cost too high for the single mom's tight budget. Her job as a dishwasher at Chili's barely covers rent, groceries, and other essentials. Like many Americans, Richards relies on the Affordable Care Act marketplace because her job doesn't offer health insurance.