Managed Care - February 2008 - (Page 7) NEWS AND COMMENTARY tion and higher costs as plans increase expenses related to sales, marketing, and commissions to defend their existing accounts and to expand their business. And as in other election years, proposals by presidential candidates to reform health care, including Medicare expansion, granting states flexibility to develop coverage mandates, and tax credits to pay for expenses, will make 2008 an interesting year for the industry. Employer-backed insurance gets nonpartisan nod believe that to get universal Eighty-one percent of Americanscost of their coverage, according coverage, employers should either provide health insurance to their workers or contribute to the to a survey by the Commonwealth Fund. In addition, health insurance costs should be shared by individuals, employers, and the government, according to 67 percent of Democrats, 66 percent of Republicans, and 70 percent of independents. Percent of adults who say employers should either provide health insurance or contribute to a fund Total Democrat Republican Independent 73 79 81 88 Antitrust Exemption Sought in Congress The so-called Community Pharmacy Fairness Act (HR 971) would allow independent pharmacies to negotiate collectively with health plans, insurers, and PBMs, including plans under Medicare parts C and D. It would cost the government $681 million over five years, according to a Congressional Budget Office study. The Federal Trade Commission opposes the bill on the basis that it would raise health care costs and that there is no assurance that it would improve quality. The CBO study suggests that most of the cost increase over the next five years would come from an additional $540 million for the Medicare drug benefit and $115 million in lost federal tax revenue. Drug payments to independent pharmacies would increase by 1 percent by 2010. The increased cost of drugs would increase premiums in group health insurance plans by less than 0.1 percent, with 60 percent of that increase offset by reductions in health insurance benefits. An indirect effect would be to inrease the cost of drugs for the Federal Employee Health Benefits and Medicaid programs by $26 million. The bill would essentially treat independent pharmacies the same way that employees are treated under the National Labor Relations Act. Percent of adults who say health insurance costs should be paid for by: Mostly individuals Mostly employers Mostly the government A combination of individuals, employers, and the government Declined/Don’t know Total 5% 6% 8% 15% 66% Democrat 3% 5% 5% 20% 67% Republican 4% 10% 11% Independent 4% 6% 6% 14% 9% 66% 70% Survey findings can be found in “The Public’s Views on Health Care Reform in the 2008 Presidential Election” and at «http://www.commonwealthfund.org/newsroom/ newsroom_show.htm?doc_id=646974» FEBRUARY 2008 / MANAGED CARE 7 http://www.commonwealthfund.org/newsroom/newsroom_show.htm?doc_id=646974 http://www.commonwealthfund.org/newsroom/newsroom_show.htm?doc_id=646974
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.