NBC News (5/18, Lovelace) reported, “A growing number of older adults say they can’t afford their prescription medications, a study…found.” Investigators found that approximately “1 in 5 adults ages 65 and up either skipped, delayed, took less medication than was prescribed, or took someone else’s medication last year because of concerns about cost.” These “findings were based on a national survey taken by more than 2,000 older adults from June 2022 through September 2022.” The findings were published in JAMA Network Open.

Related Links:

— “1 in 5 older adults skipped or delayed medications last year because of cost ” Berkeley Lovelace Jr., NBC News, May 18, 2023

According to Health Exec (5/19, Murphy), a “new Crowe report, ‘Time for a Commercial Break,’” indicated that “it took commercial payors three months or longer to pay 31% of inpatient claims submitted in the first quarter of 2023; this was the case for just 12% of claims submitted to Medicare.” Health Exec added, “Crowe – a public accounting, consulting and technology firm – derived its data from financial transactions at 1,800 hospitals and 200,000 physicians across the” US.

Related Links:

— “‘Forced to jump through hoops’: Commercial insurers are making life harder for physicians “Hannah Murphy, Health Exec , May 19, 2023

The Hill (5/19, Migdon) reported, “Health care organizations including Planned Parenthood are suspending gender-affirming medical care in Florida to comply with a new state law that bans transition-related care for transgender minors and places heavy restrictions on care for adults.” According to The Hill, “Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R)…on Wednesday signed legislation immediately prohibiting health care professionals from administering puberty blockers, hormone replacement therapy and surgeries to transgender minors.” Individuals “who violate the law risk being convicted of a third-degree felony crime, punishable by up to five years in prison, according to Florida’s criminal code.”

Related Links:

— “Florida health care providers are pausing gender-affirming care for adults “Brooke Migdon, The Hill, May 19, 2023

HealthDay (5/19, Solomon) reported, “Poor verbal memory increases the risk for psychiatric hospitalization among individuals with affective disorders,” investigators concluded in a study that “included 518 individuals with bipolar or major depressive disorder in national registers, followed for up to 11 years from 2009 to 2020.” The findings were published in the April issue of the journal eClinicalMedicine.

Related Links:

— “Poor Verbal Memory Tied to Psychiatric Hospitalization With Affective Disorders “Lori Solomon, HealthDay, May 19, 2023

NBC News (5/18, Pettypiece) reports, “Republicans and Democrats appear to be at a stalemate over a GOP proposal to tie eligibility for Medicaid…to a certain number of hours worked each month.” According to “the Republican plan…Medicaid recipients would have to document 80 hours a month of work…or log hours doing community service or participating in a work training program.” Medicaid “recipients would lose their coverage if they don’t meet the hourly or monthly income requirements for three consecutive months during the year.” The piece mentions that “six major medical groups, including…the American Psychiatric Association, issued a statement opposing Medicaid work requirements, arguing it would increase medical debt for patients and add barriers to care while driving up costs for states and not improving employment rates.”

Related Links:

— “The debt ceiling debate could put health insurance in jeopardy for millions ” Shannon Pettypiece, NBC News, May 18, 2023