October 20, 2010

Aims to reduce costs for oncology drugs

The October 20, 2010 NAHU Newswire reports that several large health insurers including United Healthcare have announced a one-year project focused on lowering expenses associated with oncology drugs. The one-year project involves five oncology practices. Under the program, the oncologists will receive the wholesale cost of standard drugs they prescribe as treatment and be paid separately for their services. Chemotherapy drug prices have risen fifteen to eighteen percent annually over the last ten years and accounts up to sixty percent of the oncologist's income from selling drugs.

An editorial in the Wall Street Journal asserts that the Obama Administration waivers to employer groups that provide minimal health coverage proves that the healthcare law will hurt Americans. The law grants HHS Secretary Sebelius authority to decide who is impacted by the law and who is not.

More healthcare issues of the day can be found in the NAHU Newswire.

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