PhRMA spent a record breaking $27.5 million on lobbying in 2018, its biggest total yet. The group’s previous record was in 2009, as Congress was debating the Affordable Care Act. Another group, the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, also spent a record amount on lobbying, $9.9 million in 2018. (STAT)
Polling indicates that a majority of Americans are initially open to “Medicare for all” proposals. However, favorability dropped as respondents were told about requirements for the policy, such as higher taxes or changes to private health plans. (Axios)
Johnson & Johnson and dozens of states have reached a settlement in a hip implant deceptive marketing lawsuit. J&J has agreed to pay $120 million to resolve the lawsuit brought by the attorneys general of 46 states. The lawsuit alleged that J&J unit DePuy Orthopaedics engaged in deceptive marketing about the longevity of its implants. (Reuters)
The record government shutdown is beginning to affect the insurance market. Some consumers who require tax credits to afford their premiums may not get them in time as staff shortages at the Internal Revenue Service slow down application processing. Some health plans are also not getting paid on time, meaning they are curtailing their services. (Wall Street Journal)
The Walgreens Boots Alliance has paid $269.2 million to settle two lawsuits claiming it overbilled federal healthcare programs. The lawsuit said Walgreens overbilled Medicare, Medicaid, and other federal programs for hundreds of thousands of insulin pens it dispensed to patients it knew did not need them. (Reuters)
