CMS Acting Administrator Andy Slavitt faced tough questioning from Republican lawmakers about whether increased premiums for 2017 and the failure of ACA co-ops are signs the Affordable Care Act (ACA) exchanges are failing.

A Sept. 14 statement from drug-maker Pfizer said the company believes the FDA should follow an advisory committee’s recommendation to remove a serious Black Box warning from its anti-smoking drug Chantix, which was released in 2006. But a report released by the FDA the same day outlines concerns about the advisory committee’s data accuracy when it comes to the psychological effects of the medicine. 

Customers on Connecticut’s health insurance exchange won’t be limited to a single insurer’s plan after ConnectiCare decided not to leave over a rate dispute, while another Affordable Care Act (ACA) co-op is closing in New Jersey.

The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) has announced the newest appointments to its board of trustees, board of directors and elected officers for 2018.

Bethesda, MD – Annual family premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance rose an average of 3 percent to $18,412 this year, a modest increase at a time when workers’ wages (2.5%) and inflation (1.1%) also grew modestly, according to the benchmark Kaiser Family Foundation/Health Research & Educational Trust (HRET) 2016 Employer Health Benefits Survey released today. Workers on average contribute $5,277 annually toward their family premiums.

Vaccination advocates and groups that claim immunizations can be harmful have found something new to fight over: an Orange County, California, pediatrician’s medical license.

President Barack Obama has asked for insurers to step up their efforts to enroll younger, healthier customers on the Affordable Care Act’s insurance exchanges when open enrollment begins in November.

CMS is planning to publish a new set of regulations Sept. 16 that require healthcare providers to comply with new disaster preparedness guidelines.