May 17, 2024
Mental Health Inequities Have Huge Toll Inequities in mental health will cost $332 billion on premature death and $116 billion in productivity loss in 2024. These combined numbers could grow to $1.3 trillion by 2040. The inequities also mean greater healthcare spending. $5.3 billion in 2024 excess costs are tied to overutilization and excessive reliance on the emergency room for acute mental health incidents. That number could rise to $17.5 billion in 2040. #mentalhealth #behavioralhealth #healthcare https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/payers/mental-health-inequities-cost-478b-unnecessary-expenses-2024 Bipartisan Group Of Senators Want To Reform Retail Drug PA A group of senators want to further rein in and reform prior authorization (PA) for retail prescription drugs. The proposed bill has no details, but senators say they want to digitize PAs. Perhaps they don’t understand that Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, and Part D have some of the strictest turnaround times and there is a robust electronic PA process in America. (Article may require