An eHealth analysis of Medicare open enrollment data from Oct. 15 to Nov. 8 found that 83% of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries selected plans without a premium so far this year, compared with 84% last year. The average monthly premium for MA plans is $9, up from $7 last year, while the average monthly Part D premium is $29, down from $31 in 2023.

The US COVID-19 hospital admission rate climbed more than 8% to over 16,200 for the week ending Nov. 11, after several weeks of remaining stable or declining, according to the latest CDC data. Omicron subvariant HV.1 is the most dominant strain and was linked to 29% of new cases in recent weeks, the CDC reported.

HHS issued an updated Language Access Plan to reduce language-based barriers to health care and human services. The plan requires all recipients of HHS funds to adhere to laws protecting patients from discrimination and provide American Sign Language interpreters or language assistance for patients with limited English proficiency. The Language Access Steering Committee will lead development of methods for measuring improvements in language access, collecting data and tracking adherence.

Data from the WHO and the CDC indicate that declining vaccination rates, especially among children in economically challenged nations, are fueling much higher measles rates and related deaths than in past years. The agencies' report indicates that worldwide cases of the highly transmissible infection jumped 18% to 9 million from 2021 to 2022, and deaths rose 43% to 136,000, mostly affecting children.

A study in the journal Addiction found cannabis use during pregnancy may increase the risk of premature birth and low birth weight newborns, which may lead to a greater likelihood of infants needing NICU care. The review found cannabis exposure in the womb was not associated with a higher risk for birth defects, death within one year or death from sudden infant death syndrome.

A Commonwealth Fund report found Americans were more likely to skip getting medical care due to costs when compared with people in Australia, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Canada, the UK, Switzerland and New Zealand. The survey, based on responses to the Commonwealth Fund's International Health Policy Survey, found Americans also were more likely to have problems accessing health care, regardless of their household income.

Officials at the CDC said an additional 77,000 doses of Sanofi's Beyfortus, a preventive therapy for respiratory syncytial virus, will be released for hospital and physician office distribution "immediately" amid a continuing shortage of the drug. Dr. Patrizia Cavazzoni of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research said in a statement that ensuring availability of the injection for eligible patients is a priority, and the CDC and the FDA are working with pharmaceutical companies to make even more doses available.

AstraZeneca's Truqap, or capivasertib, in combination with fulvestrant, has gained FDA approval as a treatment for hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative, locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer in adult patients with at least one PIK3CA, AKT1 or PTEN lteration. The approval was based on late-stage trial data showing the combination therapy cut the risk of cancer mortality or progression by 50% compared with fulvestrant monotherapy.

The Biden administration plans to appoint kidney cancer expert and oncologist W. Kimryn Rathmell as the next director of the National Cancer Institute. Rathmell, who currently serves as chair of the department of medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Tennessee, "embodies the promise of the Biden Cancer Moonshot and has spent her career driving toward the goals Jill and I set for the initiative, to improve outcomes and boost support for those facing a cancer diagnosis," Biden said.

The FDA announced Thursday that Janet Woodcock, the agency's principal deputy commissioner, plans to retire in January. Woodcock, who has been working at the FDA since 1986, led the agency as acting commissioner during the COVID-19 pandemic before being replaced by Robert Califf in February 2022.

Does your health insurance provider organization have important news about an innovation that's advancing health care's transformation? Tell your story during a concurrent session at AHIP 2024. Now's the time to plan for the June 11 through 13, 2024 conference in Las Vegas. Start by submitting your session proposal. Proposals are due Dec. 4. Learn more about this incomparable opportunity.

Now through 12.31.23, take 30% off select AHIP online courses. Deepen your expertise in Medicare, supplemental health insurance, long-term-care, disability insurance, fraud detection/prevention, health care management, and more. Or dive into an area that's new to you. Explore all your options here. Use code SUCCESS2023. Enroll today!

Join us on Thursday, Dec. 7, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET for "Prior Authorization: Considerations & Thoughts for Real-Time Processing" as Tata Consulting Services health experts and industry leaders provide an overview of prior authorization, evolving regulations, and recommendations on how to improve the prior auth experience for providers and plan members.