Nancy Edwards

The PAN Foundation appreciates the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized rules for expanding prescription medication coverage and access to dental care. These rules will help many patients across the country. Starting in 2025, health plans covering prescriptions beyond the state's benchmark plan must consider them essential health benefits, ensuring cost-sharing protections under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Along with fellow patient advocates, PAN has pushed for this extension to also include large group and self-funded plans. CMS plans to introduce a rule aimed at further enhancing consumer protections within the ACA. Now, states will have the option to offer adult dental services as part of an essential health benefit package in their benchmark plans.  This change aligns state benchmark plans more closely with the private marketplace and gives states the opportunity to improve adult oral health and overall health outcomes. This could notably help reduce health disparities and advance health equity. While the above are positive outcomes of the rules, we are once again disappointed that CMS has not moved forward to enforce the recent court ruling regarding copay accumulator programs - programs that are preventing access to needed medications. We urge CMS to enforce the 2023 court ruling directing CMS to revert to the 2020 rule indicating that copay assistance should now count toward a patient’s deductible, coinsurance, copays, and annual cost-sharing limits, except in the situation when the brand-name medication has an equally effective generic. Learn more about copay accumulators and their harmful impact:  https://lnkd.in/epQRGqfy   

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Clear Communication with Patients: How to Manage Expectations and Provide Clarity Learn essential strategies for clear and concise communication with patients, ensuring they understand the next steps and have their questions answered. Discover the importance of managing expectations and how it leads to better patient satisfaction. Enhance your patient advocacy skills and build strong patient relationships. 🎤 Jennifer Noonan, MSN, RN , Accessia Health #PatientCommunication #ManagingExpectations #ClearCommunication #PatientAdvocacy #PatientSatisfaction #HealthcareCommunication #EffectiveCommunication #PatientRelationships #MedicalCommunication #PatientEducation

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Hello Business leaders, please read and engage with my latest publication.

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🌸The financial burden of breast cancer isn't uniform — 𝗶𝘁 𝘃𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲. In 2024, for example, the cost per patient in California is expected to be around $89,000, while patients in Tennessee may face costs as high as $122,000 per individual. This disparity reflects differences in healthcare costs, treatment availability, and state-specific factors. Regardless of location, these numbers underscore the financial toll on individuals and families affected by breast cancer. At Chmura, we believe it’s crucial to highlight how this disease impacts both the economy and our communities. As we continue our breast cancer awareness efforts, we hope to bring attention to the many ways it touches lives nationwide. 👀 Learn more in our latest blog: https://hubs.la/Q02T0gh20

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