The federal government unveiled a new proposal late Thursday that would make some rather large changes to Medicare Advantage and the Part D drug program in 2019. The 713-page rule covers a lot, but there are two nuggets worth highlighting.
Part D: Health insurers and pharmacy benefit managers "rarely" pass along to consumers the discounts they extract from drugmakers, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said. Now, the agency is asking for help to design a policy that would require Medicare drug plans to pass some of those savings onto consumers when they are actually buying their medicine.
Medicare Advantage: By law, Medicare Advantage insurers have to spend at least 85% of premiums on health care. Money they spend trying to combat fraud is not counted toward that 85%. CMS' proposal would change that.
🇨🇳 U.S. fears Chinese tech war will get worse — 🏫 Nationwide student walkouts — DNC files election lawsuit — 🇸🇾 3 years of Syria strikes
Nineteen years ago today, at 11:19 am, high school students Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris walked into Columbine High School in Colorado and opened fire. They killed 12 students and a teacher, injured 23 others, and killed themselves in the library just after noon. Five hours passed before the situation was under control.
Fast forward: Starting at 10am today, students across the nation, including those from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, have been staging more than 2,600 walkouts to honor the 19th anniversary of the massacre and demand action from lawmakers on gun legislation, according to the National School Walkout organizer’s web site.
Columbine High School is closed today, a commemorative practice it has held annually since the shooting, along with a day of service. Some Columbine students held a vigil and a voter registration rally Thursday evening, which included students from Parkland, Florida, per the AP.
Situational awareness: Today, a student was shot at a high school in Ocala, Florida. A suspect is in police custody.
What we're seeing around the country:
