New sickle cell gene therapies are a breakthrough, but solving how to pay their high prices is a struggle

[ad_1] The approval of two gene therapies to treat sickle cell disease has given hope to patients who suffer from the debilitating disease, which overwhelmingly affects Black people and people of color. Health officials now face a challenge in finding a way to provide equitable access to the costly treatments. The crippling episodes of pain…

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Nearly all doctors feel burnout, but many are encouraged by potential of AI, survey says

[ad_1] Suriyapong Thongsawang | Moment | Getty Images Doctors in the U.S. are struggling to contend with burnout, staffing shortages and overwhelming administrative workloads, but many are optimistic that artificial intelligence could help to ease these problems, a new survey found.  More than 90% of physicians report feeling burned out on a “regular basis,” according…

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Most employer health plans don’t cover new blockbuster weight loss drugs, but that’s going to change

[ad_1] Many U.S. companies are grappling with health insurance coverage issues for workers when it comes to GLP-1 drugs for weight loss. Despite the hefty price tag — typically between $1,000 to $1,500 a month — consumers are clamoring for drugs like Novo Nordisk‘s Wegovy and Eli Lilly‘s Zepbound. This class of drugs, historically used…

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Humana stock plunges on dismal 2024 forecast, as insurers face soaring medical costs

[ad_1] A Humana Inc. office building in Louisville, Kentucky, Feb. 3, 2019. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images Shares of Humana plummeted Thursday after the health insurer issued dismal full-year earnings guidance, citing soaring medical costs that are dogging the broader insurance industry. Those expenses have spiked as an increasing number of older adults return…

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