Trending News Today: ACA Premiums Still Lower Than Employer Plans

Though widely criticized for high increases, health insurance premiums from Affordable Care Act exchanges may not be as high as other plan premiums. A recent study found that the average premium for Affordable Care Act plans are actually 10% lower than employer-sponsored premiums. The average unsubsidized exchange premium was $464 per month, while the average premium for employer-sponsored plans was $516 per month, according to The Washington Post.

Hospitals may be bypassing other first-line treatments for bacterial infections in favor of potent antibiotics. Over the past 6 years, the use of carbapenems, a last resort potent antibiotic, increased 37%, according to The Wall Street Journal. The use of fluoroquinolone antibiotics also decreased by 20% during this time, likely due to increased resistance.

The FDA is now calling for people to develop a smartphone application that could potentially save the life of someone who has overdosed. They are asking that the application connects opioid users and their loved ones to someone who has a dose of naloxone, the LA Times reported. While there are legal and liability issues to be worked out, the FDA believes that this could allow first responders to treat the patients with a dose of naloxone from someone nearby.