Trending News Today: Humana Withdraws from Affordable Care Act Marketplaces

Yesterday, Humana withdrew from the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces, and became the first major insurer to stop selling plans on the public exchanges for 2018, The New York Times reported. In response to this move, President Donald Trump said that this is evidence the ACA needs to be repealed. Several other insurers have said they have yet to determine whether they will sell individuals plans in 2018.

Pharmaceutical executives have expressed concern over Trump’s pledge to decrease FDA regulations at least 75%. These individuals are worried that less robust regulations would make it more difficult to gain insurance coverage for costly new drugs, according to Reuters. Physicians may also be skeptical to prescribe newly-approved medications with an unproven risk benefit profile.

The CDC recently reported that there was an 18% drop in new cases of HIV between 2008 and 2014. The most significant decline was especially seen among heterosexuals and people who inject drugs. However, new incidences of HIV among homosexual and bisexual men aged 25 to 34 skyrocketed 35% in 2014, The Washington Post reported.