Trending News Today: Monthly Health Insurance Enrollment Predicted to Rise

A recent study found that in the first 2 years of Oregon’s Medicaid expansion, emergency department use remained high, and more patients were visiting doctor’s offices. Oregon expanded their Medicaid program through a lottery that granted certain patients coverage. Despite high hospitalization rates in the first few years, more patients were financially secure, they went to primary care physicians, and depression rates decreased, according to Kaiser Health News.

The emergence of biosimilars has provided a potential way to reduce healthcare costs, since these biologic drugs typically cost 80% less than their reference product. However, Inflectra is being sold for 15% less than its reference product, Remicade, for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. NPR reported that the 15% discount is still significant, and will provide the biosimilar at the 2014 price of Remicade.

The federal government is predicting monthly health insurance enrollment to increase to 11.4 million during open enrollment this coming year. Regardless of increasing premiums and insurers leaving the Affordable Care Act marketplaces, this comprises a 9% total increase from 2016, according to The New York Times. Overall, the government expects 13.8 million people to enroll.