IOWA PHARMACY NEWS
Insurer Exits Leave Few Choices for Individual Coverage in 2018; Insurance Division Scrambles In April, the two largest companies offering individual health insurance policies, Wellmark Blue Cross & Blue Shield and Aetna, announced that they would no longer provide individual policies starting in 2018. The exits affected 47,000 Iowans (21,000 from Wellmark and 36,000 from Aetna) who had purchased federally subsidized policies through the health insurance exchanges created by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Both companies cited the market conditions created by the ACA and the lack of young, healthy people buying insurance as the reason for their actions. Wellmark reported a $90 million loss in its three years of offering plans through the Iowa individual market. The exits of Wellmark and Aetna left Medica, which insures 14,000 Iowans through individual plans, as the only insurer left in the state offering individual coverage in all 99 counties. In May, Medica indicated that it too may exit the Iowa market, questioning its ability to fill the coverage gap. However, one month later, they announced that they would remain in Iowa, but at a price as it’s rates were expected to increase by 43.5 percent. Prior to Medica’s announcement to remain in Iowa for 2018, and facing the potential of no health insurance options for 72,000 Iowans, the Iowa Insurance Division (IID) requested a waiver from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that would allow the state to implement a “stop gap” measure proposed by Iowa Insurance Commissioner Doug Ommen. The proposal would adjust how federal funds are used to assist with insurance premiums including shifting more money to assist young adults, using a reinsurance
24
| The Journal of the Iowa Pharmacy Association
program to help insurers cover the costs of extremely expensive health problems and offering a single standard plan. Insurers would still be barred from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions or limiting coverage. At the time of publication, the proposal was still being considered by CMS.
IPA Introduces the New Iowa MPJE Study Guide! On June 1, 2017, IPA published its Iowa MPJE Study Guide to assist recent graduates and new-to-Iowa pharmacists who are studying for the Iowa Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE).
Des Moines News Station Tackles Opioids in Iowa KCCI Channel 8, a CBS affiliate in Des Moines, aired a special on opioid addiction in Iowa. “State of Addiction,” which was broadcast from Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, brought together healthcare providers, addiction specialists, law enforcement and victims and their families to bring awareness to the issue. Panelists talked about the scope of the issues, told stories of their addiction and what’s being done in healthcare, government and law enforcement for treatment and prevention. Among the panelists was pharmacist and Iowa Representative John Forbes of Urbandale. The 80-minute special was part of the station’s yearlong reporting on opioid addiction in Iowa.
Iowa Sees Record Take Back Day Results
The guide includes useful features like information on how to register for the exam, questions in a table format to allow learners to fill in their answers, answers to each question with reference to where to find the information in Iowa Code and Administrative Code, and a terminology section of key terms to know. The digital-only publication is available through the IPA Store. Be sure to spread the word to any recent grads and incoming out-of-state residents or pharmacists you know. IPA members receive a significant discount. For more information or to order, go to www.iarx. org/MPJEStudyGuide.
The Governor’s Office of Drug Control Policy (ODCP) announced that a record 11,710 pounds of unwanted or expired medications were collected in Iowa during the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on April 29. The amount collected beat the previous Iowa collection record by over a ton. Iowa’s record collection was part of the record breaking 900,386 pounds of medication collected nationwide. This was the 13th Take Back Day held nationally since 2010. In Iowa, over 44 tons of medication have been safely disposed of through these events. The next DEA National Prescription Take Back Day is Saturday, October 28, 2017. ■