The Archo Advocate Brief is a monthly newsletter dedicated to empowering patient advocates and healthcare professionals with essential updates, insights, and best practices. Subscribers receive the latest on healthcare policies, innovative treatments, and advocacy tools to drive meaningful change. Each issue brings expert commentary, data-driven findings, and actionable strategies for enhancing patient care and advancing health equity. Subscribe to stay informed, connect with a like-minded community, and support the long-term advocacy mission for better healthcare access and equity.

This month’s policy landscape saw critical updates that impact both healthcare providers and patients. From new legislation to ongoing policy debates, here are the highlights shaping the future of healthcare.

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) & Advocacy: Recent news highlighted organizations’ efforts to advocate for adjustments to the IRA. Many engage in federal lobbying to raise awareness about its impact on patient affordability. Advocacy groups are also working on educational materials to inform patients about the IRA’s implications. Many of those implications are playing out in higher insurance premiums for patients - an unforeseen consequence by everyone in government but no one in the industry.^{P1, P2, P3}

PBMs…”A Dead Man Walking”: The HLTH Summit brought out many leaders in the industry, and BCBS own exec stated that in his mind, the PBM model is a “dead man walking.” Now, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. They are not going anywhere until policy changes, but the models face pressure from Mark Cuban and similar “cost-plus” models that bring transparency into the marketplace. We will see if a lame-duck congress will take any action.^P2

Healthcare costs continue to rise, impacting patients’ financial health. This month’s posts delved into how economic changes affect individual patients and the broader healthcare system. Employers are also fearful of the continued strain of healthcare costs.

PBMs & 340B Under Pressure: News explored the significant increase in pressure and eyes on PBMs and the 340B drug pricing program. Copay accumulator programs and high-deductible plans are adding to patient financial strain. There was also a lot of discussion about the need to evolve the current PBM model to bring about more transparency and pass through the rebate dollars to plan sponsors & patients!^{E1, E2}

The Economic Toll of Medical Debt & Rising Costs: Recent posts spotlighted medical debt as a major burden, with 18% of surveyed patients reporting debt due to healthcare costs. Notably, costs associated with chronic illness management and diagnostic testing were among the leading contributors.^{E3, E4}

Social factors and community dynamics play a crucial role in healthcare access. This section highlights updates in public health enrollment, social factors, and key discussions shaping community health.

Healthcare Enrollment and Social Support: The latest figures on healthcare enrollment reveal record numbers joining public health exchanges, reflecting a need for accessible coverage options. Discussions emphasized the role of social support networks in patient outcomes, particularly in underserved communities. ^S1

Advocacy for Vulnerable Populations: Patient advocates raised concerns over disparities in healthcare access, particularly for lower-income and minority communities. Multiple advocacy groups voiced calls for reforms to improve transparency and support for copay programs. They also pressed industry to ensure they understood the value of patient advocacy in drug development. ^S2

Innovation in healthcare technology is reshaping how care is delivered with advancements in data management, patient records, and cybersecurity. With many issues to abait on cybersecurity, EHRs, and Payers push forward full force on AI in the integration arms race. Here are the month’s top tech updates.

Electronic Health Records (EHR) Upgrades: Several healthcare organizations piloted AI-integrated EHR systems this month to streamline patient management and improve record accuracy, promising enhanced patient experience and data accessibility. ^T1

Cybersecurity and Patient Data: Rising cyber threats led healthcare organizations to bolster cybersecurity measures, safeguarding patient data in response to an uptick in ransomware attacks targeting hospital systems.

This month’s insights underscore the complex interplay between policy, finances, community, and technology in shaping healthcare. With new challenges and solutions emerging, staying informed is more important than ever. Thank you for joining us in navigating these critical topics, and we look forward to bringing you next month’s updates.

Thank you for reading this month’s Healthcare Insights. At Archo Advocacy we’re committed to keeping you informed on the latest developments, trends, and innovations shaping the healthcare industry. We value your engagement and welcome your thoughts as we work toward a more accessible, equitable healthcare landscape.

Warm regards,

Matthew Toresco | Founder & CEO, Archo Advocacy, LLC

[email protected] | https://archo.io