A recently published study shines a light on a peculiar quirk of the Medicare Part D benefit structure: For some high-priced specialty medications, seniors might pay less out-of-pocket for brand-name drugs than their generic counterparts.A leader from one Medicare-focused insurer tells AIS Health that while the issue doesn’t affect a very large swath of members, it’s still worth addressing.

Maine is “forging new ground” with its recent enactment of a comprehensive prescription drug reform legislative package, the National Academy for State Health Policy says. The Pine Tree State, however, is not alone in its efforts. NASHP reports that 47 states had filed 269 bills to control prescription drug costs as of July 7 — with 46 such laws enacted this year in 29 states.

After a federal court on July 8 blocked a Trump administration rule — a day before it was set to take effect — requiring pharmaceutical manufacturers to disclose prescription drugs’ list prices in direct-to-consumer (DTC) television ads, HHS brushed aside the legal setback for its high-profile initiative as “disappointing.” The judge indicated that Congress would need to act on the matter, and on July 10 two senators said they intend to plow ahead and do just that.

As various players in the health care industry sharpen their focus on disease prevention, some experts say they’re seeing health plans offering more and more “preventive” drugs at no cost to members.For example, in a June 28 press release, Dean Health Plan said it’s “adding even more preventive drugs to our list of drugs available to [members] for $0.” Additions to the list, which total more than 200, include Advair inhalers (fluticasone propionate and salmeterol) for asthma, the diabetes drug Januvia (sitagliptin), and Alendronate for osteoporosis, says Kevin Engelien, manager of large group product and market research at the Wisconsin-based insurer.