Change to UK Rare Disease Approval Process

The Times reports that the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is revising it’s approach to how it approves new medicines that treat rare diseases. How? Principally by allowing for single arm trials with real-world ‘digital twin’ controls as well as expediting the approval process. The new plan, which is being launched on…

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Enrollment Growth in the ACA Marketplaces

This analysis of enrollment in Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace health plans finds a record 24.3 million people enrolled in 2025, more than double the total in 2020, with most of the growth occurring in states won by President Trump in the 2024 election. In six states, enrollment more than tripled from 2020 to 2025:…

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Fires Undercut L.A.’s Headway on Homelessness

Los Angeles County homelessness leaders last year reported nearly 30,000 permanent housing placements — an annual high for the sprawling region of 10 million residents. Thousands more got into shelter and short-term housing. Gov. Gavin Newsom and local leaders celebrated the progress as evidence that an unprecedented multibillion-dollar public investment to move people off the…

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Change in individual market health insurance premiums

From the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker: Most ACA Marketplace insurers are requesting premium increases in the 10-20% range for 2026. But more than a quarter (27%) of insurers are proposing premium increases of 20% or more for 2026. What individuals will pay for this insurance, however, is much higher because of the expiration of the…

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Election Outcome Could Bring Big Changes to Medicare

On the campaign trail, both former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are eager to portray themselves as guardians of Medicare. Each presidential candidate accuses the other of backing spending cuts and other policies that would damage the health insurance program for older Americans. But the election’s outcome could alter the very nature…

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