Tag: News Approved

A change is coming to the codes OB-GYNs use to bill for maternity care services: Starting Jan. 1, 2027, we will shift from a bundled “global obstetric payment” to a fee-for-service model. This change impacts almost every U.S. family with a pregnancy. Under the current system, families receive a bill that does not distinguish the actual prenatal and postpartum costs from labor and delivery, which makes things incredibly confusing for patients.

In fact, the bundled payment’s impacts have been widespread: It has complicated billing for patients and clinicians, limited access to care, cut back the ability to provide patients with more personalized care, and slowed progress in better understanding U.S. maternal health outcomes.

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As more Americans experiment with synthetic peptides despite warnings about their unproven benefits and potential risks, an advisory panel to the Food and Drug Administration will meet on Thursday and Friday to discuss changes that could make peptides more accessible. 

At issue is whether to allow compounding pharmacies to manufacture seven peptides that are currently designated as unsafe for them to make. The panel discussion is expected to be unusual in more ways than one. 

First, many of the newly appointed members on the panel hold what critics (including FDA staff) say are conflicts of interest. The panel roster includes several physicians who prescribe peptides to patients as well as pharmacist and Tennessee state Sen. Bobby Harshbarger, whose mother, U.S. Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-Tenn.) has advocated for looser peptide regulations. Many of these panelists were selected by the Health and Human Services Department, FDA officials previously told STAT. 

Continue to STAT+ to read the full story…