Cell and gene therapies (CGTs) carry life-preserving and life-saving benefits, profoundly affecting those in need and their families.  This Action Brief discusses population risk, coverage and payment options, care delivery approaches, and targeted employee communications.

After early successes, Cell and Gene Therapy is rapidly expanding, with nearly 4,000 gene, cell and RNA therapies in the pipeline. This Action Brief provides an employer Q&A to help explain CGT growth, consequences, and potential.

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is the most common health condition confronting 48% of US adults. Even though the US workforce is younger on average than the overall adult population, 3 in 10 employees have hypertension, affecting more workers than other health conditions such as diabetes or depression.

As healthcare costs increase, employers and other plan sponsors continue to explore strategies to better manage pharmaceutical costs. Given that prescription drug spending accounts for 18% of all healthcare spending, such strategies focus on the specialty medications that account for a significant share of that spending. One approach is the use of alternative funding programs (AFPs). AFPs have been gaining traction with employers by marketing strategies that shift the entire financial burden of high-cost specialty medications away from the employer, primarily by directing covered employees to manufacturers’ patient assistance programs (PAPs). This practice comes with risks.

The private sector is bringing new expertise and momentum to an effort once thought impossible—the end of the HIV epidemic in the U.S. It’s going to take leaders across business and industry to get there. Employers and other plan sponsors working together can change the trajectory of HIV in the U.S. by leveraging their reach and influence. This Action Brief provides actionable steps for understanding HIV/AIDS and vanquishing new infections.

In a 2022 study by Gallup, nearly one-fifth of US workers (19%) rated their mental health as fair or poor; those workers reported about four times more unplanned absences due to poor mental health than their peers.

This Vendor Engagement Template (VET) is derivative of the development process of the Path Forward Mental Health Voice of the Purchaser survey and contains questions intended to supplement questions that might otherwise be included in ongoing vendor management discussions as well as in the vendor selection process. Employers and other plan sponsors are highly encouraged to integrate this tool into ongoing service provider performance assessment and performance improvement plans (or at least until any identified issues are effectively addressed).

Obesity is a complex and multifaceted chronic disease, affecting more than 40% of the US population and linked to more than 220 conditions, including cardiovascular disease, Type II diabetes, and certain cancers.   This provides the National Obesity Advisory Council Position Statement & Recommendations for Employers.

High-cost claims have become the single fastest-growing healthcare cost for employers in the last decade. Since 2016, the number of health plan members with claims of $3 million or more has doubled, making these claims a significant threat to employer-sponsored healthcare. The elimination of annual and lifetime maximums through the Affordable Care Act has redefined what is possible.

In a 2022 study by Gallup, nearly one-fifth of US workers (19%) rated their mental health as fair or poor; those workers reported about four times more unplanned absences due to poor mental health than their peers. Mental health issues in the US workforce cost the economy an estimated $185 billion annually in lost productivity and presenteeism. This Action Brief offers specific steps employers and other plan sponsors can take to raise the bar for high-quality mental healthcare to ensure a more equitable and responsive behavioral health system.

Wondering how to Communicate with Employees About Fall Vaccines?

This two-page resource helps clear up confusion about respiratory virus prevention recommendations to help protect American families and businesses from disruptive surges in COVID-19, influenza, and RSV.

On August 16, 2022, President Biden signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. This is an expansive piece of legislation and covers a very wide variety of policies. This Health Policy in Transit will briefly describe the provisions related to prescription drugs, specifically those that affect employer plan sponsors.

A recent study from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) reinforces the positive impact of aspirin, regardless of dose, in preventing heart attacks and strokes in people living with heart disease. This Action Brief equips employers with action steps to help employees with CVD make informed decisions about aspirin dosing.

With the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in high gear, misinformation has flooded communication channels and led to widespread concern and vaccine hesitancy. Employers play a key role in debunking the abundant myths and reassuring employees and their families that deep research has proven the vaccines to be highly safe and effective.

Looking beyond the immediate concerns of COVID-19 vaccination and testing, this Action Brief revisits the potential long-term impact of the pandemic on employer baseline healthcare strategies. Recommendations for employers include how best to promote essential healthcare, implement benefits that fully integrate mental health care, and include telehealth options to remove care barriers.