UnitedHealth is underpaying for vaccines — Cancer-drug prices — A closer look at Mu

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Subscribe to Insider View in browser       Hello, Welcome to Insider Healthcare. I'm Lydia Ramsey Pflanzer, and today in healthcare news: Pediatricians say UnitedHealthcare is underpaying for coronavirus vaccines; Cancer drug prices are rising in the US, while in other countries they're falling; We took a closer look at the Mu variant, which doesn't seem to be posing a greater threat than Delta. If you're new to this newsletter, sign up here. Comments, tips? Email me at lramsey@insider.com or tweet @lydiaramsey125. Let's get to it... Health-insurance giant UnitedHealthcare is paying doctors less than their costs to give COVID-19 vaccines to kids, and it could hinder efforts to end the pandemic Pediatricians say UnitedHealthcare is underpaying them for giving COVID-19 shots to kids. The country's biggest insurer pays for the shots at about half the rate of Medicare, they said. The low payments could reduce access to COVID-19 vaccines and hinder efforts to end the pandemic. Get the full story>> One key study highlights how cancer-drug prices continue to rise in the US — even if they don't elsewhere There is increasing interest in the federal government in lowering prescription drug prices. The US spends more than twice what other countries with similar income levels do on prescriptions. US cancer-drug prices are rising faster than inflation, while European countries' are falling. Find out more>> The Mu coronavirus variant shares key similarities with Delta, but it doesn't pose a greater threat Scientists are closely watching the Mu coronavirus variant. Mu has the potential to resist protection from vaccines or a prior infection. But Mu isn't becoming more prevalent — a sign that it's less concerning than Delta. Check out the full breakdown>> More stories we're reading: The CDC says vaccine protection is tumbling for older Americans, though they still work very well for younger people (Insider) The Senate is considering a plan that pegs Medicare drug prices to the VA's discounted rates (Stat News) CDC: Unvaccinated people are 11 times more likely to die of COVID-19 than people who got shots (Insider) Mammoth Biosciences raises $195 million (Forbes) - Lydia           Was this email forwarded to you? SUBSCRIBE NOW     You received this email because you signed up to this Insider newsletter using the email: aymentanaze.news@blogger.com   Email preferences Unsubscribe TERMS OF SERVICE PRIVACY POLICY 1 Liberty Plaza, 8th Floor. New York, NY 10006