Tweets are my own views and do not necessarily reflect the position of any associated organization. Nerd. Trans guy. Typos abundant.
New Orleans, LA
Joined February 2017
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As the saying goes, some professional news:
I am extremely honored to accept the position of President & CEO of Community Access National Network.
Learn more about our work at tiicann.org & review our acclaimed HIV/HCV Co-infection Watch at HIV-HCV-Watch.com
Jen Laws - Policy Candy retweeted
@USDOL final PBM transparency rule is out and @3AxisAdvisors Antonio Ciaacia says employers will see lower costs because this rule gives tools to place pressure on a market that has lacked discipline. @c4ah
Jen Laws - Policy Candy retweeted
Judge strikes down Trump admin's definition of 'medically frail' in Medicaid work rules politi.co/4iMsHir
Jen Laws - Policy Candy retweeted
It was a tense and somber Medicaid directors conference last week in Maryland...
The focus was on HR 1 and its impacts; loss of coverage was a persistent concern for attendees. Several Trump officials were present. Some of their comments are in my recap:
fiercehealthcare.com/payers/…
Jen Laws - Policy Candy retweeted
NEW Exclusive: A new, final rule from the Dept. of Labor means that employers will get way more info on how their drug benefit managers are getting paid💰 -- including fees they get from drugmakers.
Critics have long called PBMs opaque.
With @annawmathews: wsj.com/health/healthcare/dr…
Jen Laws - Policy Candy retweeted
Exclusive: A new Labor Department regulation aims to pry open the business model of PBMs, powerful companies that oversee hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of drug spending on.wsj.com/3W8xodS
Jen Laws - Policy Candy retweeted
This piece rightly calls out the political problem: To increase affordability, we need to cut high payments to hospitals. Yet hospitals are often the “beloved” employer in a politician’s district.
But I think the job loss trade-off may be overstated here.
NEW: American healthcare is like manufacturing in 1979, and hospital towns are the new factory towns. That’s a political trap for reform. boydinstitute.org/p/welcome-…
Jen Laws - Policy Candy retweeted
SCOOP: The CDC's deputy director is leaving.
Jennifer Shuford, an infectious-disease physician who had been Texas's health commissioner, was hired to help restore trust in CDC.
Now she's out after six months.
w @bylenasun
washingtonpost.com/politics/…
Jen Laws - Policy Candy retweeted
Are PBMs fighting back against pharmacists who support Pharmacists Fight Back?
@JamesComer aims to find out.
statnews.com/pharmalot/2026/… @pharmalot
Jen Laws - Policy Candy retweeted
Louisiana opened a special enrollment period yesterday for 274k Medicaid recipients who need to switch Medicaid plans because Elevance/Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana is ending its Medicaid plan in 2027. #lalege
lailluminator.com/2026/10/15…
Jen Laws - Policy Candy retweeted
Scoop: Healthcare.gov premiums for benchmark plans are set to rise 11% on average in 2027. It's the 2nd year in a row for double-digit spikes but not nearly as bad as last yr's 30%. Insurer participation is down 14%. washingtonsun.com/health/aca…
Jen Laws - Policy Candy retweeted
It will be a good time to be Lisa Murkowski next year.
She's positioned to take over top R on either HELP, or if Collins loses, Approps
w/ @AnthonyAdragna @sn_handler
punchbowl.news/article/senat…
Jen Laws - Policy Candy retweeted
"You do need a villain, and that villain is insurance companies." -- @RepAuchincloss to the life science attendees at the @statnews Summit.
Jen Laws - Policy Candy retweeted
I am devastated by this news. Helen was the queen of public health reporting. She knew her stuff. Pressed relentlessly for answers. Meticulous in documenting how officials were ducking questions. And always considerate to colleagues and competitors alike. statnews.com/2026/10/13/hele…
This is devastating to a community of readers and colleagues who replied on Branswell's accessible and timely reporting on all manner of things.
Our thoughts are with those closest to her.
Helen Branswell, STAT's infectious disease reporter who earned the respect of experts and public health officials with her accessible, prescient dispatches, has died at age 69. trib.al/3bBswKg
Jen Laws - Policy Candy retweeted
The FDA is considering rules for evaluating AI that makes clinical decisions with less direct physician involvement. Public comment is open through Oct. 19.
What we're watching: What standards will decide whether these tools are accurate and safe enough? on.kff.org/4yJyprc
Jen Laws - Policy Candy retweeted
New: We’re looking into the ways health insurers’ use of prior authorization — the extra layer of approval insurers require before covering a medical expense — impacts patients. We need your help. propub.li/4hMz1oy
Jen Laws - Policy Candy retweeted
Ohio released it's report on #340B. Eye opening that Cleveland Clinic reported $272M (as in MILLION) in acquisition costs & $599M in payments for 340B drugs in-house. $22M costs & $70M in payments in 132 contract pharmacies. Can you say 340B profits?
odh.ohio.gov/know-our-progra…
Jen Laws - Policy Candy retweeted
Nice suggestions, however we still need the insurers & PBMs to implement this requriement. Beyond A Seat At The Table: Meaningful Patient Representation On Pharmacy And Therapeutics Committees | Health Affairs healthaffairs.org/content/fo…
Jen Laws - Policy Candy retweeted
FTC warns hospitals on price transparency axios.com/newsletters/axios-… #axiosfutureofhealthcare