Legislators sharpen their pencils
While some folks are enjoying end-of-summer leisure, DC has seen some August activity in the healthcare realm. Last week President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law, which will cap prescription drug costs for Medicare recipients, give Medicare the keys to negotiate high-cost drug prices, and bolster ACA coverage to address the underinsurance gap. While it will take years for the full effects of these provisions to play out, a shift in the balance of power is afoot as pharma companies will ultimately bear the brunt of the cost-savings. Meanwhile, the CDC read the room and announced a revamp to better address communication gaps and technology innovation opportunity misses during the pandemic. Last but not least, the FDA expanded access to hearing aids by clearing some devices for over-the-counter sale, which is expected to lower costs and encourage device development. It has been said (by us, right now) that everytime a startup founder says the word “disrupt,” a legislator sharpens their pencil—but when policy helps to improve access, lower costs, and better meet public health needs, we’re here for it.
Summer winding down means that Rock Health Summit 2022 is just around the corner on September 14! In person registration is officially sold out—but you can still join in on the fun virtually. Virtual ticket prices will increase on Thursday, August 25, so register now!
Headlines
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Recent Funding
- Incredible Health lands $80M to grow its healthcare career marketplace
- Arine, a Rock Health port co focused on medication management, locks in $29M
- KeyCare, a telehealth solution built on Epic, brings home $24M
- CareHarmony lines up $15M for AI-enabled value-based care coordination
- Motivo raises $14M to match mental health providers with clinical supervisors
- Women’s health diagnostics firm Nanopath collects $10M
- Senior companion startup Naborforce closes on $9M
- Dr. B reels in $8M, offering online consultations for prescription drugs
- Trial Library pulls in $5M to improve patient recruitment and diversity in cancer clinical trials
- Violet secures $5.3M for its digital cultural competence training for clinicians
- Uplift Labs grabs $2.5M to deliver real-time biomechanics and virtual coaching