Medicare Plans Releases Survey Results Regarding Medical Cannabis Coverage
Medicare Plans, a patient support center that provides resources for better understanding Medicare, recently conducted a survey about the idea of Medicare coverage for medical cannabis treatment and products. Here are some highlights from their results.
Recently, Medicare Plans, a patient support center that helps provide resources for understanding Medicare, conducted a survey of current Medicare recipients on their opinions of Medicare coverage for medical cannabis treatment and products (1). The survey was conducted online with 1250 Americans ages 65 and over surveyed. It covered topics such as past and current cannabis use, political affiliations, and how much patients spent on cannabis products per month. Medicare Plans released their survey results this month.
Some of the most prominent findings, according to Medicare Plans, included:
- 1 in 5 Medicare recipients currently use medical cannabis
- 23% have used medical cannabis in the past
- 66% of Medicare recipients “strongly agree” or “agree” that Medicare should cover medical cannabis
- 59% of those who support Medicare coverage for medical cannabis say it's because it can be effective where other treatments fail
- 38% of Medicare recipients who use medical cannabis do not want Medicare coverage because they fear it will increase the price
Medicare Plans pointed out that currently the use of medical cannabis is legal in 37 states, four territories, and the District of Columbia. However, because cannabis is both illegal at the federal level and, in most cases, not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), health insurance does not pay for it. Medicare Plans also noted that with the recent passing of the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act in the House of Representatives, the question of whether insurance should cover medical cannabis may soon need to be addressed.
To see the survey results in detail, please visit: https://www.medicareplans.com/1-in-5-medicare-recipients-use-medical-marijuana/
References
Ep 24, Part III: Data Transparency in Cannabis Testing with Yasha Kahn
December 26th 2024In the final part of this episode, Evan Friedmann and Yasha Kahn discuss the need for a national entity to centralize cannabis data collection, moving from snapshot data to continuous updates. They emphasize the importance of accurate lab data and adverse event tracking, suggesting QR codes on packaging to report issues. Yasha suggests harsher consequences for result manipulation and suggests collaboration between state departments and federal entities to support underfunded regulators. They also discuss the potential benefits of off-the-shelf testing and the importance of stability testing. Finally, Yasha shares his top three reading recommendations for the audience.
Ep 24, Part II: Data Transparency in Cannabis Testing with Yasha Kahn
December 12th 2024Evan Friedmann and Yasha Kahn, co-founder of MCR Labs, discuss the discrepancies between current regulations and data on mycotoxins and pesticides in cannabis products. They highlight the need for updated regulations based on new data, emphasizing the importance of accurate testing and labeling. They also discuss the issue of result manipulation, particularly in THC content, and the need for public health officials to address this. Yasha suggests making testing data public to enhance oversight and suggests a national entity to manage this data for better consistency and public safety.
