Chris Sloan advises a number of clients, including pharmaceutical manufacturers, health plans, providers, and patient groups on key policy issues facing the healthcare industry.
His particular areas of expertise include prescription drug pricing, economic and population impacts of policy, the Affordable Care Act, generic drugs, and biosimilars. Additionally, Chris is a recognized expert in the healthcare policy issues facing people living with HIV/AIDS and multiple sclerosis.
Chris’s economic analyses of key policy proposals and issues, including drug pricing and the repeal and replace efforts around the Affordable Care Act, have been featured in a wide range of publications, including the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, the Washington Post, Politico, Axios, and Vox. Chris’s work has also been cited by policy makers on the Senate floor and by the Congressional Budget Office.
Chris has a BBA in economics and marketing from the College of William and Mary.
Authored Content
The accelerated changes and increased uncertainties in healthcare brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic will continue into 2021, and its impacts are likely to shape healthcare for years to come. While prevalent uncertainty is a given, the broad outline of a new era is already emerging. More than ever, careful examination of healthcare stakeholder’s business models, policy developments, and data will be essential to arrive at accurate assessments of the future state. Our experts engaged in a live discussion covering critical issues facing healthcare leaders and strategies for clearing the path.
Tune into another episode of Start Your Day with Avalere. In this segment, experts from Avalere’s Policy practice discuss the Most Favored Nation (MFN) drug pricing model, how it works, and the implications for stakeholders.
The accelerated changes and increased uncertainties in healthcare brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic will continue into 2021, and its impacts are likely to shape healthcare for years to come. While prevalent uncertainty is a given, the broad outline of a new era is already emerging. More than ever, careful examination of healthcare stakeholder’s business models, policy developments, and data will be essential to arrive at accurate assessments of the future state. Our experts engaged in a live discussion covering critical issues facing healthcare leaders and strategies for clearing the path.
For even deeper coverage, download the 2021 Healthcare Industry Outlook document below.
For even deeper coverage, download the 2021 Healthcare Industry Outlook document below.
The 351(k) biosimilars pathway was legally established under the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act (BPCIA) provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010. Since the passage of the ACA, 28 biosimilars have been approved by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) along with the promulgation of policy that also applies to all biologics, including the creation of a suffix within the nonproprietary name of these products. Additionally, substantial case law has been made with respect to intellectual property pertaining to biologics. With the legality of the ACA currently under scrutiny, the future of BPCIA and biosimilars is uncertain.
The 2020 presidential election will have significant implications for the US healthcare system and Americans’ healthcare options.
Avalere analysis finds that the candidates’ healthcare coverage reform proposals could impact a range of 23M to 153M individuals across insurance markets.
Avalere experts discussed how the 2020 election is influencing the future of healthcare.
Tune into our sixth video of the Avalere Health Essential Voice: 2020 Election series. In this segment, our experts discuss how we might see public healthcare programs expand under each candidate and what it might mean for future legislation.
Tune into our sixth episode of the Avalere Health Essential Voice: 2020 Election series. In this segment, our experts discuss how we might see public healthcare programs expand under each candidate and what it might mean for future legislation.
With the US Supreme Court set to hear arguments starting November 10 on California v. Texas, and Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination under consideration in the Senate, questions remain regarding the future of the law.
On September 13, the Trump Administration released the much-anticipated “Most Favored Nation” (MFN) Executive Order (EO), calling for models that would cap the price Medicare pays for select Part B and D drugs. The President’s EO underscores the administration’s continued focus on reducing prescription drug price disparities between the US and other developed countries.
Avalere analysis finds that at least 5 million Black and Hispanic people may lose their health insurance as a result of the pandemic.
Tune into our second episode of the Avalere Health Essential Voice: 2020 Election series. In this segment, experts from the policy and vaccines teams discuss the healthcare themes heard at the recent political conventions, and differences we can expect to see in the candidates’ healthcare platforms.
Tune into our second episode of the Avalere Health Essential Voice: 2020 Election series. In this segment, experts from the policy and vaccines teams discuss the healthcare themes heard at the recent political conventions, and differences we can expect to see in the candidates’ healthcare platforms.
As our healthcare industry rapidly evolves to address the COVID-19 pandemic, keep track of new resources and policies affecting patients and providers with the COVID-19 guide below.
Surprise and balance billing reform efforts have been a subject of ongoing debate at the federal level.
The administration’s 4 drug pricing EOs direct agency action across a host of policy areas, including Part D rebates, Part B reimbursement and pricing, 340B drug discounts, and drug importation. Next steps and a timeline for agency action will vary by EO dependent on the specific policies to be advanced or finalized. In the interim, stakeholders should explore outstanding questions and contemplate near- and longer-term policy scenarios.
Avalere’s 2020 Election series started with our experts covering the current state of play in the 2020 election and the role of healthcare between now and November.
On July 24, the administration released 3 executive orders (EO) and announced the planned publication of a fourth EO, all focused on prescription drug pricing. The EOs reflect a combination of familiar policy goals (e.g., rebate reform, importation, international pricing) and a new 340B initiative, and in combination could have substantial implications for healthcare stakeholders and pharmaceutical markets if implemented.
Avalere assessed the impacts of select policies to expand low-income subsidy (LIS) eligibility under Medicare Part D
New analysis of trade data finds that 54% of API, in dollars, used in domestically consumed medicines came from the US in 2019.
Avalere analysis of Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) hospital stay claims with associated COVID-19 diagnoses finds that total US healthcare system costs for hospitalizations due to COVID-19 could range from $9.6B to $16.9B in 2020.
Health plans, including Medicare prescription drug plans, commonly apply utilization management (UM) tools to manage spending on prescription drugs.
On May 13, Avalere experts discussed key issues and considerations for the healthcare industry as millions of Americans shift in and out of new sources of coverage due to COVID-19.
Over half of counties in the US (52%) do not have any mental healthcare providers.
Avalere experts discussed the key issues and considerations for the healthcare industry as millions of Americans shift in and out of new sources of coverage.
Avalere analysis finds that former Vice President Joe Biden’s proposal to lower the Medicare eligibility age from 65 to 60 could increase access to Medicare coverage for an additional 23 million individuals.
Avalere analysis finds that in the top 25 US counties with highest number of COVID-19 diagnoses, two-thirds of Medicare beneficiaries have 1 or more high-risk medical conditions.
As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds, stakeholders across the healthcare system are facing new realities that will affect the environment in which drugs are commercialized and accessed.
Tune into the fifth episode of our series that focuses on COVID-19. In episode 5, Avalere experts from the Policy practice discuss how COVID-19 has impacted the healthcare landscape and policy debate.
Opportunities exist to accelerate potential vaccine development.
On March 2, the Supreme Court (SCOTUS) announced that it will review an appeal of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeal’s decision in Texas v. Azar regarding the legality of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA’s) individual mandate and other provisions.
Tune into the second episode of our podcast series that focuses on COVID-19. In episode 2, Avalere experts discuss how Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial plans will address the patient out of pocket costs associated with COVID-19 testing and treatment. They also acknowledge how commercial manufacturers are addressing the shortage of tests and turnaround for COVID-19 testing in the US.
Ahead of the Super Tuesday primaries on March 3, healthcare remains a top issue among voters. According to January 2020 polling from Bipartisan Policy Center, 56% of individuals ranked healthcare as one of their top 3 issues when determining how to vote in the upcoming election, above the economy (44%), immigration (33%), taxes (31%), gun control (30%), and environmental policy (23%).
New Avalere analysis finds that 76% of uninsured individuals lawfully present in the 14 Super Tuesday states are currently eligible for Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), or exchange plan subsidies.
According to a new analysis from Avalere, Medicare Part D plans place generic prescription drugs on non-generic tiers 53% of the time in 2020.
New analysis from Avalere finds that states currently covering non-mandatory adult populations who choose to participate in the Healthy Adult Opportunity (HAO) initiative may need to generate up to 8% in Medicaid savings to keep spending below new capped funding levels.
As the early presidential primaries unfold, healthcare remains a top issue among voters. As recently as the November Democratic primary debate, polls showed that 24% of Democrats or Democratic-leaning independents said healthcare was the number one issue they wanted to hear discussed, ahead of the environment (12%), immigration (6%), jobs and the economy (5%), education (4%), and gun control (4%).
New analysis from Avalere finds 52% of Part D plans achieve generic substitution1 rates above 75%.
CMMI’s impact on Medicare spending has not reached earlier projections by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), demonstrating the difficulty in projecting savings from untested and future unknown alternative payment models
Restrictive network plans comprise over 75% of the exchange market.
New analysis from Avalere finds that Democratic proposals to expand public programs, such as a public option or single payer, will impact substantially different populations depending on how they are designed.
On November 13, Avalere policy experts published a piece in the Health Affairs blog about considerations for developing and harmonizing HIV prevention recommendations to drive the goal of eliminating HIV.
New analysis from Avalere finds that over 96% of counties with exchanges operated by HealthCare.gov have free plan options for low-income consumers.
Continuing analysis from Avalere finds that state reinsurance programs reduce individual market premiums by 16.9% on average in their first year, relative to estimated premiums without reinsurance.
With the 2020 presidential election nearly 1 year away, healthcare reform remains one of the top issues for voters heading into the election year.
New analysis from Avalere finds that the quantity of retail fentanyl sold across the US dropped by an average of 28%, between 2014 and 2017.
The Center for American Progress (CAP) commissioned Avalere to evaluate ‘Medicare Extra’ as a package of reform polices implemented and phased in over time across the US healthcare system.
Avalere was recently commissioned to project how policy proposals related to biosimilars would impact government spending and patient costs, including modeling and scoring analyses created for 3 proposals publicly released by the Biosimilars Forum in May 2019.
Final rule by the Treasury Department, Department of Labor, and the Department of Health and Human Services reverses previous Treasury Department guidance blocking tax-advantaged HRAs that were not integrated with a comprehensive employer-sponsored plan.
On April 9, Avalere policy experts published a piece in the Health Affairs blog about the administration’s recently launched “Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America” initiative.
New analysis from Avalere finds that states with their own reinsurance programs reduce individual market premiums by 19.9% on average in their first year.
In a new analysis, Avalere examines the implications of CMS’ potential new requirement that Part D plans place generics only on generic tiers.
New analysis from Avalere finds that exchange plan sign-ups could decline by 1.1 million, while premiums could increase by 6.3%, by 2025 should HHS finalize recently proposed changes to auto-reenrollment in the exchange and the calculation of tax credit subsidies.
Listen to Avalere experts discuss the implications for a recent decision ruling the Affordable Care Act is Unconstitutional.
New analysis from Avalere finds that over 95% of counties with exchanges operated by HealthCare.gov have free plan options for low-income consumers.
Narrow network plans comprise nearly three-quarters of the exchange market.
Tune in to the last episode of our mid-term elections series to hear Avalere experts Chris Sloan and Elizabeth Carpenter discuss potential implications on health policy.
The Substance Use Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Act, signed into law on October 24, 2018, takes aim at the opioid crisis from multiple angles.
Tune in for episode 2 of our mid-term elections podcast. Avalere experts, Chris Sloan and Tiernan Meyer, discuss potential state and federal-level scenarios for Medicaid expansion.
Tune in to hear the first episode in our 3-part series covering the mid-term elections and potential implications on health policy. Avalere expert, Chris Sloan, discusses potential implications of the mid-term elections on health policy. To kick off the series Avalere Founder, Dan Mendelson, covers pre-existing conditions.
New analysis from Avalere finds that 2.7 million individuals from states that have not expanded Medicaid could gain Medicaid coverage should their newly elected governors decide to expand the program or states pass expansion referenda on their ballots.
New analysis from Avalere finds that 102 million individuals, not enrolled in major public programs like Medicaid or Medicare, have a pre-existing medical condition and could therefore face higher premiums or significant out-of-pocket costs if the ACA’s pre-existing condition protections were repealed.
With the 2018 mid-term elections weeks away, polls show healthcare is a top issue on the minds of voters.
Average premiums projected to grow 3.1% heading into next year.
On June 19, the Department of Labor (DOL) released its final rule on Association Health Plans (AHP).
Maine had the greatest decline at 25% compared with the national average of 11%.
Avalere analysis finds that price of generic drugs has remained flat but the cost to seniors is increasing.
New analysis from Avalere finds that the proposed rule on association health plans (AHPs) is projected to lead to 3.2M enrollees shifting out of the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) individual and small group markets into AHPs by 2022.
At 100% of the OEP, we are at 96% of total Healthcare.gov enrollment compared to 2017 (8.8M n 2018 compared to 9.2M in 2017).
New analysis by Avalere examines the impact of two market stabilization proposals-funding the cost-sharing reductions (CSRs) and implementing a federal reinsurance program-on individual market premiums and enrollment.
Deductibles remain high, nearing $4,000 on average for silver plans.
If federal government permits states to expand Medicaid to only 100% of poverty, nearly 4M people could shift from Medicaid to exchanges, and 7M could be newly eligible for coverage.
New analysis from Avalere finds that nearly 98% of counties with exchanges operated by HealthCare.gov will have free bronze plan options for low-income consumers aged 50 earning 150% of poverty or less ($18,090 for an individual or $36,900 for a family of four).
New analysis from Avalere finds that the 2018 exchange market will see silver premiums rise by an average of 34%. According to Avalere's analysis of filings from Healthcare.gov states, exchange premiums for the most popular type of exchange plan (silver) will be 34% higher, on average, compared to last year.
Avalere experts preview the 2018 ACA open enrollment season
New analysis from Avalere finds that the administration's decision last week to end federal funding for the cost-sharing reduction (CSR) payments could lead to substantial losses for health plans-ranging from -$1.2M in North Dakota to -$200M in Florida through the end of 2017 (Figure 1).
Avalere has updated its previous analysis to reflect the September 25 version of the Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson (GCHJ) bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
New analysis from Avalere finds that the Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson (GCHJ) bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA) would lead to a substantial reduction in federal Medicaid funding to states of $713B through 2026 and more than $3.5T over a 20-year period if block grant funding is not reauthorized (Figure 1).
New analysis from Avalere finds that the Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson (GCHJ) bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA) would lead to a reduction in federal funding to states by $215B through 2026 and more than $4T over a 20-year period (Table 1).
Market stabilization efforts could also lead to higher enrollment in exchanges.
Benefit designs do not vary widely based on insurer competition, except for deductibles that are lower in areas with three or more insurers.
Affordable Care Act-compliant plan market would see 39% higher premiums, while non–ACA-compliant plans would have much lower premiums
As the Senate prepares to begin debate on a revised version of the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA) next week, Avalere offers the following observations on select components of the legislation:
Today, the Medicare Trustees delivered to Congress their annual report on the financial operations and status of the program.
More than 40% of counties could see only one exchange plan in 2018, with risk that some counties may have no commercial options.
The elimination of cost-sharing reductions could lead to low-income individuals facing higher deductibles and maximum out-of-pockets.
Funding earmarked for high risk pools in the American Health Care Act will cover five percent of the total number of enrollees with pre-existing chronic conditions in the individual market today.
Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its final rule for market stabilization of the health insurance exchanges, following the departure of some health plans from the marketplace for the upcoming plan year.
New research from Avalere finds that under the American Health Care Act (AHCA), large states as well as those states with fewer insurers offering plans in the individual and small group markets could receive the most money from the federal government to help stabilize their markets.
Low-income and older individuals would incur higher penalties for failing to purchase health insurance, compared to current individual mandate.
Today, the Trump administration released a proposed rule for market stabilization of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
Plans sold in exchange markets in 2017 feature higher premiums, growing consumer out-of-pocket costs, and more restricted access to providers and hospitals than in previous years, according to a new analysis from Avalere.
In addition to Donald Trump's presidential win earlier this week, Republicans also won big in the House and Senate.
As 2017 exchange open enrollment begins, Avalere examined marketplace changes in plan choice and premiums at the county level.
2017 exchanges struggle to address challenges with enrollment, risk management, and consumer choice.
A new analysis from Avalere finds that consumers with a range of common health conditions could reduce their spending between $8,800 and $90,020 by purchasing insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
While we can't make any promises as to whether or not Clinton or Trump will bring up healthcare in Sunday's town hall, the odds of it happening are looking better.
A new Avalere analysis finds that approximately 8 million Americans age 55 or over who are currently uninsured or have individual coverage purchased through the private market-inside and outside the exchange- could be eligible to buy-in to the Medicare program under a plan proposed by Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
A new analysis from Avalere finds that individuals who enroll in exchange coverage during special enrollment periods (SEP) have higher costs and lower risk scores than open enrollment period (OEP) consumers.
In preparation for tonight's vice presidential debates, we thought that we'd take a look at both candidates' health policy positions in addition to Exchange and Part D data for Virginia and Indiana.
While we technically have a few weeks of summer left, we decided to take a look back at the stories that were catching people's attention based on our website hits.
Recently, Avalere worked with the Council for Affordable Health Coverage to examine enrollment trends for the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
Avalere experts predict that one-third of the country will have no exchange plan competition in 2017, leaving consumers with few options for coverage.
Prescription drugs are not outsized contributors to rate increases.
Rates vary widely by state; popular low cost options see smaller increases.
Popular low cost options see smaller increases.
As we near the July conventions and the November election, the dialogue continues to ramp up on the latest policy proposals from the presumptive presidential nominees - Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.
A new Avalere analysis finds that nearly 13 million Americans age 50 or over who are currently uninsured or have individual coverage purchased through the private market-inside and outside the exchange- could be eligible to buy-in to the Medicare program under a plan proposed by Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
An analysis from Avalere shows that more health insurance plans offered through the Affordable Care Act exchanges are making some drugs used to treat complex diseases—such as HIV, cancer, and MS—more accessible to patients in 2016 than in the previous years. Specifically, plans were less likely to place all drugs in a class on the highest cost-sharing tier.
One third of those who enrolled in a health insurance plan on Healthcare.gov this year picked the same plan as last year, according to a new analysis from Avalere. In total, 3.2 million of the 9.6 million exchange shoppers in 2016 kept their previous plan.
President Obama released his budget for the 2017 fiscal year today. Avalere offers the following observations on the healthcare proposals:
Today, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that 9.6 million individuals selected a health insurance plan on HealthCare.gov during the recent open enrollment season. Avalere estimates that 2016 year-end enrollment will slightly exceed the Obama administration's goal of enrolling 10 million people.
In an article published in The American Journal of Managed Care, Avalere's Caroline Pearson and Deirdre Parsons examine provider networks and benefit design for oncology care in health insurance exchanges.
As the government considers rules for 2017 insurance plans offered through exchanges, a new analysis by Avalere finds that proposed 2017 benefit designs could increase coverage of certain services and drugs, while lowering out-of-pocket costs for many consumers.