• California/Washington: SCAN Health Plan is partnering with Costco to offer its members new savings on certain medications and over-the-counter essentials. Through the partnership, Costco will become the preferred pharmacy for SCAN and offer SCAN's Medicare Advantage (MA) members competitive prices for drugs and vaccines. SCAN is also launching a new rewards program allowing certain plan-holders to earn up to $125 in rewards for completing health-related activities and keeping healthy habits. These rewards can then be used to purchase healthy groceries, personal care products, or fitness equipment at Costco. The insurer is also planning on launching a SCAN Health Day in certain Costco stores to help provide MA resources and health guidance for its members. "Being able to build a partnership with a retailer that is so important to so many of our consumers just made so much sense to us," said Senthu Arumugam, chief commercial officer for SCAN." (Minemyer, Fierce Healthcare, 10/20)
• District of Columbia: Cigna and CVS Health will both participate in TrumpRx, a new direct-to-consumer website for prescription medications run by the federal government. Cigna and CVS will offer fertility treatments at a discounted price on the TrumpRx platform beginning January 2026. The treatments include Gonal-f, Cetrotide, and Ovidrel, and will be offered at an 84% discount. CVS will also offer access to fertility drugs through its specialty pharmacy and 9,000 retail stores, with the price of Gonal-f aligning with the discount provided on TrumpRx. "Fertility medications often require special administration and high-touch expertise. We are proud to join the president to help make every step of the journey as simple as possible for families by providing nationwide access," said Lucille Accetta, SVP and chief pharmacy officer at CVS Health. (Morse, Healthcare Finance, 10/21)
• Maryland: FDA has approved a new drug to treat hot flashes and night sweats in people experiencing menopause. Although hormone therapy is typically used to treat menopause symptoms, some people, including those at high risk for certain types of breast or ovarian cancer, can't take it, and others may not be comfortable taking it. The new drug, Lynkuet, is a nonhormonal treatment and one of the few available for menopause. The drug blocks two kinds of receptors in the brain that affect temperature regulation and could impact mood and sleep. In clinical trials, the drug was able to significantly reduce the frequency and severity of vasomotor symptoms, such as hot flashes and night sweats, compared with a placebo. Bayer, which manufactures Lynkuet, said it should be available by November. The cost for a 30-day supply of the drug is $625, but eligible patients with insurance could pay as little as $25. "Having more tools in our tool kit to improve women's quality of life is a good thing," said Jewel Kling, a menopause expert and chair of women's health internal medicine at a health clinic. (Agrawal/Astor, New York Times, 10/24)

Women in midlife make up a significant portion of the U.S. workforce, yet their health needs are often neglected. Explore five practical ways employers can enhance the well-being of women during midlife and foster a supportive work environment.