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In 2012 the National Academy of Medicine estimated the U.S. health care system squandered $765 billion a year, more than the entire budget of the Defense Department. Dr. Mark Smith, who chaired the committee that authored the report, said the waste is “crowding out” spending on critical infrastructure needs, like better roads and public transportation. The annual waste, the report estimated, could have paid for the insurance coverage of 150 million American workers — both the employer and employee contributions. (Allen, 3/9)

Experts say the United States might be squandering a quarter of the money spent on health care. That's an estimated $765 billion a year wasted on things like administrative red tape, high prices and overuse. We are all paying for this waste. (Allen, 3/9)

Health and medical companies that employ many individuals who are not U.S. citizens seemed unfazed by a change to immigration policies that will increase the amount of time it will take to process their visas. While biotechnology executives slammed Trump’s executive order barring individuals from seven Muslim-majority countries from traveling to the United States, they have remained mum on a decision by the Department of Homeland Security to temporarily suspend a program that allowed companies to pay a fee to receive visas for employees in 15 days. Normally, it takes months. (Swetlitz, 3/9)

One of California’s largest insurers has proposed a change in the benefits of commercial plans next year that would require consumers to pay more for drugs at pharmacies outside an established network. Blue Shield of California wants to create “a tiered pharmacy network” in its 2018 small- and large-group plans, according to preliminary proposals the company submitted to the California Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC), a state health insurance regulator. (Bartolone, 3/10)