News

A key initiative for Seaside Health Plan is California Children’s Services demo

Families USA drills down to estimate the number of subsidized enrollees

Digoxin, commonly used to treat heart conditions, was associated with a 72% higher rate of death among adults with newly diagnosed heart failure, according to a Kaiser Permanente study in the September issue of Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

In adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who are uncontrolled on metformin and sulfonylurea, dapagliflozin can be added to help improve HbA1c and reduce fasting plasma glucose, body weight, and seated systolic blood pressure, according to results from a study presented at the 49th Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Barcelona, Spain, in September.

A new study may set a new standard for the treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE) with a single oral anticoagulant.

Cognitive enhancers-drugs taken to enhance concentration, memory, alertness, and moods- that are often given to patients with Alzheimer’s disease do not improve cognition or function for those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in the long term-about 96 weeks, according to a study published recently in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

A new report by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says millions of Americans are at risk from drug-resistant superbugs that cause gonorrhea, C. difficile, and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE).

FDA is requiring color changes to the printing on fentanyl (Duragesic) pain patches so that it is clearly visible, to help avoid risk of accidental exposure. Accidental exposure to these patches that contain a narcotic opioid can cause serious harm and death in children, pets, and others.

Tamoxifen use among some women with breast cancer has been reported to cause mental “fogginess” while on the medication, and researchers have demonstrated that the side effect is real, according to an online study published Sept. 17 in the Journal of Neuroscience.

Physicians discussed sunscreen use with patients at less than 1 percent of visits, according to recent study results.

About half of smokers seeking treatment for smoking cessation have a history of depression. Compared with smokers who are not depressed, those who suffer from a major depressive disorder (MDD) have greater difficulty quitting, according to a study published September 17 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

In order to help combat the national prescription drug abuse epidemic, CVS Caremark is tapping its extensive database to identify and halt inappropriate prescribing of high-risk drugs such as opioid painkillers.

Filling a prescription at a doctor’s office may be convenient, but it’s certainly no bargain for patients or taxpayers, according to an analysis of workers’ compensation payouts in Maryland and Pennsylvania.

Video contest aims to raise awareness about health reform and encourage young people to take advantage of the benefits of health insurance.

In hopes of decreasing opioid abuse, addictions, and overdose deaths, FDA this week announced safety-labeling changes for all extended-release and long-acting (ER/LA) opioid analgesics used to treat pain. FDA has also added new postmarket study requirements for opioids such as morphine, oxycodone, and fentanyl.

Children who miss diphtheria, tetanus toxoid, and acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccine doses are at more likely to develop whooping cough, according to a study in JAMA Pediatrics.

In an effort to help facilitate accurate and uniform records of US vaccine usage, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and immunization community stakeholders are exploring the potential of 2-dimensional (2D) barcoding to streamline immunization practices.

At least one quarter of the 800,000 deaths annually attributed to cardiovascular disease could be prevented if people stopped smoking, reduced salt intake, and adopted other healthy habits, according to a report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Knowing which patients are most at-risk for adverse drug events would help hospitals direct pharmacist-led counseling services to those who need it the most. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Foundation is funding research it believes will make it easier to identify those patients.

In state that opt out of Medicaid expansion, millions of low-income people will miss out on subsidies too

New regulations in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act have led to the birth of essential health benefits. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) new division, the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (CCIIO), is responsible for the oversight of the insurance offerings on the new health insurance exchanges, which have 10 required essential health benefit categories. One of these essential categories is prescription drugs. Prospective qualified health plans, prescription benefit managers, and consultant agencies have struggled through the legislation and guidance from CCIIO in an attempt to build benefits that meet the requirements. With elements of typical commercial offerings as well as those of Medicare Part D, there are many nuances that one must consider when building an exchange formulary and creating the surrounding benefit.

Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is an immune-mediated flaccid paralysis that can range from muscle weakness and tingling to respiratory paralysis requiring prolonged respiratory support and ventilation. Overall, GBS is a rare disease, with annual incidence averaging 1 to 2 cases per 100,000 individuals.1

Catamaran, a pharmacy benefits manager (PBM) has been on a buying binge since 2008, snapping up its sixth PBM, Restat. The $409.5 million cash purchase is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2013.

In a study of patients with alcohol dependence and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), treatment with naltrexone resulted in a decrease in the percentage of patient drinking days. Prolonged exposure therapy was not associated with an exacerbation of alcohol-use disorder.

Children and youth on antipsychotics appear to have a 3-fold increased risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus, according to a study published by JAMA Psychiatry.

Kaiser Permanente (KP) Northern California nearly doubled the rate of blood pressure control among adult members with diagnosed hypertension between 2001 and 2009 through a large-scale community-based program, the Journal of the American Medical Association reported recently.

Despite grim predictions of rate shock, older and sicker people will experience 'rate joy' in the exchanges

Prevalence of chronic pain can add up to higher costs in mental-health and medical claims