MHE August 2021

Screening and vaccination against HPV have reduced the incidence of cervical cancer, but researchers say some women are being screened for cervical caner too often — partly because of vaccination.

The first half of 2021 saw 372 deals averaging $39.6 million, which is already more than the total value of the deals done in all of 2020.

Many people ignored heart disease signs and symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic — sometimes with grave consequences.

FDA approval of Lumakras was contingent on a trial testing lower doses. It could usher in a new era of optimal dosing instead of the maximum tolerated dosing.

Accelerated approval and use of surrogate markers are among the friction points. But some see the OK as spawning a new generation of drug development for treating Alzheimer’s disease.

Artificial intelligence can help deal with everyday problems such as prior authorization and high utilization. But payers are also eyeing it for loftier purposes.

The FDA’s controversial approval of Aduhelm (aducanumab) has put a spotlight on the accelerated approval pathway that the agency used to approve the drug.

One-quarter of Medicaid claims result in a denial of payment for at least one service included in the claim compared with just 7.3% of claims submitted to Medicare and 4.8% of claims submitted to commercial insurers

It's rate-setting season for insurers, although the full picture for 2022 premiums won’t emerge for some months yet.