News

A number of clinical approaches are utilized in managing the overlapping aspects of poor glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes. Exenatide (Amylin/Lilly), a novel drug in a new medication class known as the incretin mimetic agents, offers a new mechanism to achieve glycemic control.

Evidence-based medicine is the driving philosophy for pharmacy and therapeutics (P&T) committee decision-making. When the available evidence is incomplete or unclear, the decision-making process becomes complex. Evaluation of the published literature to make sound decisions regarding appropriate medication use can be a time-consuming process. The use of expert panels or subcommittees may facilitate decision-making; however, this process is often limited by the schedules and time constraints of busy clinicians. This article describes the creation and utilization of a "virtual" panel of experts utilizing anonymous electronic communications to assist the P&T committee at a university-based teaching hospital in making medication use policy. The article includes a detailed description of the P&T committee's experience in the selection of virtual panel members, methods used, advantages, potential pitfalls, and the outcomes of a virtual committee used to evaluate the appropriateness of the off-label use of nesiritide (Natrecor, Scios).

Surfactant replacement therapy (Surfaxin, Discovery Laboratories) for the prevention of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in premature infants

Potassium iodide oral solution 65 mg/mL

March DTR Analysis: Drug Coverage

One physician practice gains advantages through an EMR implementation

A new e-learning initiative succeeds more often when upper management supports it.

Hold on to your hats, because healthcare's about to tip. The driving force? Consumerism, and it's transforming the way Americans think about, pay for, and manage their healthcare.

Managed care coverage for specific drug classes

WHEN HUMANS WALKED on the moon during the Apollo era, visionaries were foretelling the development of colonies in outer space. Meanwhile, Earthbound communities experienced explosive growth, producing the modern suburb with its housing developments and urban sprawl.

You don't have to be in the healthcare industry for long before it becomes obvious that change is the only constant. Late in 2004, Christopher Koller conducted an interview with MANAGED HEALTHCARE EXECUTIVE and talked about his job as CEO of Providence-based Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island (NHPRI), which was created in 1993 by the state's 14 Community Health Centers.

LAST FALL, THE CENTERS for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), published a memorandum providing guidance to state regulators regarding the licensure and regulation of Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations.

EVERY SO OFTEN, something in healthcare really captures my imagination. I am frequently amazed by the innovation, intelligence and dedication of the people who work in this industry, but once in a while something special will happen and I'll think, "I'm going to remember this for the rest of my life."

First prescription sleep aid not limited to short-term use

First inhaled prostacyclin approved for pulmonary arterial hypertension

If approved, cilansetron (Calmactin, Solvay Pharmaceuticals) would be the second selective 5-HT3 antagonist introduced for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Based on 2 main clinical trials, cilansetron 2 mg orally 3 times daily appears to be effective in the relief of IBS-D symptoms (abdominal pain/discomfort) and abnormal bowel habits in both male and female patients. Adverse effects were minor, with constipation being the most commonly reported adverse effect. No information is currently available on cilansetron's potential for drug interactions, need for dose adjustments in renal or hepatic insufficiency, long-term safety, or cost. Cilansetron was granted priority review status by FDA on September 1, 2004, for the treatment of diarrhea-predominant IBS in men and women. Currently marketed agents for the treatment of IBS are only approved for use in female patients.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common chronic disease, with the incidence of BPH increasing with age. Histopathologic features are present in almost half of all men aged >60 years. The disease can have a profoundly negative impact on patients' quality of life, often causing them to limit or avoid basic activities of daily living. Many patients who develop BPH will seek treatment for bothersome lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).

Medicaid: Top 20 States by Enrollment

Recent Acquisitions of companies specializing in consumer-driven health plans (CDHPs) may lead to further product innovation and competition in the managed care market.

Politics are a very strange animal. The vehemence brought to the table by the extreme left and right, and just about everyone in between, strikes me as both frightening and encouraging.

Medicaid enrollment is up in 18 of the top 20 states

At a minimum, healthcare organizations must show an ongoing effort to assess their level of compliance. And for many, compliance is uncharted territory where processes, costs and solutions are unknown.

From a compliance standpoint, one medical center wanted to make sure that none of its personal health information (PHI) was leaving the network.

For those healthcare providers and payers who still believe large claims clearinghouses are the only way to reduce administrative costs, it may be time to think again.

Medicaid: Top 20 States by Enrollment

Paying physicians for performance is one of managed care's hottest trends.

New entities and actions in brief

Sexually Transmitted infections (STIs) such as syphilis, gonorrhea, herpes and chlamydia are a major health concern in the United States.