News

Researchers find that only 2.4% of prescriptions for 90 “substitutable” drugs were for brand-name drugs yet they accounted 21.2% of the expenditures on those drugs.

Briana Contreras, associate editor of Managed Healthcare Executive, spoke with Shara Cohen, CEO of Carallel, an organization built to support caregivers, in this week's podcast. Shara shared not only who caregivers are and the vital role they play in healthcare, but the challenges they face. She also discussed ways health plans can do better to meet the needs of today’s caregivers.

Pfizer and BioNTech expect to have an omicron-specific booster ready by March 2022.

Preclinical studies show sotrovimab is active against key mutations of the omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19.

The Oncology Care Model (OCM) was CMS’ main attempt to usher value-based care into oncology. What will come after OCM is unclear as the future of successor, Oncology Care First, is now very much in doubt.

Researchers say findings argue for including substance use counseling in family planning care for people living with HIV.

The model could make it quicker and easier to decide whether patients need continuous positive airflow pressure machines or not.

Besremi was approved in November to treat adults with polycythemia vera.

Like other providers, the VA saw a large, pandemic-related increase in virtual visits. In 2019, 27% of visits were virtual compared with 64% in 2020.

According to a survey, 63% are reviewing Medicare options for the 2022 plan year.

More than one quarter (27%) of employees with employer-sponsored health insurance said those expenses had a major impact on their mental health, while 16% indicated they had a major impact on their family’s well-being.

In COVID-19 news, an advisory committee recommends approval of oral antiviral after Merck releases updated data. The FDA made three approvals this week: an imaging agent to detect ovarian cancer and a vaccine for hepatitis B, and Darzalex Faspro is given an additional indication. New regulatory applications include: Lynparza for early breast cancer; the psoriasis therapy deucravacitinib, a pneumococcal vaccine for children, and an anemia therapy. The regulatory agency also paused the updated clozapine REMS program.

Whether the hepatitis C virus plays a direct role in causing hepatocellular carcinoma or an indirect one by fomenting inflammation and cirrhosis is unclear.

University of Buffalo researchers found that men with low incomes were at greater risk of hospital readmission.

Researchers calculated that 262,591 people in the United States received an hypertrophic cardiomyopathy diagnosis in 2019, an increase of 60% from 164,403 calculated to have been diagnosed in 2013.

Identifying the right payer before a healthcare service is provided and billing on time, reduces costs, prevents bad debt and maximizes reimbursements and revenue.

In this week's episode, Senior Editor of Managed Healthcare Executive, Peter Wehrwein, speaks with Chief Medical Officer of Caravan Health, Ashok Roy. The two dug into the approach of delivering quality care at Caravan, discussed ACOs in care and population health.

New infections are down and wider use of pre-exposure prophylaxis would decrease them further.

The adoption of healthcare IT leads as the main driver of growth.

Results from Year 6 of the Independence-at-Home demonstration project also did not show reductions in hospital admissions and emergency department visits.

The three guiding principles of digital tool design are plan around user experience; aim high with creative, strategic thinking; and ensure that digital transformation is supported with top-down commitment.

Merck now says molnupiravir reduces the risk of hospitalization or death from COVID-19 by 30% after all data have been analyzed. Previously, an interim analysis showed a 50% reduction in hospitalization or death.

Moderna and Pfizer are assessing their vaccines against the Omicron variant, which was first identified in South Africa.

A roundup of the latest news about the omicron coronavirus.

A round-up of news about the new variant of the coronavirus.

The No Surprises Act is scheduled to go into effect in January. The law will require providers to provide patients with details of the new balance billing requirements, any state-level limitations or prohibitions in the state of service, and the dispute resolution process.