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In an interview with Managed Healthcare Executive prior to the meeting, Keyvan Koushan, M.D., a retina specialist at the Toronto Retina Institute and a lecturer in the Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences at the University of Toronto, briefly described the design of the PULSAR trial and the positive results that have been reported so far.

The Value in Health Care Act of 2023, a bipartisan legislation that would make several important reforms to ensure alternative payment models (APMs) continue to produce high quality care for the Medicare program and its beneficiaries, was introduced in a letter signed by seventeen of the nation’s leading stakeholders in healthcare.

FDA approvals this week include the second nonprescription naloxone nasal spray for opioid overdose, the first drug for a skin infection from pox virus and a drug to treat an eye infection caused by mites. In addition, the FDA has accepted a supplemental application for Ofev in children with rare lung disease.

Pros and cons of Syfovre (pegcetacoplan), the newly approved drug for geographic atrophy will be discussed at the American Society of Retinal Specialists annual scientific meeting in Seattle this weekend, predicts leading member of the society. Biosimilars are also on the agenda.

Charles Wykoff, M.D., Ph.D., director of clinical research at Retina Consultants of Texas, noted new treatments for geographic atrophy are predicted to be a hot topic at the American Society of Retina Specialists annual scientific meeting that starts today in Seattle.

The supply of fentanyl, epinephrine injection, and heparin, however, have been impacted by the July 19 tornado at Pfizer's North Carolina facility.

Results from a recent study reveal insured Americans believe health insurance is not living up to providing affordable and accessible healthcare.

UnitedHealthcare is awarding $11.1 million in grants to 66 nonprofit organizations through its Empowering Health program across 12 states to help uninsured individuals and underserved communities.

The study will enroll an estimated 1,000 patients, of whom approximately 200 will have vitiligo. The remaining participants will be at-risk family members, some 40 to 60 of whom are expected to develop vitiligo during the 5-year study.

Three hot topics to keep an eye on for the remainder of this year and into 2024. This is the first part of a two-part series.

Eric Hunter, MBA, has been president and CEO of CareOregon, a 500,000-member Medicaid managed care organization, since 2016. This interview was conducted in May for Managed Healthcare Executive’s monthly “What’s On Your Mind” podcast.

The FDA has cleared several new products this week, including the first monoclonal antibody for RSV in infants, a novel therapy for newly diagnosed patients with AML and a postexposure anthrax vaccine. Additionally, an FDA decision on donanemab for Alzheimer’s is expected by the end of this year.

Medicare households spent an average of $6,557 on healthcare, accounting for 15% of their total household spending ($44,686), while non-Medicare households spent $4,598 on their healthcare, accounting for 7% of their total household spending ($67,769).

Professional development should take steps to incorporate outreach into medical school curriculums, say Rosemay Michel, D.P.M., and Gary M. Rothenberg, D.P.M. "Students must learn what motivates people to make healthy choices in their daily lives, including the influences of schools, faith-based groups, social media and extended family on personal decision-making," argue Michel and Rothenberg.

Chronic insomnia has been linked to a variety of mental and physical illnesses. Researchers have found that cognitive behavioral therapy is often effective.

In addition to a health plan for employees, Johns Hopkins Health Plans has a Medicare Advantage plan, a Medicaid managed care plan and a plan for the families of people who are on active duty in the U.S. military.

In a study recently published in the JAMA Network, researchers sought to investigate the use of patient-facing digital health technologies for opioid use disorder (OUD) by organizations in the United States with ACO contracts. The search began as it was unclear whether these technologies serve as substitute or complements to traditional SUD treatment resources in health care organizations.

Emissions from healthcare facilities contribute to climate change, and climate change, in turn, is presenting new challenges for healthcare.

Bryant Hoyal, VP of Client Services, Strategic Accounts at Relatient suggests filling appointment schedules with patients based on their specific needs through best practices is an efficient way to drive revenue, as well as balance workflows for staff. Outside of scheduling tools, Hoyal stressed the importance of being a data-driven organization to understand and control the workflow of your practice.

Approvals this week include Opill, the first nonprescription oral contraceptive, the use of Veklury for COVID-19 in patients with severe renal impairment, and the earlier use of Leqvio for in heart disease. In addition, Takeda pulled its application for a dengue vaccine.

Bryant Hoyal, VP of Client Services, Strategic Accounts at Relatient explains to Managed Healthcare Executive how providers can address burnout through clinic scheduling.

Whole genomic-sequencing achieved a higher molecular diagnostic yield but had a longer time to return of results than a targeted neonatal gene-sequencing test.

CVS has said it will sell the OTC oral contraceptive, but news reports today said it probably won't be available in the U.S. till early next year.

To decrease hospital strain and overloaded capacity, and support those groups who are affected, researchers suggest the need for enhanced efforts at the regional and state levels to coordinate transfers and balance load across hospitals.

Many companies are pursuing interchangeable status.

Because personal information can be discovered rather easily through ‘reidentification,’ additional steps are needed to protect the privacy of people’s healthcare data.