News

If passed, the Medicare Telehealth Enhancement Act introduced earlier this year promises to greatly expand telehealth programs

With plenty of potential information to be communicated among health professionals, pharmacists shouldn't be left out. For many, the pharmacist is the face of healthcare.

Better diagnosis, better compliance and less waste are goals of patient evaluation surveys

The Senate Finance Committee is hammering out a bipartisan bill while other leaders will drive ultimate implementation

Recognize the interrelated health risks among four prevalent conditions to better manage big-picture treatment goals

State performance scorecard tracks uninsured kids, access, quality and costs. Often lack of data stalls quality incentives in pediatrics

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has prematurely terminated a trial of sildenafil for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in adult patients with sickle cell disease because of safety concerns.

After completing an analysis of safety data for tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-blockers, FDA has stated that there is an increased risk of lymphoma and other cancers in pediatric patients who are treated with these agents.

Lundbeck and Solvay have announced that they are discontinuing development of bifeprunox for the maintenance treatment of schizophrenia.

A study published in Urology demonstrated that alpha-blocker use is associated with a lower risk of sexual dysfunction in men aged >40 years.

Initiation of antipsychotic therapy associated with hyperglycemia in older diabetic patients

With healthcare-reform legislation moving forward, insurers, providers, and pharmaceutical companies are keeping a sharp eye on policy proposals likely to affect coverage, costs, and benefits. Various constituencies in the healthcare community are supporting initiatives that will increase access to healthcare and make the nation's costly healthcare system more efficient and effective.

The rate of hospitalizations that involved an injury likely due to osteoporosis increased 55% since 1995, to just more than 254,000 hospital stays totaling $2.4 billion in hospital costs in 2006, according to AHRQ.

Activity and progress increase on the exchange of health information electronically between physicians, hospitals, plans and patients, while cost savings have been identified.

AHIP healthcare reform ads touted as one that will resonate with many Americans.

The University of Miami and technology partners Microsoft and Resolute Solutions Corp. are teaming up to see if patients with diabetes can self manage their disease virtually while replicating the traditional patient-provider relationship.

Bayonne Hospital Center-Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey heats up.

UnitedHealthcare's acquisition of Health Net's NE licenses and rights to renew membership underscores that scale in local markets is an important asset as companies pursue growth and local focus is key.

Like other health insurers before it, Aetna considers selling off its PBM unit.

In a retrospective analysis published in the journal Neurology, investigators demonstrated that previous treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) was associated with a reduced risk of the development of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders (ADRD) in patients aged at least 65 years.

This review discusses emerging risk factors for CVD, including hs-CRP, lipoprotein(a), homocysteine, fibrinogen, homocysteine, and coronary artery calcification.

Rivaroxaban is a highly potent direct factor Xa inhibitor that is pending FDA approval for the indication of venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis in patients undergoing total knee replacement or total hip replacement surgery.

Recent FDA action (through August 2009) related to trazodone, casopitant, sertindole, alogliptin, bepotastine, trabectedin, and velaglucerase alfa

Generic drug approved by FDA (through August 2009): ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate tablets

New molecular entity: Dronedarone (Multaq), a benzofuran derivative, was approved on July 1, 2009, to reduce the risk of CV hospitalization in patients with AF

New molecular entity: Prasugrel (Effient), a platelet activation and aggregation inhibitor, was approved on July 10, 2009, to reduce the rate of thrombotic CV events in patients with ACS undergoing PCI

Agents in late-stage development for the treatment of osteoarthritis and acute/chronic pain

Proactive organizations will begin a painful transition to emerge as larger, fuller enterprises with concentrated authority designed around very different roles and responsibilities than what they have today