News

An immunotherapy combination gets a third thoracic indication; another potential indication for an SGLT2 inhibitor.

In recent decades, many companies have adopted the maxim, “Do what you do best, and outsource the rest.” From the ability to focus on the core of their business to gaining outside expertise to boosting their quality of service, there are many reasons outsourcing may be appealing to an organization.

Second study shows minority children are half as likely to have surgery as white children.

Hiring an interim executive has long been thought of as a band-aid solution on the heels of an unexpected resignation or a way to give a potential new leader a trial run before committing. But with more businesses and health organizations taking on flexible staffing approaches combined with the ups and downs of the economy over the past 15 years, companies have realized the financial and strategic benefits of engaging an interim executive rather than seeking to make an immediate permanent hire.

As we continue to navigate the unknowns of the current pandemic, it appears we're still a long way off from living in a true post-COVID-19 era. Until then, improved health outcomes can still be realized through effective population health strategies, providing adequate financial resources that are available and encompassing all the determinants of health in communities, including social, behavioral and environmental factors.

Specifically, continuous glucose monitoring has shown incredible promise in the fight against COVID-19 at Rush University Medical Center. At Rush, 34 patients who used glucose telemetry resulted in saving nearly 1,400 sets of personal protective equipment and about 43 nursing workdays by reducing the need for nursing staff to enter patient rooms for fingerstick glucose testing.

The retail giant is teaming up with Clover Health to market Medicare Advantage plans in eight counties in Georgia.

The American Medical Association recently applauded California Governor Gavin Newsom and the sponsors of the state’s new mental health reform law, Senate Bill 855, which will require all health insurers and behavioral health management organizations to rely on evidence-based treatment guidelines developed by physicians and health care professionals—and not financial considerations.

The rapidly evolving landscape of extended reality technologies has presented us with unique tools to enhance our virtual interactions and come closer to the therapeutic experience that is so important to successful delivery of effective and high-quality remote care.

Independence Blue Cross and Signify Health have put together of community organizations and other services to address the social determinants of health and provide in-home care.

The work of moving away from fee for service is in progress. The results so far? Mixed.

Pfizer snagged its fourth indication for the blockbuster medication tofacitinib (Xeljanz) for children and adolescents 2 years and older with active polyarticular course juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pcJIA).

Xanax and Ativan are among the medications impacted by FDA’s new requirements.

Penn’s Amol Navathe, M.D., Ph.D., and colleagues reported favorable results in Health Affairs. Navathe is featured in this second of a two part video series.

Researchers compare beneficiaries with end-stage renal disease in a Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plan sponsored by CareMore to patients in traditional Medicare, explains Amol Navathe, M.D., Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy at University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, in this first of two part video series.

Can data mined from EHRs match that from the gold standard, randomized clinical trials?

Sun Pharmaceuticals issued a voluntary recall of 1 lot of its metformin hydrochloride for extended-release (ER) oral suspension (Riomet ER), 500 mg per 5 mL.

Drug cost-effectiveness group announces that it is branching out into evaluating payer formularies and drug cost-sharing policies.

Negative results for semorinemab have deflated some of the hopes for a tau as a target, although a winning strategy Alzheimer's may involve hitting several targets at once, including tau.

The Alliance of Community Health Plans calls for changes to get more biosimilars approved and on the market.

Texas Oncology Executive Vice President Debra Patt says it will be unrealistically expensive for oncologists to keep many biosimilars for the same innovator product in their inventories.

Those who have avoided visiting or put off their annual physical appointments at the doctor's office due to fears of contracting COVID-19 do not have put off those appointments any longer.

The coronavirus pandemic has shed light on major imbalances within the healthcare system, specifically, the supply and demand of allied health professionals, and the urgent need to invest in community-based care that prioritizes vulnerable populations.

After three months of recovery, financial and volume indicators were off in August, according to Kaufman Hall's monthly report.

CMS is putting more weight on patient experience measures in its Medicare Advantage and Part D Star ratings. What health plans can do now to improve their ratings.

COVID-19 is certainly important. But oncologists, people with cancer, and complex ecosystem of cancer care in the U.S. are grappling with other important issues such as reimbursement, distorted incentives, the implications of the massive amount of data that is available, and, of course, high costs and prices. Included are thoughts from five experts on these challenges and how they might be met.

CMS says 26.9 million beneficiaries are expected to enroll in Medicare Advantage plans in 2021.