News

No one is optimistic that Congress will make changes in benefits or outlays needed to improve the financial picture.

An increase in smartphone and e-reader use among older Americans has propelled the launch of a new health literacy initiative

Not everyone responds to incentives, so keep reminding your members to engage

Basic Health Program could broaden available coverage options for the poor.

The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and ACPE providers have teamed up to create the CPE Monitor. This new system will allow for the electronic transmission of continuing pharmacy education data.

FDA has issued a safety alert, warning patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals about the dangers of accidental exposure to and improper storage and disposal of fentanyl patches.

As many as 80% of patients who are candidates for preventive treatments for migraine headaches could be helped by these treatments, the author of new guidelines issued by the American Academy of Neurology told Formulary.

Twice-daily dabigatran etexilate mesylate (Pradaxa, Boehringer Ingelheim) was shown to be associated with lower rates of fatal and traumatic intracranial hemorrhage compared with warfarin, according to the results of a retrospective subanalysis published online, April 5, in Stroke, the Journal of the American Heart Association.

More than 75% of the nation?s opinion leaders believe that the best way to control healthcare costs is through discovering innovative ways to deliver services, according to the new NEHI Innovation Barometer survey.

FDA has issued a Drug Safety Communication (April 20) warning of possible risks when using blood pressure medicines containing aliskiren with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) in patients with diabetes or kidney (renal) impairment. These drug combinations are contraindicated in patients with diabetes.

Guidelines for managing elevated blood glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus, developed jointly by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), are being published concurrently in the ADA?s journal, April 19 online edition of Diabetes Care and in EASD?s journal, Diabetologia.

Congressional approval of the bipartisan Generic Drug and Biosimilars User Fee Act could eliminate 90% of the backlog of Abbreviated New Drug Applications by 2017, FDA official Russell Wesdyk, BS, MBA, said in a presentation last month.

FDA?s approval (April 10) of generic versions of ViroPharma?s antibiotic Vancocin (vancomycin hydrochloride) for the treatment of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea, has some industry experts wondering if FDA is trying to speed up the availability of generics or politically favor new company competition in select areas of therapy.

FDA has approved insulin detemir [rDNA origin] injection (Levemir, Novo Nordisk) pregnancy Category B classification, indicating that when used in pregnant women with diabetes, the injection did not increase the risk of harm to the unborn baby.

Fibromyalgia patients taking pregabalin had significant improvements in sleep and decreased daily pain, according to a new study published in the April 2012 issue of Arthritis Care & Research.

FDA approved the first 4-strain influenza vaccine live, intranasal (FluMist Quadrivalent, MedImmune) for the prevention of influenza. The vaccine?s 4 strains (2 type-A and 2 type-B lineages) help provide broad protection against circulating influenza A and B.

Patients using periprocedural dabigatran had a significantly higher major bleeding rate than those using warfarin, according to a study published online first February 1, 2012, in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

The Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy has announced election results for 2012-2013 president-elect and directors.

What would the bill be for rebates if the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) rebates would have taken effect in 2010? Nearly $2 billion, according to a new study from The Commonwealth Fund

Medicare Advantage (MA) beneficiaries received more benefits and had lower costs than their counterparts in traditional Medicare, but not all seniors enrolled in MA plans see the same level of benefits and savings.

High-performing physicians earned nearly $37 million in Independence Blue Cross has rewarded incentive payments - the largest incentive IBC has ever paid primary care doctors - but $20 million more is on the table

Health insurance exchanges were meant to appeal to health plan members who purchase insurance on their own, but are members with employee-sponsored insurance dissatisfied enough with their current coverage to jump ship?

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) approved the $29.1 billion merger of Express Scripts and Medco Health Solutions on Monday, but the retail pharmacy industry continues to fight the deal, vowing to push a request for a temporary restraining order (TRO) that it filed on Friday.

Breast cancer

Centralizing data and performing routine health risk assessments will help caregivers effectively treat the vulnerable dual eligibles and reduce their disproportionately high costs.

Despite assurances; difficulties abound when calculating savings from healthcare reform.

Slower growth in Medicare spending is likely a result of more spending constraints rather than the recession.

Consolidation efforts have increased nationwide as large insurance companies concentrate on Medicare and Medicaid business.