News

Surfactant replacement therapy (Surfaxin, Discovery Laboratories) for the prevention of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in premature infants

Potassium iodide oral solution 65 mg/mL

March DTR Analysis: Drug Coverage

One physician practice gains advantages through an EMR implementation

A new e-learning initiative succeeds more often when upper management supports it.

Hold on to your hats, because healthcare's about to tip. The driving force? Consumerism, and it's transforming the way Americans think about, pay for, and manage their healthcare.

Managed care coverage for specific drug classes

BREAST CANCER is the most common cancer found in women, and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women. More than 200,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer are diagnosed in the United States each year, approximately 77% of them in women over 50 years of age.

WHEN HUMANS WALKED on the moon during the Apollo era, visionaries were foretelling the development of colonies in outer space. Meanwhile, Earthbound communities experienced explosive growth, producing the modern suburb with its housing developments and urban sprawl.

LAST FALL, THE CENTERS for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), published a memorandum providing guidance to state regulators regarding the licensure and regulation of Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations.

EVERY SO OFTEN, something in healthcare really captures my imagination. I am frequently amazed by the innovation, intelligence and dedication of the people who work in this industry, but once in a while something special will happen and I'll think, "I'm going to remember this for the rest of my life."

First prescription sleep aid not limited to short-term use

First inhaled prostacyclin approved for pulmonary arterial hypertension

If approved, cilansetron (Calmactin, Solvay Pharmaceuticals) would be the second selective 5-HT3 antagonist introduced for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Based on 2 main clinical trials, cilansetron 2 mg orally 3 times daily appears to be effective in the relief of IBS-D symptoms (abdominal pain/discomfort) and abnormal bowel habits in both male and female patients. Adverse effects were minor, with constipation being the most commonly reported adverse effect. No information is currently available on cilansetron's potential for drug interactions, need for dose adjustments in renal or hepatic insufficiency, long-term safety, or cost. Cilansetron was granted priority review status by FDA on September 1, 2004, for the treatment of diarrhea-predominant IBS in men and women. Currently marketed agents for the treatment of IBS are only approved for use in female patients.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common chronic disease, with the incidence of BPH increasing with age. Histopathologic features are present in almost half of all men aged >60 years. The disease can have a profoundly negative impact on patients' quality of life, often causing them to limit or avoid basic activities of daily living. Many patients who develop BPH will seek treatment for bothersome lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).

Medicaid: Top 20 States by Enrollment

Recent Acquisitions of companies specializing in consumer-driven health plans (CDHPs) may lead to further product innovation and competition in the managed care market.

Politics are a very strange animal. The vehemence brought to the table by the extreme left and right, and just about everyone in between, strikes me as both frightening and encouraging.

Medicaid enrollment is up in 18 of the top 20 states

At a minimum, healthcare organizations must show an ongoing effort to assess their level of compliance. And for many, compliance is uncharted territory where processes, costs and solutions are unknown.

From a compliance standpoint, one medical center wanted to make sure that none of its personal health information (PHI) was leaving the network.

For those healthcare providers and payers who still believe large claims clearinghouses are the only way to reduce administrative costs, it may be time to think again.

Medicaid: Top 20 States by Enrollment

Paying physicians for performance is one of managed care's hottest trends.

New entities and actions in brief

Sexually Transmitted infections (STIs) such as syphilis, gonorrhea, herpes and chlamydia are a major health concern in the United States.

A possible hospice barrier is the requirement that patients forego further curative care.

As George Bernard Shaw once said, "Nothing is ever done in this world until men are prepared to kill one another if it is not done." While accidental fatalities, even those caused by preventable mistakes and human errors, are a far cry from murder, Don Berwick, MD, has seen enough death. He's also heard enough rhetoric about ways to improve healthcare quality.