News

From 2013 to 2022, GPOs are estimated to save Medicare and Medicaid a combined $398.8 billion

FDA approved empagliflozin (Jardiance, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals and Eli Lilly and Company) tablets as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control, or blood glucose levels, in adults with type 2 diabetes. Jardiance is not for people with type 1 diabetes or for people with diabetic ketoacidosis (increased ketones in the blood or urine).

Highlights of what executives from Aetna, Cigna and Humana told Managed Healthcare Executive

Growth of accountable care organizations across the U.S. healthcare market is gaining momentum

Pregnant women given pertussis vaccination in their third trimester to prevent infections in newborns, should be reassured that the vaccine is safe, and in fact, may be beneficial, according to a study published in The BMJ online July 11, 2014.

FDA has approved olodaterol (Striverdi Respimat, Boehringer Ingelheim) Inhalation Spray 5 µg as a long-term, once-daily maintenance bronchodilator treatment of airflow obstruction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including chronic bronchitis and/or emphysema.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) revision of its recommendations for use of palivizumab (Synagis, MedImmune Specialty Care Division of AstraZeneca) for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in infants has fueled a reaction from the drug’s manufacturer.

Insurers weigh risks, demographics in setting premiums for 2015

Why care and communication must be a two-way street with patients, providers

Exchanges not integrating with Medicaid

How to collect, compile and present data

Struggling with declining revenue, many providers are turning to consolidation, changing pricing structures and new reimbursement models to protect their revenue

Industry updates in health management and business

Consider physician incentivization

Consumer base more invested, engageable

Every patient’s condition and specific needs are different. Whether it’s due to an allergy, need for a special dosing, or just a lack of success with traditional options, often a personalized medication approach is the only solution that can provide effective treatment.

Spiraling drug costs, drug shortages, and increasingly complex and demanding regulations are making the intravenous (IV) services business more challenging than ever. Pharmacies providing IV compounding must comply with USP 797 (and soon USP 800) and state compounding regulations requiring detailed documentation. The financial impact is obvious. Increased workloads often have required staff additions. USP 797 regulations have prompted costly remodeling to provide buffer rooms and ante rooms.

"Pharmacosynchrony” is a new concept rapidly attracting interest

As prescription drug abuse in the United States escalates, diversion of controlled substances is becoming an increasingly critical issue for hospitals and health system executives to monitor. In hospitals, diversion of controlled substances not only negatively impacts staff and places liability on the facility but it also affects patient safety, satisfaction, and in most cases, the hospital’s bottom line. As such, hospital executives are looking to pharmacy leaders to provide creative solutions to proactively prevent diversion and better control this evolving public health issue.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is cancer prevention and the healthcare industry needs to do a better job of providing the HPV vaccine to all adolescents, according to a survey conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

FDA approved oxycodone hydrochloride and naloxone hydrochloride extended-release tablets (Targiniq ER, Purdue Pharma), an extended-release/long-acting (ER/LA) opioid analgesic to treat pain severe enough to require daily, around-the-clock, long-term opioid treatment and for which alternative treatment options are inadequate.

For selected infants and children with increased risk for meningococcal disease, there will be a new recommended vaccine in their immunization schedule, according to updated recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

Paracetamol did not improve recovery time for people with low back pain, compared to placebo, according to a study published in The Lancet.

While there are signs of progress in the epidemic of prescription drug misuse, everyone is at risk of misuse, according to a new study.

FDA approved idelalisib (Zydelig, Gilead Sciences) to treat patients with 3 types of blood cancers.

The AbbVie purchase of Shire for about $54 billion will create one of the biggest deals so far this year.

FDA has approved C1 Esterase Inhibitor [Recombinant] (Ruconest, Salix and Pharming Group) for the treatment of acute attacks in adult and adolescent patients with hereditary angioedema (HAE).

Multidisciplinary efforts, including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and families all working together, are needed to eliminate pediatric medication errors, according to a study published recently in Pediatrics.