News

A study of Medicare data suggests there is substantial variation in the use of antibiotics across regions after adjusting for population characteristics.

The world of formulary management is changing and organizations must work on education initiatives.

Screening practices for multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) in intensive care units (ICUs) vary widely from hospital to hospital, according to a study published in October.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurologic disorder of chronic inflammation and demyelination of the central nervous system. Several additional agents, including oral products, are now under investigation for the future treatment of MS.

New molecular entity: FDA approved icosapent ethyl (Vascepa, Amarin Pharmaceuticals Ireland Limited), an ethyl ester of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), as an adjunct to diet to reduce triglyceride (TG) levels in adult patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia.

New standards released by the USP seek to reduce medication compliance issues.

Looking toward the future, plans focus on information systems and medical management.

With half of prescriptions not being taken as prescribed, experts indicate that more attention needs to be given to medication adherence.

ACOs have a very specific template in Medicare, but can exist in many different forms in the private market.

Plans prepare for new members with data-driven risk assessments.

A recent Census report shows how healthcare reform has started to affect healthcare coverage.

As industry leaders are concerned about their business models, plans look to evolve.

As healthcare continues to evolve, new services and cost considerations are becoming available.

Seniors shopping for Medicare coverage remain confused

Centene's Glendon Schuster recommends the top ways plans can put data to good use

Interoperability standards aren't a given on EHR systems.

Partnership aims to stop crime rings defrauding public and private health insurance systems.

Drugs remain potent long after the expiration date

A recent poll indicates that no-cost preventive care is seen as improving the value in the industry.

Blue Shield of California is issuing $50 million in credits to members

Almost all health coverage plans are expected to see trend increases below 10% in 2013. HDHPs show a projected 9.1% trend, higher than HMOs, PPOs and POS plans.

Among older adults with atrial fibrillation (AF), persistence with warfarin therapy is generally lower than what has been reported in clinical trials, according study online in Archives of Internal Medicine.

FDA has approved omacetaxine mepesuccinate (Synribo, Teva) to treat adults with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), a blood and bone marrow disease. An estimated 5,430 people will be diagnosed with CML in 2012, according to the National Institutes of Health. Synribo is intended to be used in patients whose cancer progressed after treatment with at least 2 drugs from a class called tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), also used to treat CML.

The Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to recommend the use of Meningococcal Groups C and Y and Haemophilus b Tetanus Toxoid Conjugate Vaccine (MenHibrix, GlaxoSmithKline) in infants at increased risk for bacterial meningitis.

Numerous health and safety violations related to the practice of pharmacy at the New England Compounding Center (NECC), Framingham, Mass. have been documented by investigators of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), according to Madeleine Biondolillo, MD, in a press conference Oct. 23

Three investigational drugs will be studied in a worldwide clinical trial to determine whether they can prevent Alzheimer’s disease. In people with inherited mutations that cause early-onset Alzheimer’s, the study will seek to identify whether the drugs can improve Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers and prevent the loss of cognitive function.

FDA has approved perampanel (Fycompa, Eisai), an AMPA receptor antagonist, as an adjunctive treatment of partial-onset seizures with or without secondarily generalized seizures in patients aged 12 years and older who have epilepsy.

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