News

The spread of the Ebola virus (EVD) continues to capture world headlines. It has also become of great concern in the United States where 3 cases have now been confirmed.

The economic impact of an Ebola pandemic could reach $32 billion by 2015, according to the World Bank, while costs to the healthcare insurance industry will depend on how quickly the disease is controlled in countries with high insurance penetration, according to the Insurance Information Institute (III).

The biosimilar candidate ABP 501 (Amgen) has proved to be successful in treating patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, according to results from an initial phase 3 study. ABP 501 met its primary end point for efficacy.

Narrow network plans will play an increasingly significant role in healthcare, but there are still some wildcards that could impact their success.

FDA has approved netupitant/palonosetron (Akynzeo, Eisai Inc.) to treat chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV).

FDA approved bortezomib (Velcade, Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company) for injection for use in previously untreated patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), making it the first treatment in the United States to be approved for previously untreated patients with MCL.

In recent months, the incidence of enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) infection has markedly increased across the United States, notably affecting young pediatric patients. Hospitalizations of children with severe respiratory illness associated with this non-polio enterovirus have concurrently risen.1,2

The lack of competition for health insurance in U.S. metropolitan markets is a cause for concern for the American Medical Association (AMA).

Some companies still trying to find their footing in the post-ACA era and are hesitant to dive into the world of private exchanges.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends that everybody aged 6 months and older receive an annual flu vaccine.

FDA has designated new ALS stem cell therapy from BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics as a “fast-track” product.

FDA actions in brief, fast-track designations, priority review.

FDA approved the Lutonix 035 Drug Coated Balloon (DCB) Catheter (Bard) for percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), after pre-dilatation, for the treatment of de novo or restenotic lesions up to 150 mm in length in native vascular disease of the superficial femoral or popliteal arteries with reference vessel diameters of 4 mm to 6 mm.

Industry updates in business and health management.

The rate of hospital readmissions has been declining following the the launch of the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP) in 2012

Confronted with the escalating costs of specialty drugs, payers and PBMs have been employing a variety of strategies in an attempt to limit their financial exposure and improve patient outcomes.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Karen DeSalvo, MD, MPH, MSc, the national for Health Information Technology (HIT), explains that healthcare is a decade away from a national, interoperable health information technology platform.

More states, including some initial hold-out Republican states, are joining the ranks of those that have already expanded Medicaid under the ACA.

The Affordable Care Act has migrated risk for the discharge process from payers to providers, making effective discharge planning essential.

With outcomes increasingly tied to reimbursement rates, hospitals and physicians have to work together to achieve goals.

As of January 1, 2015, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid will only be awarding payments to MA plans that receive 4 stars or higher.

Accenture Federal Services will continue to operate healthcare.gov through the next open enrollment cycle, while the GAO has recommended security fixes for the site.

Zykadia (ceritinib) is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that was approved by FDA on April 29, 2014, as a medication for the treatment of patients with ALK-positive metastatic NSCLC who have progressed on or are intolerant to crizotinib.

The average cancer survivor with insurance incurs $712 in monthly bills for physician copayments, prescription drugs and other expenses related to treatment, according to a new study from Washington National’s Institute for Wellness Solutions.

A record number of hospitals are being fined a total of $428 million by Medicare for excessive readmissions.

2014 saw the biggest change to the health insurance industry since the advent of Medicare and Medicaid in 1965. What does the future hold?

Low thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) can be observed in patients with treated hypothyroidism initiating metformin, especially between 90 and 180 days of use, according to a study published September 22 in the CMJA.

Specialty drugs’ high prices raise questions about whether their cost is worth the clinical benefits they provide, according to a recent study in Health Affairs.