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.
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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.
WellPoint is coupling together a new portfolio of payment for its PCPs, offering them more cash and fewer hassles.
In the era of escalating healthcare costs, the private market has managed to reduce baseline admin costs
Decision tools lead to better quality patient care.
Reimbursement and ther factors influence the adoption of telemedicine.
Medicaid programs use popular technology for better prenatal care.
Once considered a great way to expand care, the medical home could use a dose of reality.
In 2011, Medicaid financed care for 70 million people at a cost of $432 billion. Broader eligibility requirements are expected to bring another 16 million into the pool.
California has adopted some managed care principles, hoping to achieve accessible, cost-effective care.
HHS issued a final rule to guide states in establishing health insurance exchanges by the end of 2013.
The nation's two largest PBMs have FTC's approval to complete their merger.
Aspirin can reduce the risk for cancer-related mortality and can reduce or prevent the risk for distant metastasis, according to 3 new studies published online by The Lancet and The Lancet Oncology.