News

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.

Breast cancer

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.

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.

Daily supplementation with antioxidants, vitamins E and C, and alpha acid, did not improve memory function in patients with Alzheimer?s disease, according to a new study.

Enhanced pharmacist care for patients with dyslipidemia improves low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, according to a study published in the March issue of Pharmacotherapy: The Journal of Human Pharmacology and Drug Therapy.

Weekly mobile phone text messaging may help patients with human immunodeficiency virus adhere to antiretroviral therapy that is often associated with difficult side effects, according to a study published online March 14 in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.

he National Association of Chain Drug Stores, the National Community Pharmacists Association, and 9 retail pharmacy companies filed a lawsuit Thursday to stop the proposed merger of pharmacy benefit manager giants Express Scripts and Medco Health Solutions.

Express Scripts and Medco Health Solutions may be able to close the transaction of its merger as early as next week, according to an announcement Wednesday by Express Scripts.

FDA added new label warnings for the antidepressant citalopram (Celexa, Forest Laboratories), discouraging patients with certain conditions from using the drug and lowering the dosage recommendations to 20 mg daily for patients aged 60 and older. The warning is also applicable to generic versions of Celexa.

FDA has approved peginesatide (Omontys, Affymax) to treat anemia in adult dialysis patients who have chronic kidney disease (CKD).

FDA has issued a complete response letter (CRL) to dihydroergotamine (Levadex inhalation aerosol, MAP Pharmaceuticals) for the treatment of acute treatment of migraine in adults.

FDA has approved beclomethasone dipropionate (QNASL Nasal Aerosol, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries), a ?dry? nasal aerosol corticosteroid that treats year-round and seasonal nasal allergy symptoms in people aged 12 years and older.

Amneal Pharmaceuticals has launched escitalopram oxalate oral solution in 5 mg/5 mL strength, the first generic of antianxiety/antidepressant Lexapro (Forest) in liquid form on the market

FDA approved the first generic versions of Boniva (ibandronate) tablets, a once-monthly product to treat or prevent osteoporosis in women after menopause

Ingenol mebutate topical gel (0.015% for face and scalp and 0.05% for trunk and extremities) was effective for treating actinic keratoses, a common precursor to sun-related, squamous cell carcinoma, according to a new study.