News

Generic drugs account for 90% of the prescriptions filled in the United States. They are the backbone of healthcare providers’ treatment protocol and they are remarkably cost effective: despite being 90% of the prescriptions filled, generics account for only 20% of drug spending.

Commercial health insurance plan enrollees are more likely to take glucose-lowering medications.

Potential ACA marketplace enrollees are younger and likely to be healthier on average

Johnson & Johnson and a Maryland biotech company announced phase 3 results. Other COVID-19 vaccine news: WHO changes its advice for pregnant women, unofficial websites for looking up where you can get vaccinated, a call to stop hospital board members and donors from jumping the queue.

In this second part of a two-part video series, MHE Senior Editor Peter Wehrwein and Associate Editor Briana Contreras speak with Perry Cohen, Pharm. D., CEO of The Pharmacy Group. Perry has been on MHE's Editorial Advisory Board for over 25 years and has contributed a number of interviews and guest articles toward the publication. In this discussion, Briana, Peter and Perry talked about Sweden, Japan and the United States' response to COVID-19 and Cohen addresses the U.S.'s response under the new President Joe Biden Administration.

MHE Associate Editor Briana Contreras and Senior Editor Peter Wehrwein speak with Julie Olson, senior director of Population Health and Product Development at Navitus, a full pass-through pharmacy benefits management (PBM) company. In this discussion they talked about how Navitus has created a Clinical Engagement Center designed to improve medication adherence and reduce both member and plan prescription costs, while easing benefit transitions. Additionally, they discussed what it means to be a “full pass-through” PBM and how it compares to other PBMs.

Everyone will have a different confidence level based on their experience with vaccines in the past, and their comfort level with their local hospital, pharmacy chain or pharmacy. But once we get to the point where there are enough vaccines, Dan Rodriguez, R.Ph, BS, Pharm, believes “this process will run like a flu clinic – I don't think there's going to be that level of distrust or unease.”

In this first of a two-part video series, MHE Senior Editor Peter Wehrwein and Associate Editor Briana Contreras speak with Perry Cohen, Pharm. D., CEO of The Pharmacy Group. Perry has been on MHE's Editorial Advisory Board for over 25 years and has contributed a number of interviews and guest articles toward the publication. In this discussion, Briana, Peter and Perry talked about the current pharmacy benefits market as well as Sweden, Japan and the United States' response to COVID-19.

The organizations give recommendations on how to get patients to receive the care they need.

FDA approves first complete long-acting HIV-1 treatment

In this episode of Tuning In to the C-Suite's Meet the Board series, MHE Senior Editor Peter Wehrwein and Associate Editor Briana Contreras speak with Perry Cohen, Pharm. D., CEO of The Pharmacy Group. Perry has been on MHE's Editorial Advisory Board for over 25 years and has contributed a number of interviews and guest articles toward the publication. In this discussion, Briana, Peter and Perry talked about the current pharmacy benefits market as well as Sweden, Japan and the United States' response to COVID-19.

FDA cleared cabozantinib (Cabometyx) for patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma as a first-line treatment in combination with nivolumab (Opdivo).

Authorized generics must meaningfully reduce spending on prescription drugs.

Optimizing your Star Rating program with machine learning technology.

The approval comes following a study on the efficacy of the migraine device.

Eric Whitaker, M.D., credits influences in high school and medical school with his success. Now he wants to turn his new Medicare Advantage plan, Zing Health, into a training ground for Black and Latino health insurance executives — and has his sights set on unicorn status.

Last year a lull in provider mergers and acquisitions was followed by an uptick. Experts say the disruptive effect of COVID-19 may mean plenty of deals this year.

Centralized technology that connects payers, providers and patients are needed to optimize telemedicine reimbursement, argues J.P. Morgan's Kerry Jessani.

The approval come following the results of a phase 3 trial.

Seniors still need additional information about Medicare Advantage and Star Ratings.

Although virtual visits as a whole have dropped off since their peak last spring, visits for behavioral health issues are still going strong, a reflection, in part, of the toll the COVID-19 pandemic has taken on the mental health of Americans.

Riding high because of the COVID-19 surge, telemedicine companies are going public and making expensive deals.

Bolstering the ACA and addressing healthcare inequities perhaps through Medicaid waivers may top the agenda. Experts see a continuation of support of ACOs and growth in enrollment in Medicare Advantage plans.

Nearly 80% of Americans believe the COVID-19 vaccines will help combat the pandemic, but 71% are concerned about vaccine side effects. Experts say some side effects are not only normal, but are working.

An industry-wide shift toward consumerism and value-based care reflects modern consumers’ desire for transparency around their healthcare coverage. In order to meet these heightened expectations, insurers must adapt and identify new ways to educate, engage and support members who are taking ownership of their options.

CVS Caremark, Express Scripts and OptumRx have increased the number of medications that are excluded from their national formularies.

Managed Health Executive® editors Peter Wehrwein and Briana Contreras interviewed Kevin Ronneberg, M.D., for our “Meet the Board” podcast series. Ronneberg is vice president and associate medical director for health initiatives at HealthPartners, a nonprofit integrated healthcare delivery system headquartered in Bloomington, Minnesota. He has been on the MHE editorial advisory board since 2015.

The president-elect says his administration will set up 100 community vaccination sites during his first month in office.