News

National insurers won't be able to compete on price

A delay for ICD-10 will not delay ICD-11

The industry cost of ICD-10 implementation will total $8 billion, meanwhile many organizations have yet to move to the highly recommended testing phase

Enrollments rolling in despite consumers' lack of knowledge, technical glitches and high-traffic volumes.

Lack of substantial prescription drug coverage was found to be associated with financial decline in breast cancer survivors, according to an article published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

To successfully navigate the structural break in healthcare, payers need to boost investment returns through strategic clarity, resource alignment, and supportive organizations

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), the American Hospital Association (AHA), and other healthcare groups have developed a number of long-term strategies to address drug shortages and released their recommendations in a report, ASHP announced last week.

Oxycodone hydrochloride and acetaminophen (Xartemis XR, Mallinckrodt) Extended-Release Tablets (CII) were approved for the management of acute pain requiring opioid treatment. Xartemis XR has been specifically formulated to reduce abuse, according to the drug’s manufacturer.

FDA has approved apremilast (Otezla, Celgene), an oral, selective inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) to treat adults with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Connecticut and Washington will not offer extensions

Over-the-counter (OTC) sinus and pain drugs combining phenylephrine and acetaminophen-including Tylenol Sinus, Sudafed PE Sinus, Benadryl Allergy Plus Sinus, and Excedrin Sinus Headache-might cause serious side effects such as high blood pressure, dizziness, and tremors, according to a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Chronically ill adults don’t have consistent access to food due to lack of financial stability were significantly more likely to report cost-related medication underuse, according to a new study published in The American Journal of Medicine. Cost-related medication underuse refers to taking less medication than prescribed, or not taking it at all because of financial concerns.

Specialty drug pricing and generic drug pricing, especially around single-source generics during their exclusivity period, should be on the radar screens of hospital and managed care decision-makers, according to Catamaran’s 2013 Drug Trend data, which represents 25 million consumers.

It has been more than a decade since the clinical battle began with community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and physicians are still trying to figure out how to diagnose, treat, and prevent this virulent form of staph infection, which is immune to many antibiotics.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is accepting public comments until April 3 on its new hepatitis C screening guidelines.

HHS prepares for an enrollment surge on March 31

The case will be decided on the burden the ACA contraceptive mandate has on private employer Hobby Lobby

Infections caused by a specific type of antibiotic-resistant bacteria are on the rise in US children, according to study published in the Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society. While still rare, the bacteria are increasingly found in children of all ages, especially those aged 1 to 5 years old, raising concerns about dwindling treatment options.

Local infiltration with long-acting liposome bupivacaine (Exparel) as part of a non-narcotic multimodal pain management regimen for joint replacement surgeries, meaningfully improves patient and hospital economic outcomes, according to new data presented at the 81st annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).

Influenza, zoster, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and the diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis adsorbed (DTaP) are among the most common vaccines involved in medication errors in the United States, according to a new report from the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP). The other most common problematic vaccines include Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate, Tdap, DTaP-IPV, human papillomavirus (HPV4), and measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV).

AHIP's Karen Ignagni wants to see a new tier in the exchanges to drive consumers into the risk pool

FDA has approved apixaban (Eliquis, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer) for the prophylaxis of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which may lead to pulmonary embolism (PE), in patients who have undergone hip- or knee-replacement surgery.

The majority of all pediatric Clostridium difficile infections are the result of a recent course of antibiotics prescribed by a physician for some other condition, according to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

19 out of 20 patients who think they are allergic to penicillin are wrong and are costing 63% more

Their care experience isn’t at the level it should be

Add it up: 3 reasons for the delay; 6 assets affected; 6 reasons for the price tag; and one future mind-boggler

FDA approved once-daily topiramate (Qudexy XR, Upsher-Smith Laboratories) extended-release capsules for initial monotherapy in patients aged 10 years and older with partial-onset seizures (POS) or primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures.

When used in conjunction with conventional blood clot prevention therapies, statins significantly reduced the risk for venous thromboembolic (VTE) events following total joint replacement (TJR) surgery, according to research presented recently at the 2014 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).