News

Quality and research initiatives in engagement and the value of investment in population health programs will be a focus in 2014.

Liraglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist that received FDA approval for the treatment of diabetes mellitus in 2010. The mechanism of action includes slowing gastric emptying, increasing glucose-dependent insulin secretion, decreasing inappropriate glucagon release, and instilling a feeling of satiety. Liraglutide is administered once daily by subcutaneous injection. Common adverse effects of liraglutide include nausea (28%), diarrhea (17%), vomiting (11%), and constipation (10%).

Patients more than 80 years old are being “over-treated” for stroke prevention and doctors need to actively rethink their priorities and beliefs about stroke prevention, according to a new study published in Evidence Based Medicine.

Stethoscopes can become contaminated with microorganisms following a physical examination and have similar levels of contamination as a physician’s dominant hand, according to a study conducted at a Swiss university teaching hospital in 2009 and published in the March issue of the Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

FDA advisors decided against recommending over-the-counter (OTC) marketing approval of Primatene HFA inhaler (Armstrong Pharmaceuticals) for the temporary relief of mild symptoms of intermittent asthma in patients 12 years and older, at last week’s joint meeting of the FDA’s Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee and the Pulmonary-Allergy Drugs Advisory Committee.

Seattle Children’s Hospital has been publicly at odds with insurers over the trend toward narrow networks.

Narrow pharmacy networks are booming

Insurers fight back as three Rs become the pawns of health reform politics

CMS uses a probe and educate strategy during transition

FDA has approved hyaluronic acid (HA) injection (Monovisc, Anika Therapeutics), a single-injection supplement to synovial fluid of the osteoarthritic joint, for the treatment of pain and the improvement of joint mobility in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee.

FDA actions in brief, breakthrough therapy designations, priority review, fast-track designations, orphan drug designations

While patients may complain about the rising cost of their healthcare, few of them appear willing to do much about it, according to a new survey.

Health management and business updates

Several factors beyond the 45 day notice affect plan outlook

Employers with 50 to 99 workers will have until 2016 before they must offer coverage.

Drug shortages remain a serious problem for patient safety, according to newly published results from a survey of pharmacy directors.

These approaches exemplify the path health plans need to take for effective consumer centricity.

Physicians are largely unhappy with their EHR systems and given the opportunity, would unplug them immediately.

Health plans should consider turning to their members to ask for quality feedback.

Pushback from members has caused regulators to take notice.

Researchers at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center are one of 18 clinical research centers taking part in a national study to establish guidelines for safely stepping down treatment in patients whose asthma is well controlled.

This season's flu vaccine has reduced the risk of influenza-associated medical visits by 61% across all age groups, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Thus far it appears to be outperforming its predecessor from 2012-2013, which had an effectiveness rate of 51%.

Six protected drug classes could be whittled down to three by 2016

Security pros say the federal site is wide open to breaches, malware and theft of personal information

Forest Laboratories plans to discontinue the sale of memantine HCl (Namenda) 5-mg and 10-mg tablets effective August 15, 2014. Forest has notified FDA of this decision.

A coalition of doctors, addiction experts, and law enforcement officials are urging FDA to revoke approval of the powerful opioid Zohydro ER (hydrocodone bitartrate) extended-release capsules, which reportedly will contain 10 times more hydrocodone than Vicodin

Blood pressure medications used by many older adults can increase the risk of serious fall injuries by 30% to 40%-injuries that have a similar effect on mortality and functional loss as the strokes and heart attacks the antihypertensive drugs are meant to prevent-according to a study in the Feb. 24 issue of JAMA Internal Medicine.