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MHE | 2014 Managed Healthcare Executive Editorial Calendar

The FDA is recommending to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that hydrodone combination products, such as Vicodin, be reclassified as a Schedule II product, placing tighter controls on the pain medications. Hydrocodone is currently a Schedule III drug, according to an FDA announcement.

Severe life-threatening allergic reactions are more common than many thought. Anaphylaxis very likely occurs in nearly 1 in 50 Americans (1.6%), and the rate is probably higher, close to 1 in 20 (5.1%), according to a study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

FDA has approved Juvederm Voluma XC, a cosmetic filler by Allergan, to temporarily correct age-related volume loss in the cheek area in adults who are older than 21 years. The product is expected to be available this fall, the manufacturer said.

Five years of the now recommended 2-dose varicella vaccine has dramatically reduced the incidence of chicken pox among all age groups, including among infants too young to be vaccinated.

FDA approved macitentan (Opsumit, Actelion Pharmaceuticals) to treat adults with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a chronic, progressive and debilitating disease that can lead to death or lung transplantation.

FDA issued final guidance for developers of mobile medical applications (“apps”) that outlines FDA’s tailored approach to mobile apps.

A history of 1 or more falls in the 6 months prior to an operation forecasts increased postoperative complications, need for discharge institutionalization, and 30-day readmission across surgical specialties, according to a study published in JAMA Surgery online October 9, 2013.

The topical anti-fungal agent ciclopirox causes HIV-infected cells to commit suicide by jamming up the cells’ powerhouse, the mitochondria, according to a recent study.The study, published in PLoS One, found that unlike currently available anti-HIV drugs, ciclopirox eradicates infectious HIV from cell cultures, with no rebound of virus when the drug is stopped.

In the treatment of pulmonary embolism (PE) in North American patients, rivaroxaban (Xarelto) reduced length of hospital stay by 1 full day compared to conventional dual therapy, according to data presented at the American College of Emergency Physicians scientific assembly, October 14-17, in Seattle.

Compared to patients with a principal diagnosis of heart failure, heart failure patients hospitalized with a diagnosis other than heart failure had lower rates of guideline-concordant care including assessment of left ventricular (LV) function or prescription for an ACE inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) at time of discharge, according to a study published in the October 9 Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Personal knowledge of or experience with shingles may be a major driver in a consumer's decision about whether to receive the shingles vaccine, according to a Harris Interactive consumer awareness survey sponsored by Merck.

Plans must act now on near-term medical cost reduction opportunities to strengthen their competitive position.

FDA approved riociguat (Adempas, Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals) tablets for the treatment of adults with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) after surgical treatment or inoperable CTEPH and adults with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

Data from a phase 3 trial comparing panitumumab (Vectibix) to cetuximab (Erbitux) for the treatment of wild-type KRAS metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) in patients who have not responded to chemotherapy, provide the oncology community with important information on the use of EGFR inhibitors for patients with mCRC.

Evidence exists that antidepressants may be an independent risk factor for type 2 diabetes, however causality has not been established, according to a recent study in Diabetes Care.

Influenza vaccination can reduce the risk of influenza-associated pneumonia hospitalizations by more than half, according to data presented at the IDWeek Meeting recently in San Francisco.

With healthcare reform moving ahead, payers have their hands full.

Center aims to transform healthcare through collaboration on the latest in health IT.

Under a priority review to help alleviate a drug shortage, FDA has approved lipid injectable emulsion, USP (Clinolipid, Baxter Healthcare) for intravenous feeding (parenteral nutrition) in adult patients, providing a source of calories and essential fatty acids for adult patients who are unable to eat or drink.

Chronic use of opioids among obese patients prior to bariatric surgery continues after bariatric surgery, and the dose. has been shown to be greater postoperatively than preoperatively, according to a recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

More research into the way providers and patients respond to incentives will be important to guide healthcare policy.

Patients who skip filling an antibiotic prescription after hospital discharge because of high out-of-pocket costs are at increased risk of rehospitalization and cost the healthcare system substantially more in the long term, according to a study published in the October issue of the American Journal of Managed Care.

Employer plans must evaluate their wellness culture

Under priority review, FDA approved pertuzumab (Perjeta, Genentech, a member of the Roche Group) on September 30 as part of a complete treatment regimen for patients with early stage breast cancer before surgery.

FDA warned September 27 of an increased risk of death associated with intravenous tigecycline (Tygacil) for FDA-approved and non-approved uses.

Centers reach out to low-income populations.