News

Aetna believes its new fertility program will improve the chances of conception for infertile couples, while controlling costs

With the Medicare star program, plans stand to gain bonus pay when their network providers do well on performance measures

Catalyst for Payment Reform has released a national scorecard describing the current state of value-oriented payment, finding that about 11% of commercial payments are tied to value

FDA has approved rabeprazole sodium (AcipHex Sprinkle, Eisai) Delayed-Release capsules 5 mg and 10 mg for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in children ages 1 to 11 years of age for up to 12 weeks.

FDA approved dimethyl fumarate (Tecfidera, Biogen Idec) capsules for the treatment of adults with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), including the most common form, relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), according to an FDA statement on March 27.

FDA approved tobramycin inhalation powder (TOBI Podhaler, Novartis) for the management of cystic fibrosis patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa), a bacterium that causes lung infections.

Managed care and hospital decision-makers should consider that biological drugs are different from traditional drugs in terms of their complexity and there is potential for problems to arise when manufacturing is not strictly controlled. Furthermore, biological medicines are more difficult to characterize, produce, and reproduce than most traditional pharmaceuticals. This, in turn, can affect the medicine’s quality, safety, or efficacy, and can ultimately impact the reliability of supply, according to a presentation at the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association’s annual conference in Los Angeles, in March.

Patients with type 2 diabetes achieved 6% weight loss with liraglutide 3 mg in a phase 3a obesity trial, according to Novo Nordisk.

The Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) is urging US House leaders to consider a number of proposals to rein in federal spending on healthcare without compromising the popular programs of Medicare and Medicaid.

Diabetes drugs including exenatide (Byetta, Bydureon), liraglutide (Victoza), sitagliptin (Januvia, Janumet, Janumet XR, Juvisync), saxagliptin (Onglyza, Kombiglyze XR), alogliptin (Nesina, Kazano, Oseni), and linagliptin (Tradjenta, Jentadueto) are being evaluated by FDA for a potential link to pancreatitis and precancerous changes of the pancreas.

FDA approved (technetium Tc 99m tilmanocept (Lymphoseek, Navidea Biopharmaceuticals) Injection, a radioactive diagnostic imaging agent that helps doctors locate lymph nodes in patients with breast cancer or melanoma who are undergoing surgery to remove tumor-draining lymph nodes.

The use of extended-release niacin as an adjunct to statins does not reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke in patients with pre-existing cardiovascular disease, according to researchers who led the HPS2-THRIVE study. The results of the study were reported at the American College of Cardiology conference in San Francisco on March 9.

After receiving input from more than 80 institutions across the United States, the American Society of Health Systems Pharmacists (ASHP) and the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) developed a new medication management care transition guide.

FDA is warning the public that azithromycin (Zithromax or Zmax; Pfizer) can cause abnormal changes in the electrical activity of the heart that may lead to potentially fatal cardiac arrhythmias.

Several Republican governors are going to expand Medicaid eligibility under PPACA

Medicaid expansion is driving a wedge between legislatures and governors, and increasingly between states and their citizens.

Some repeat imaging might occur within the parameters of acceptable practices and medical necessity and shouldn’t be identified as waste

Regulatory scrutiny will prevent drug plans managers from holding down costs for consumers

The new product was prompted by a recognition of the need for additional treatment options in the treatment of schizophrenia

Almost 98% of primary care physicians (PCPs), nurse practitioners, and pharmacists trust and recommend over-the-counter (OTC) medicines to their patients, according to a new survey released by the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA).

FDA has approved aripiprazole (Abilify Maintena, Otsuka and Lundbeck) for extended-release injectable suspension for the treatment of schizophrenia.

The first interim results in HCV/HIV co-infected patients from Boehringer Ingelheim’s ongoing hepatitis C (HCV) clinical trial program, HCVerso, have become available. These results, from the phase 3 trial STARTVerso 4, were presented recently at the 20th annual Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) in Atlanta.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae (CRE) has increased over the last decade and most cases of resistance are associated with healthcare exposures. To slow the dissemination of CRE infections, local and state health departments need to take the lead in prevention efforts, according to CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report released on March 5.

Payers struggle against market headwinds

Stakeholders must influence individuals to become more responsible for their choices.

Benefits of ICD-10 migrations can be significant for payers.

Physicians and local communities assist in obesity prevention.