News

A new book, "Deadly Spin," goes after corporate PR, contending that it is ruining healthcare and deceiving Americans.

The certification of rules regarding medical-loss ratios brings some clarity to an issue that has tried the patience of health plans, but now the hard work begins, according to analysts.

Employers are staying in the insurance game, much as they may grouse about the cost and hassles associated with providing health coverage

There's a large gap in private insurer inpatient payment rates among regions, with Miami-South Florida averaging 147% of Medicare rates, while San Francisco came in at 210%

National attention has been focused on childhood immunization in light of a California pertussis epidemic, but adults who could unwittingly transmit infectious diseases remain largely unvaccinated.

Analysts and experts have written a lot about ICD-10 and the significant changes it will bring to health plan operations.

One of the costliest pitfalls of administration is litigation stemming from denials.

Health professionals at the University of Kansas Hospital are looking within themselves to improve their own personal health

Because of the disparate nature of health IT systems, the data is so fragmented it's actually hampering clinical decisions

Treatment of recurrent herpes simplex labialis with combination 5% acyclovir and 1% hydrocortisone cream is safe in adolescents. In a study of a 5-day treatment course, no safety concerns were identified, said Anders Strand, MD, PhD, at the 45th midyear meeting of the American Society of Health Systems Pharmacists, in Anaheim, Calif.

Further reductions in LDL cholesterol with more intensive statin regimens safely produce definite further reductions in vascular events, even down to very low LDL levels, lower than current targets, according to the results of 2 meta-analyses, as reported Nov. 8 online by The Lancet.

FDA is recommending removing the breast cancer indication from the label for Avastin (bevacizumab) because the drug has not been shown to be safe and effective for that use.

CNS Therapeutics announced that FDA has approved baclofen injection (Gablofen) for use in the management of severe spasticity. The drug gives providers an easy-to-administer, cost-effective intrathecal baclofen treatment option, according to the company.

CNS Therapeutics announced that FDA has approved baclofen injection (Gablofen) for use in the management of severe spasticity. The drug gives providers an easy-to-administer, cost-effective intrathecal baclofen treatment option, according to the company.

FDA has approved Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (Vyvanse, Shire) capsules CII for the treatment of ADHD in adolescents aged 13 to 17 years.

FDA has approved saxagliptin and metformin XR (Kombiglyze XR, AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers Squibb) tablets for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in adults. Kombiglyze XR is the first and only once-a-day metformin XR plus DPP-4 inhibitor combination tablet offering strong glycaemic control across glycosylated hemoglobin levels, fasting plasma glucose and post-prandial glucose.

FDA is recommending removing the breast cancer indication from the label for Avastin (bevacizumab) because the drug has not been shown to be safe and effective for that use.

The Obama administration has decided to extend bonus payments meant to reward top-quality Medicare Advantage plans to those performing at average quality levels, and provide larger bonuses to top performers.

The need for better communication is apparently fueled by consumer uncertainty about federal healthcare reform. According to the survey, 44% say they are not sure how their health plan is impacted.

Findlay, Ohio is one of the first communities in the United States to establish a partnership between area businesses, physicians and the local hospital to initiate healthcare reform at the community level. The program, called the Employer Data Project (EDOC), is overseen by Blanchard Valley Health System (BVHS). Its goal is to reduce variation in care and improve treatment processes while lowering health care costs.

The Disease Management Purchasing Consortium (DMPC) and Zenger Analytics have completed a mathematical proof to address the question of valid outcomes methodologies for disease management, wellness, medical home and other population-based care management programs for which outcomes are calculated on a pre/post basis.

As healthcare costs continue to significantly outpace the rate of inflation and increases in compensation, an affordability gap is placing increasing pressure on employees and eroding satisfaction with their health plans.

An FDA panel has recommended that the agency approve Orexigen Therapeutics' and Takeda's obesity drug Contrave (naltrexone SR/bupropion SR). This makes the drug the first in a group of competitors to receive this recommendation, the Associated Press reported.

Nonanthracycline-containing chemotherapy regimens for the adjuvant treatment of operable stage I to III breast cancer are discussed, including efficacy and toxicity results from recent randomized clinical trials comparing anthracycline to nonanthracycline-containing regimens.

FDA voted today against approving 2 drugs for the prevention of prostate cancer: finasteride (Proscar, Merck) and dutasteride (Avodart, GlaxoSmithKline).

Agents in late-stage development for the treatment of eye diseases.

The commonly used pain reliever-acetaminophen-causes a significant increase in blood pressure in patients with pre-existing coronary artery disease, according to a randomized controlled trial published ahead of print in the October 18, 2010, Circulation.

Removal of marketed unapproved drugs (MUDs), such as that with oral colchicine, is part of FDA's Unapproved Drugs Initiative (launched in 2006).

Throughout 2010, Formulary's "Focus on" articles have examined 10 newly approved or investigational drugs of interest to pharmacy and therapeutics (P&T) committee members. Because many readers have said that they frequently refer to this column when making formulary decisions for hospitals, health systems, or managed care organizations, the editors have compiled this review of these agents, along with updates on the regulatory status of each.

Patients with systolic heart failure and mild symptomatology [New York Heart Association class II] taking the mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist-eplerenone-experienced a 37% reduction in death from cardiovascular causes or first hospitalization for heart failure, researchers demonstrated in a new study.