News

The massive health reform legislation approved by Congress in March promises to significantly expand the number of Americans with healthcare coverage and pharmacy benefits.

"At-risk" generic launches refer to generic pharmaceuticals that are approved by FDA based on the review of an abbreviated new drug application (ANDA) and are subsequently launched while patent litigation is ongoing.

New indication: Rifaximin (Xifaxan) was approved in March 2010 for the reduction in risk of overt hepatic encephalopathy recurrence in patients ≥18 years of age.

FDA granted marketing approval for a new formulation of controlled-release oxycodone (OxyContin, Purdue Pharma) on April 5, 2010.

New Formulation: Doxepin (Silenor) was approved in March 2010 for the treatment of insomnia.

According to a systematic review in the April 13, 2010 edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association, noninsulin antidiabetic drugs show similar reductions in glycosylated HbA1c when used in combination with metformin in type 2 diabetics, but differ in their rates of hypoglycemia and weight gain.

Clinical studies of patients with both ST-elevation and non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes have shown that ticagrelor, when compared with clopidogrel, reduces the rates of vascular death and myocardial infarction while increasing the rate of non-coronary artery bypass graft-related major bleeding. Ticagrelor was also associated with a higher incidence of dyspnea and ventricular pauses.

Generic drugs approved by FDA (through April 2010): Losartan potassium tablets in 25-mg, 50-mg, and 100-mg, Losartan potassium and hydrochlorothiazide tablets in 50 mg/12.5 mg, 100 mg/12.5-mg, and 100 mg/25 mg, Hydromorphone hydrochloride injection, Mesna injection

Recent FDA approvals (through April 2010) related to Zortress, OxyContin, Exalgo, Kaletra, Provenge, Dacogen, Asclera, Pancreaze, Tarceva, Oravig

Significant progress will need to be made with the sophistication of the electronic medical records now in use.

Insurers should consider greater transparency regarding the calculation of out-of-network reimbursements and insureds' potential liability for excess charges.

Medicaid rolls will be expanded to include those earning up to 133% of the federal poverty level and adults without children.

Almost 13 million young adults did not have health insurance coverage in 2008. Although young adults are less likely to suffer from chronic conditions they have distinct healthcare needs.

It is possible for hospitals to provide high value to Medicare and commercial payers.

About half of healthcare institutions in the United States provide art therapy services, with positive results.

As with any significant market regulation, the provisions in healthcare reform will undoubtedly change over time.

Better management of chronic conditions will be critical to the future of healthcare delivery, according to Tracey Moorhead.

First on the reform agenda is an overhaul of the formula for calculating Medicare Advantage payments.

PPACA promises to eventually close the coverage gap for seniors.

Under pressure from the Obama administration, insurers say they will not deny health coverage for sick children pending new regulations, and would follow the intent of the law, not the exact language of it.

The reform law provides for and expansion of Medicaid recipients and dependent children as well as an expansion of the Children's Health Insurance Program.

In March, Aetna launched Aetna On-the-Go, providing members access to online features, mobile applications, and text messaging.

The new Medicare Advisory Board will have broad responsibility to make recommendations to reduce spending in the Medicare program.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded more than $119 million to states and U.S. territories to support public health efforts to reduce obesity, increase physical activity, improve nutrition, and decrease smoking.

With more people gaining access to affordable coverage and an increasing elderly population, America will need more general internists and other primary care doctors than the primary care physician supply, according to the American College of Physicians (ACP).

AARP?s Public Policy Institute finds that average manufacturer price increases for brand-name and specialty prescription drugs widely used by Medicare beneficiaries continued to outstrip the price increases for other consumer goods and services.

Survey results show that the majority of employer clients are strongly considering adopting some of the more progressive strategies to encourage the use of lower-cost generic medications.

Despite being known teratogenic agents contraindicated in pregnancy, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs) are being increasingly prescribed to women with hypertension during their childbearing years.

Patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who undergo coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery are less likely to develop fatal outcomes when given ticagrelor instead of clopidogrel as an antiplatelet medication, new research indicates.

Physicians who check the DNA of patients before initiating warfarin therapy are more likely to provide the correct dose, avoiding the possibility of readmittance to a hospital.