News

Providers that have not adopted EHRs that meet the meaningful use standards of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act by 2015 face a significant decrease in Medicare reimbursement.

It's intuitive that preventing a problem from happening is preferable to fixing it after the fact.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and 15 hospitals will embark on a statewide project in May to cut the millions of dollars spent on preventable hospital readmissions.

Public spending is projected to total more than $1.2 trillion in 2010 and to account for slightly more than 50% of all national health expenditures in 2011.

Employee wellness programs are becoming a mainstream perk at many larger companies, but whether they're worth the time and effort depends on whom you ask.

The need to improve the accessibility and efficiency of healthcare has more providers adopting the emerging shared medical appointment model.

As the baby boom generation ages, more and more employees are taking on a second job as caregivers to elderly parents or chronically ill relatives.

Health IT will enable a sweeping transformation.

Just as national health reform fervor began to wane in Washington in recent weeks, California's state senate approved a bill to create a $200 billion, single-payer, government-run state health system. Ugh.

Costs for the most popular types of healthcare coverage are projected to increase at double-digit rates for 2010.

Cardiovascular disease is the greatest health threat to women in the United States.

Heterogenity is a huge hurdle for healthcare organizations that hope to capitalize on the wealth of data they possess.

A health plan's approach to provider reimbursement is rooted in the need to move from traditional fee-for-service models to a payment model that accounts for providers adhering to best practices.

Insurance exchanges will not exist in a vacuum; they will touch every part of the healthcare system and require substantial changes to the way payers do business.

UnitedHealthcare has completed the acquisition of the Northeast's licensed subsidiaries of Health Net and has obtained rights to renew Health Net's membership in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey.

As patient access to electronic medical records takes shape, many questions remain.

CIGNA International will develop and offer individual private medical insurance (PMI) for citizens in countries outside the United States as well as to individual expatriates and high net worth individuals.

A study recently conducted by US Oncology and Aetna found that evidence-based care for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) resulted in an average cost savings of 35% over 12 months while demonstrating equivalent health outcomes.

Currently, exenatide is the only FDA-approved GLP-1 receptor agonist and its use is limited by the need for twice-daily injections. A long-acting release formulation of exenatide is being evaluated in clinical trials to assess effects on glucose control and patient quality of life.

Postmenopausal osteoporosis is a worldwide health concern associated with significant complications including fracture, disability, and mortality. The economic burden of this disease is substantial and is expected to increase significantly as the population ages. It is becoming increasingly important to identify patients who will benefit from available and emerging therapies for the prevention and/or treatment of osteoporosis.

Agents in late-stage development for renal disease

Recent FDA action (through February 2010) related to Ceftobiprole, Carglumic acid, Miglustat, Nebivolol, Myocet, Pirfenidone, Davunetide, BiovaxID, EpiCept, CP-4126

In less than 1 full year at the helm of FDA, Margaret (Peggy) Hamburg has worked to reposition FDA as a public health agency able to ensure the safety and quality of the nation's food supply and medical products.

Recent FDA approvals (through February 2010) related to Ampyra, Victoza, Actemra, Tropazone, Morphine sulfate oral solution, Fluzone High-Dose

After completing a review of available tiotropium bromide inhalation powder (Spiriva HandiHaler, Pfizer) data, FDA released an updated communication, stating that in the regulatory body's opinion, available data does not support an association between the use of tiotropium, a commonly prescribed daily treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and an increased risk of stroke, heart attack, or cardiovascular death.

Therapeutic strategies involving early conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs or early biologics are preferred in treating very early rheumatoid arthritis, but the additional costs of early biologics may not be justified for all patients, according to a recent study reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

New molecular entity: Vigabatrin (Sabril) was approved as an adjunctive treatment of refractory complex partial seizures in adults who have responded inadequately to several alternative treatments; and as monotherapy for pediatric patients with infantile spasms.

Generic drugs approved by FDA (through February 2010): Donepezil hydrochloride orally disintegrating tablets, Ibutilide fumarate injection, Risperidone orally disintegrating tablets in 0.5-mg, 2-mg, 3-mg, and 4-mg strengths