Keith Loria

Drug manufacturers are developing long-acting, injectable HIV drugs for both treatment and prevention.

Research shows similar results between those with HIV and those without, although 15 years post-kidney transplant, outcomes were worse for people with HIV.

But the future of value-based care in oncology is uncertain with no certain successor to the Oncology Care Model in sight.

Since the COVID-19 vaccinations have been approved, there have been numerous trials that have all concluded that vaccines are safe for people with HIV. These vaccines have been tried on a number of HIV patients and have been found not to cause any alarming negative side effects.

The FDA approved Apretude (cabotegravir extended-release injectable suspension) for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV in December. Administered as an injection every other month, Apretude gives people at risk of contracting HIV a PrEP alternative to taking daily pills.

Screening dipped sharply in 2020 because of the pandemic. The rebound this year is uneven and there is still hesitancy.

Like other providers, the VA saw a large, pandemic-related increase in virtual visits. In 2019, 27% of visits were virtual compared with 64% in 2020.

New infections are down and wider use of pre-exposure prophylaxis would decrease them further.

Site of service has a major effect on the cost. Home infusion and oral formulations are challenging both hospital- and physician-based infusions.

Many states only have vaguely worded qualitative standards for network adequacy for cancer care. Others have quantitative standards based on distance or waiting time.

States are putting caps on prices, and Semglee, the first interchangeable biosimilar in the United States, may exert some downward pressure.

CVS’ Joshua Fredell, Pharm.D., and Tierra Ford, Pharm.D., described how an integrated, proactive approach can engage members and rein in costs.

Treatments aimed at certain mutations have proliferated and moved upstream to earlier-stage lung cancers. But there are many questions about insurance coverage and which tests to use to identify the biomarkers that help guide treatment.

OptumRx SVP Kerri Tanner, RPh, Pharm.D., said management of specialty medications cannot be delivered in pieces and that innovation is needed to curb the tendency toward fragmentation.

Many people ignored heart disease signs and symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic — sometimes with grave consequences.

Rahul Sharma, M.S., CEO of HSBlox, say that early in his career he learned “to be the bridge between business teams and technical teams."

After having thrived in a fee-for-service healthcare system, can chronic disease specialists be enticed to switch?

Koleen Cavanaugh, vice president of marketing at Independence Blue Cross in Philadelphia, says starting in customer service was the best thing for her career.

The latest technology is changing treatments for patients.

A small fraction of those who were eligible under previous U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations were screened with low-dose CT scans. New recommendations will make an additional 6.4 million Americans eligible, but a number of barriers to screening remain.

Breaches in online vaccination schedulers are the among the security problems the healthcare sector is scrambling to fix.

Corticosteroids are a mainstay but the introduction of biologics has transformed the management of this severe form of asthma.

The FDA approved proton beam radiation in 1988. But whether it is an improvement over conventional photon radiation as a treatment for many cancers remains an open question.

Devices take some of the pressure off a healthcare system coping with COVID-19.

Healthcare has successfully pivoted and collaborated. But COVID-19 also has spotlighted flaws in how hospitals are financed and the weakness of the public health infrastructure.

Eric Whitaker, M.D., credits influences in high school and medical school with his success. Now he wants to turn his new Medicare Advantage plan, Zing Health, into a training ground for Black and Latino health insurance executives — and has his sights set on unicorn status.

Last year a lull in provider mergers and acquisitions was followed by an uptick. Experts say the disruptive effect of COVID-19 may mean plenty of deals this year.

Bolstering the ACA and addressing healthcare inequities perhaps through Medicaid waivers may top the agenda. Experts see a continuation of support of ACOs and growth in enrollment in Medicare Advantage plans.

Prostate cancer is often “indolent,” so it can be monitored and not treated right away.

Results of APOLLO and REACH3 trials are scheduled for presentation at the American Society of Hematology meeting next month are expected to garner attention.