Peter Wehrwein, Managing Editor

Oxygen supplementation may be necessary, especially for newborns born prematurely. But the oxygen free radicals associated with high levels can be harmful, causing conditions such as retinopathy of prematurity, which can result in blindness. A review article discusses how researchers and clinicians have found the right balance between high and low oxygen supplementation for newborns.

Over 7,000 people attended the meeting in Las Vegas this week.

Ed Paiewonsky, Director, Medical Outcomes Science Liaison at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, discussed results of the Alnylam Rare Disease Trend report at this year's Asembia Specialty Pharmacy Summit.

But payers may be putting undue emphasis on interchangeability, said a panelist at session on biosimilars at the 2023 Asembia Specialty Pharmacy Summit.

Adam Fein, Ph.D., talked about some surprising trends in specialty pharmacy and healthcare at the 2023 Asembia Specialty Pharmacy Summit. The number of specialty pharmacy locations may be peaking. And that "gross-to-net bubble" in drug prices that Fein has written about so much — well, it may be shrinking.

“It was like, we’re going to take off your head, we are going to come after you,” said Seema Verma, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Administrator in the Trump administration, during an on-stage interview at the 2023 Asembia Specialty Pharmacy Summit.

A relatively small number of cell and gene therapies have become a clinical reality. But now the specialty pharmacy industry, and healthcare more generally, is bracing for a wave of cell and gene therapies that will force change and adaption. And, yes, the new therapies will be extremely costly.

A little-known provision of the Inflation Reduction Act will allow people with Part D coverage to "smooth out" their annual out-of-pocket costs as an average payment over months.

Daybue (trofinetide) is the first treatment for Rett syndrome. The pivotal trial for treatment for a lifelong condition was only 12 weeks long.

More PBM legislation, Medicaid work requirements are a hot topic, low-value care's main culprits

Biden's bid for re-election, AHIP takes on Pharma and the digital health's equity problems

The Senate Finance Committee released a framework for legislation this week, and the leaders of the “big three” PBMs are scheduled to be witnesses at another committee's hearing about insulin prices on May 10.

CDC researchers estimate an almost 50% decrease in those with uncovered costs associated with HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP). More people who are PrEP eligible have insurance and the cost of PrEP has declined.

Medicare Advantage plans have been associated with increased screening rates. But managed care tactics and narrow networks may be a disadvantage for people needing care.

Researchers compared cardiac effects of waking people up every hour to limiting them to five hours of sleep.

The National Sleep Foundation published a position statement about disparities last year. Earlier this year, researchers reported findings showing that White patients with a diagnosis of insomnia are more likely to be prescribed an FDA-approved medication than Black patients.

A bibliometric analysis shows the annual number of published studies has increased from a handful to more than 60. Most studied are the sleep tracking apps.

A study in this month's Health Affairs shows that Medicare Advantage penetration has a ripple effect on the patterns of postacute care usage among those in traditional Medicare. As Medicare Advantage penetration increased, use of postacute care services by beneficiaries in traditional Medicare decreased.

Former CEO Corey McCann, M.D., Ph.D., pointed a finger at payers.

A Senate Finance Committee hearing yesterday was the latest in a series of hearings and announcements featuring sharp condemnation of the business practices of the large pharmacy benefit managers.

Specialty drugs are expected to comprise 80% of the FDA approvals this year. Among them are gene therapies for hemophilia A and Duchenne muscular dystrophy priced at between $2 million and $3 million.

Coverage decisions about prescription digital therapeutics may take payers out of their comfort zones and require new processes and subject matter experts, according to members of a panel at the AMCP annual meeting. But P&T committees are likely to still be central to the process.

They are the trendy way to lose weight and payers have been noticing an increase in GLP-1 claims. An analysis of the pharmacy and healthcare claims of a small commercial health plan in Texas documents the growth in the off-label usage of the GLP-1s, such as Ozempic, for weight loss.

The IQVIA vice president sees trouble for generics manufacturers, but painted a bright picture for biosimilars during his keynote address at the annual meeting of the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP).

When asked for solutions in better managing expensive drug costs, Michelle Booth of Magellan suggests a "mortgage-like" payment that could help make these therapies, which are covered under medical benefits, more accessible and affordable. Because there aren't many gene therapies out there just yet in the market, there hasn't been much pressure in offering discounts through value-based contracts to patients. Though, more discussions on this initiative are happening, Andy Killpack also of Magellan, said in the second-part of a two part AMCP annual meeting video series.

Magellan's Michelle Booth and Andy Killpack presented today at the annual AMCP meeting in San Antonio to discuss equitable access to recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) gene therapy as there are currently many barriers patients face toward treatment. Booth, senior director of specialty clinical solutions, claims though cost plays a significance in access, there are much more barriers from education to income that lead to inequities. Killpack and booth share solutions and other gene therapies expected to come to market.

The co-anchor of Good Morning America spoke about her experience when she was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome.

Costs have always figured into drug coverage decisions, but value assessments have become a separate and more formalized part of the process at payer organizations, said members of a panel on value frameworks at the 2023 AMCP annual meeting. The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) came up often during the discussion.

A pavilion devoted to prescription digital therapeutics and an educational track devoted to biosimilars are new this year.