Investigational dual bronchodilator improves lung function over single bronchodilators in COPD
May 29th 2015In patients with moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), investigational indacaterol/glycopyrronium (QVA149) bromide significantly improved lung function compared to the single bronchodilators, according to data presented at the American Thoracic Society (ATS) International Conference in Denver, May 15 to 20.
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Proposed Medicaid rule: 7 things health execs should know
May 29th 2015The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed to modernize Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) managed care regulations to update the programs’ rules and strengthen the delivery of quality care for beneficiaries. This proposed rule is the first major update to Medicaid and CHIP managed care regulations in more than 10 years.
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Grassroots FDA partnership aims to reduce heart disease deaths
May 28th 2015FDA has joined nonprofit National Forum for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention to advance the cause of a heart-healthy and stroke-free society in a first-of-its-kind cooperative public education program to reduce the burdens of heart disease and stroke.
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Breast cancer drug research roundup from ASCO
May 28th 2015Among the many poster sessions being presented at the 2015 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in Chicago, IL, are several on the latest trials that are planned to evaluate potential treatment options for breast cancer. These trials include 1 phase 2 study and 3 phase 3 studies.
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High healthcare costs driven by spike in Rx costs
May 26th 2015A significant spike in prescription drug costs helped drive healthcare costs for families covered under an average employer's health insurance plan up an estimated 6.3% in 2015, according to the Milliman Medical Index (MMI) report.
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Harvoni could save US, Europe $3.2 billion
May 26th 2015The higher cure rate of treating hepatitis C patients with a combination of ledipasvir and sofosbuvir (Harvoni) led to substantially better work productivity, according to a new study. In fact, improved work productivity and lack of absenteeism could save the United States and 5 European countries more than $3.2 billion a year.
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Biosimilars need better labeling: Physicians
May 22nd 2015In FDA's 2012 Draft Guidance on Biosimilars, the Agency called for "labeling of a proposed product to include all the information necessary for a health professional to make prescribing decisions," including clear statements of a product's approval as a biosimilar to a reference product and whether or not it has been determined to be interchangeable.
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Ignagni leaves AHIP, speculation on successor begins
May 22nd 2015After more than 20 years with America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) as president and CEO, Karen Ignagni is leaving the organization to become the CEO of New York-based EmblemHealth.She will replace Frank Branchini effective September 1. Branchini, who has served EmblemHealth and its predecessor GHI as president/CEO for 30 years, will continue as the Chair of the Board of Directors.
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Rivaroxaban versus warfarin for NVAF patients scheduled for catheter ablation: New insights
May 20th 2015Nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients taking uninterrupted rivaroxaban or warfarin had a low rate of major bleeding and thromboembolic complications, according to data presented at Heart Rhythm 2015, the Heart Rhythm Society's 36th Annual Scientific Sessions, and published in the European Heart Journal.
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