News

Antiviral drug oseltamavir (Tamiflu, Roche) shortens the length of flu symptoms by about 1 day, and reduces respiratory infections that sometimes develop by 44%, according to a study published in The Lancet.

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) has issued 6 new funding announcements offering up to $138 million in support for studies comparing how well different approaches to care work for patients given their particular circumstances and concerns.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently issued a final rule that updates requirements and strengthens program integrity efforts.

Public and private insurers are seizing the opportunity to devise programs that promote preventive care and positive behaviors.

The demand for price transparency in healthcare continues to grow, spurred in part by the increase of high-deductible healthcare plans.

The percentage of employers and plans offering wellness incentives is steadily rising, and program designs are becoming more diverse.

Payers recognize a growing need for more comprehensive payment methodologies that adequately represent the true market cost of health services today.

Two recent studies show that members who obtain health insurance through state or federal insurance exchanges use more specialty and generic drugs than their counterparts in commercial plans.

FDA has expanded the approved use of ranibizumab (Lucentis, Genentech) to treat diabetic retinopathy in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME).

It is possible to get treatments to stroke patients even before they arrive at a hospital, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Managed care and hospital decision-makers are in a key position to “move the needle” at the system level on improving adult immunization coverage rates in the United States.

After six years on the job, FDA commissioner Margaret Hamburg, MD, is resigning from her position. Her tenure has ushered in personalized medicine and faster approval of several drug classes.

Non-medication strategies were effective in hospital patients with delirium, according a new study published in the February 2 edition of the JAMA Internal Medicine.

A reprieve has been granted for Medicare beneficiaries who may have been confused or misinformed about the pharmacy details of their 2015 Aetna prescription drug plans.

In what may be the biggest breach in healthcare, as many as 80 million records of current and former Anthem customers have been hacked, The New York Times reported.

FDA has approved olopatadine hydrochloride ophthalmic solution (Pazeo, Alcon, a division of Novartis) 0.7% for the treatment of ocular itch relief related to eye allergies.

Ibrance is a potent and selective inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) 4 and 6, which complex with a regulatory protein, called cyclin, to control cancer cell cycling. The FDA has approved it for use in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer.

FDA approved TissuGlu (Cohera Medical Inc.), the first tissue adhesive approved for internal use.

Diabetic non-smokers taking metformin have a lower lung cancer risk compared with those who do not take metformin, according to a study published in Cancer Prevention Research.

Given the spending growth projections for biologics, successful managed care organizations must find a way to ensure appropriate adoption of biosimilars, according to a study published in Health Affairs’ February issue.

Many patients hospitalized with severe heart failure are receiving potentially harmful treatment with intravenous fluids, according to a Yale-led study, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC): Heart Failure

A group of the top U.S. health systems, payers and stakeholders has formed the Health Care Transformation Task Force, a private-sector alliance aimed at accelerating the healthcare industry's transformation to value-based care

Recognizing the potential impact of customer loyalty programs on local economies, Medical Mutual of Ohio has rolled out a program that rewards employees for 'buying local.'

FDA has approved a new formulation of Zohydro ER (Zogenix) with BeadTek.

The first-in-class combined medication for improving glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes has been approved by FDA.

FDA actions in brief, priority review, breakthrough designations, orphan drug designations

More than one-third of reproductive-aged women enrolled in Medicaid, and more than a quarter of those with private insurance, filled a prescription for an opioid pain medication each year during 2008 to 2012, according to a recent report in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).

FDA approved lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (Vyvanse, Shire) Capsules (CII), the first and only medication for the treatment of moderate to severe binge eating disorder (BED) in adults, shown to significantly reduce the mean number of binge days per week.

Statin treatment reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease in women, according to a large international study, published in The Lancet.

Hydrocodone bitartrate (Hysingla ER, Purdue Pharma) extended-release tablets CII is now commercially available.