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Buy-in at every level is imperative for long-term impact

Follow these suggestions to cut costs while maintaining quality of care.

Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is among the most feared adverse effects associated with cancer treatment.1 The likelihood of patients experiencing this entity depends on both patient-related and treatment-related factors. Not all chemotherapeutic products induce equivalent amounts of CINV resulting in the formation of groups contingent on the frequency of CINV in patients receiving a product without antiemetic prophylaxis

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has recommended that when available, the needle-free, nasal flu vaccine (Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine [LAIV]) should be used for healthy children aged 2 to 8 years, who have no contraindications or precautions.

The driving force behind consumer cost-sharing provisions for specialty medications is the acquisition cost and not clinical value. This appears to be true for almost all public and private health plans, says a new report from researchers at the University of Michigan Center for Value-Based Insurance Design (V-BID Center) and the National Pharmaceutical Council (NPC).

FDA approved insulin human Inhalation Powder (Afrezza, MannKind), a rapid-acting inhaled insulin to improve glycemic control in adults with diabetes mellitus.

The justices' 5-4 decision is the first time the high court has ruled in favor of for-profit businesses holding religious views under federal law

By 2018, specialty drug expenses will comprise 60% of all drug spend, 3 times more than 2014, according to Prime Therapeutics 2014 Report on prescription drug cost analysis.

Utilize pharmacy benefit tools and member engagement strategies

As more people enroll in the exchanges, a more portable and innovative workforce will take shape

ACA’s emphasis on accountable care organizations, patient-centered medical homes, readmission penalties and pricing pressures on hospitals makes it attractive for hospitals to work together to share services and increase the efficiencies

Lifestyle factors may help predict whether people will adhere to statin therapy for high cholesterol, according to a study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

FDA has approved antibacterial drug tedizolid phosphate (Sivextro, Cubist Pharmaceuticals to treat adults with skin infections.

Teen suicide attempts went up about 22% after FDA warned about dangers of antidepressants, according to a study published in the June 18 BMJ.

FDA is requiring manufacturers of all approved testosterone products to include a warning in the drug labeling about the risk of blood clots in the veins, also known as venous thromboembolism (VTE), including deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE).

In pregnancy, first trimester use of antidepressants does not substantively increase the risk of specific cardiac defects in babies, and should not be an important consideration in the treatment decision, according to a study published in the June 19 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

An extended-release formulation of topiramate (Qudexy XR, Upsher-Smith Laboratories) has been shown to be sale and effective in refractory epilepsy patients in a global phase 3 clinical trial.

American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions in San Francisco, showed that investigational, non-insulin, once-weekly dulaglutide 1.5 mg provided significant blood glucose control for patients with type 2 diabetes.

Pharmacy benefits managers are paying attention to medications that specifically target children

Sanofi and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals presented positive results from a phase 3 trial of investigational drug sarilumab in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who were inadequate responders to methotrexate (MTX) therapy at the European League Against Rheumatism Annual Congress (EULAR 2014) Congress in Paris, France.

LY2963016 insulin glargine has a similar safety and efficacy profile to currently marketed insulin glargine, according to data recently presented the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Scientific Sessions in San Francisco.

In a 52-week study of obese adults with type 2 diabetes on high insulin doses with or without metformin, adding empagliflozin to multiple daily insulin injections significantly reduced blood glucose and body weight with lower insulin doses compared with placebo, according to data recently presented at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Scientific Sessions in San Francisco.

In a 2-year study, empagliflozin as add-on to metformin demonstrated significantly greater decreases in hemoglobin A1c (a measure of average blood glucose over the past 2 to 3 months), body weight and blood pressure compared with glimepiride as add-on to metformin in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Approaches include the enlistment of care coordination programs and overhauling existing chronic care models

A pertussis (whooping cough) epidemic has been declared in California, according to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH).

Size of the increase often relates to the percentage of market share a plan has achieved

Ipilimumab (Yervoy, Bristol-Myers Squibb) significantly improved recurrence-free survival in patients with stage 3 melanoma in the adjuvant setting, compared to placebo, according to data presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in Chicago.

Unhydrogenated, unsaturated vegetable oils, such as canola oil, can have health advantages when included in as part of a low-glycemic index (GI) diet in people with type 2 diabetes, according to research presented at American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions in San Francisco, and published in Diabetes Care.

Findings project total enrollment will eventually surpass state and federally-funded exchanges, reaching 40 million by 2018