News

Few feel prepared for March deadline

Long-term intervention encompasses entire lifetime

Capitalize on industry changes in 2014

FDA has rejected alemtuzumab (Lemtrada, Genzyme, a Sanofi company) for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis.

NEJM researchers find the reasons behind the slowdown

Consumers have another 24 hours to shop and sign up

The newly enrolled individuals to the healthcare exchanges will be faced with higher out-of-pocket costs for their medications than those who receive insurance through their employers, according to an analysis by Avalere Health of more than 600 health plans in the exchanges.

Insurers face yet another about-face to accommodate consumers

Amneal Pharmaceuticals will start shipping its branded Esomeprazole Strontium 49.3 mg delayed-release capsules on December 18 to three major U.S. wholesalers. Its capsules contain the same active ingredient, esomeprazole, in a different salt form as found in Nexium (esomeprazole magnesium).

US life expectancy for people with cancer hit another all-time high, rising over 50 million life-years (LYS) after diagnosis, according to statistics collected through the Value of Medical Innovation initiative, led by the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest (CMPI).

Manufacturers of antibacterial hand soap and body wash will be required to show that their products are more effective than plain soap and water in preventing illness and the spread of infection, under a FDA-proposed rule.

Cloud, mobile, healthcare analytics and technology create new possibilities for better medical intelligence, benefits design and care.

Individuals diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) more recently experienced decreased disability and psychological problems than those treated 20 years ago. While treatment strategies have helped, researchers attribute the positive effects to greater physical activity and encouragement of a worthwhile life by healthcare professionals.

The data is not necessarily perfect

Chronically ill patients in last years of life account for 32% of total Medicare spending.

Best practices from the retail sector that can help plans revitalize their consumer relationships.

Children hospitalized for pneumonia have similar outcomes, including length of stay and costs, regardless of whether they are treated with “big gun” antibiotics such as ceftriaxone or cefotaxime or more narrowly focused antibiotics such as ampicillin or penicillin, according to a Vanderbilt study published in Pediatrics.

More attention needs to be paid to patients who are at the verge of risk.

CVS Caremark and Cardinal Health are about to become the single biggest supplier of generic drugs in the United States.

Diabetes was associated with an increased risk for developing hepatocellular carcinoma, a type of liver cancer, and this association was highest for Latinos, followed by Hawaiians, African-Americans, and Japanese-Americans, according to results presented here at the Sixth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved, held Dec. 6-9, in Atlanta.

Patients had better experiences and fewer problems in health information, care coordination, and psychological and social care.

Even those that don't pay in full could be covered on January 1

Diabetes patients under 65 had significantly fewer emergency room visits when using mail order pharmacy.

Plans see partially accurate 834s

Slow down due to changes in the behavior of beneficiaries and providers.

Better Care Team Collaboration and Productivity with Secure Mobile Messaging, sponsored by DrFirst

New mandate ensures that plans cover mental health and addiction services in the same way they treat other medical issues.

On December 6, FDA approved Sovaldi (sofosbuvir) tablets for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infection as a component of a combination antiviral treatment regimen.

A specific type of diabetes drug can decrease the risk of cancer in female patients with type 2 diabetes up to 32%, according to a study published in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism. People with type 2 diabetes have a higher rate of cancer development and recurrence compared to the general population.

Drugs are free of interferon and aim to shorten treatment time