News

Drugs can be managed through the medical benefit or the pharmacy benefit

Experts expect all 50 states to be up and running on time

Infrastructure needed to ensure organizations live up to the promise of ACOs

New care models and federal requirements motivate HIE stakeholders

Big data can lead to improved outcomes

FDA committees are examining DTC genetic tests that make medical claims

When there's no rhyme or reason, prices spiral out of control

States contract with plans to cover expanded populations, many of which need high-cost care

Medicines that better control glucose and more efficient dosing needed

Medicare Advantage plans must comply with CMS regulations

Short-term impact of exchanges is certain for individual and small group markets

With their unique roles, pharmacists are moving away from being drug dispensers to becoming consultants in ACO models

Experts and economists are looking at healthcare through the lens of their own ideologies

Plans will see the most cost reductions on the medical side of the ledger, but there are still opportunities to reduce administrative waste

Differentiate between products and offer guidance to compare costs

Aetna believes its new fertility program will improve the chances of conception for infertile couples, while controlling costs

With the Medicare star program, plans stand to gain bonus pay when their network providers do well on performance measures

Catalyst for Payment Reform has released a national scorecard describing the current state of value-oriented payment, finding that about 11% of commercial payments are tied to value

FDA has approved rabeprazole sodium (AcipHex Sprinkle, Eisai) Delayed-Release capsules 5 mg and 10 mg for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in children ages 1 to 11 years of age for up to 12 weeks.

FDA approved dimethyl fumarate (Tecfidera, Biogen Idec) capsules for the treatment of adults with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), including the most common form, relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), according to an FDA statement on March 27.

FDA approved tobramycin inhalation powder (TOBI Podhaler, Novartis) for the management of cystic fibrosis patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa), a bacterium that causes lung infections.

Managed care and hospital decision-makers should consider that biological drugs are different from traditional drugs in terms of their complexity and there is potential for problems to arise when manufacturing is not strictly controlled. Furthermore, biological medicines are more difficult to characterize, produce, and reproduce than most traditional pharmaceuticals. This, in turn, can affect the medicine’s quality, safety, or efficacy, and can ultimately impact the reliability of supply, according to a presentation at the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association’s annual conference in Los Angeles, in March.

Patients with type 2 diabetes achieved 6% weight loss with liraglutide 3 mg in a phase 3a obesity trial, according to Novo Nordisk.

The Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) is urging US House leaders to consider a number of proposals to rein in federal spending on healthcare without compromising the popular programs of Medicare and Medicaid.

Med Prep Consulting, Inc., a compounding pharmacy in Tinton Falls, NJ, is voluntarily recalling all lots of compounded products from its facility for fear of mold contamination, according to an FDA press release.

Diabetes drugs including exenatide (Byetta, Bydureon), liraglutide (Victoza), sitagliptin (Januvia, Janumet, Janumet XR, Juvisync), saxagliptin (Onglyza, Kombiglyze XR), alogliptin (Nesina, Kazano, Oseni), and linagliptin (Tradjenta, Jentadueto) are being evaluated by FDA for a potential link to pancreatitis and precancerous changes of the pancreas.

FDA approved (technetium Tc 99m tilmanocept (Lymphoseek, Navidea Biopharmaceuticals) Injection, a radioactive diagnostic imaging agent that helps doctors locate lymph nodes in patients with breast cancer or melanoma who are undergoing surgery to remove tumor-draining lymph nodes.

The use of extended-release niacin as an adjunct to statins does not reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke in patients with pre-existing cardiovascular disease, according to researchers who led the HPS2-THRIVE study. The results of the study were reported at the American College of Cardiology conference in San Francisco on March 9.

After receiving input from more than 80 institutions across the United States, the American Society of Health Systems Pharmacists (ASHP) and the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) developed a new medication management care transition guide.