News

Health IT will enable a sweeping transformation.

Just as national health reform fervor began to wane in Washington in recent weeks, California's state senate approved a bill to create a $200 billion, single-payer, government-run state health system. Ugh.

There are pros and cons of posting UM criteria online. Information can be helpful, but it can also open up a can of worms.

Costs for the most popular types of healthcare coverage are projected to increase at double-digit rates for 2010.

Cardiovascular disease is the greatest health threat to women in the United States.

Heterogenity is a huge hurdle for healthcare organizations that hope to capitalize on the wealth of data they possess.

A health plan's approach to provider reimbursement is rooted in the need to move from traditional fee-for-service models to a payment model that accounts for providers adhering to best practices.

Insurance exchanges will not exist in a vacuum; they will touch every part of the healthcare system and require substantial changes to the way payers do business.

UnitedHealthcare has completed the acquisition of the Northeast's licensed subsidiaries of Health Net and has obtained rights to renew Health Net's membership in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey.

As patient access to electronic medical records takes shape, many questions remain.

CIGNA International will develop and offer individual private medical insurance (PMI) for citizens in countries outside the United States as well as to individual expatriates and high net worth individuals.

A study recently conducted by US Oncology and Aetna found that evidence-based care for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) resulted in an average cost savings of 35% over 12 months while demonstrating equivalent health outcomes.

Currently, exenatide is the only FDA-approved GLP-1 receptor agonist and its use is limited by the need for twice-daily injections. A long-acting release formulation of exenatide is being evaluated in clinical trials to assess effects on glucose control and patient quality of life.

Postmenopausal osteoporosis is a worldwide health concern associated with significant complications including fracture, disability, and mortality. The economic burden of this disease is substantial and is expected to increase significantly as the population ages. It is becoming increasingly important to identify patients who will benefit from available and emerging therapies for the prevention and/or treatment of osteoporosis.

Agents in late-stage development for renal disease

Recent FDA action (through February 2010) related to Ceftobiprole, Carglumic acid, Miglustat, Nebivolol, Myocet, Pirfenidone, Davunetide, BiovaxID, EpiCept, CP-4126

In less than 1 full year at the helm of FDA, Margaret (Peggy) Hamburg has worked to reposition FDA as a public health agency able to ensure the safety and quality of the nation's food supply and medical products.

Recent FDA approvals (through February 2010) related to Ampyra, Victoza, Actemra, Tropazone, Morphine sulfate oral solution, Fluzone High-Dose

After completing a review of available tiotropium bromide inhalation powder (Spiriva HandiHaler, Pfizer) data, FDA released an updated communication, stating that in the regulatory body's opinion, available data does not support an association between the use of tiotropium, a commonly prescribed daily treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and an increased risk of stroke, heart attack, or cardiovascular death.

Therapeutic strategies involving early conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs or early biologics are preferred in treating very early rheumatoid arthritis, but the additional costs of early biologics may not be justified for all patients, according to a recent study reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

New molecular entity: Vigabatrin (Sabril) was approved as an adjunctive treatment of refractory complex partial seizures in adults who have responded inadequately to several alternative treatments; and as monotherapy for pediatric patients with infantile spasms.

Generic drugs approved by FDA (through February 2010): Donepezil hydrochloride orally disintegrating tablets, Ibutilide fumarate injection, Risperidone orally disintegrating tablets in 0.5-mg, 2-mg, 3-mg, and 4-mg strengths

A dosage of losartan of 150 mg/day is superior to 50 mg/day for the treatment of patients with congestive heart failure (CHF).

Lenalidomide plus high-dose dexamethasone compared with lenalidomide plus low-dose dexamethasone did not result in superior time to progression, progression-free survival, or overall survival in patients with newly diagnosed myeloma, according to a recent trial.

Extended-release niacin proved better than ezetimibe in favorably changing carotid intima-media thickness, a measure of atherosclerosis, in high-risk patients who were already receiving a statin.

New molecular entity: Ecallantide (Kalbitor) was approved in December 2009, to treat hereditary angioedema (HAE).

Middle-aged (35 to 54 years) women are gaining ground on their male counterparts in their prevalence of myocardial infarction (MI) and their cardiovascular risk factor scores, according to an examination of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) over time.

Kasier Permanente is concerned that its physicians will be cut out of FDA programs

Here's a case where the payers were willing to talk, but the hospitals weren't

Insurers are no longer shy about letting members comment on care experiences