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A legislation was signed today banning transgender minors from receiving gender-affirming care in Tennessee by Gov. Bill Lee. The bill prohibits the minors from receiving altering surgeries and hormone treatments.

Patient groups and lawmakers such as Sen. Bernie Sanders want Sanofi and Novo Nordisk to follow Eli Lilly's example and reduce the prices of their insulin products. Both companies said they already have programs that bring down the cost.

Briana Contreras, an editor of Managed Healthcare Executive, chats with Bronwyn Spira, CEO and founder of Force Therapeutics, in this week's episode about CMS' new CPT codes that were introduced in 2022.

Pfizer could soon be the first to offer an RSV vaccine to adults ages 60 and older if the vaccine is fully approved by the Food Drug and Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced proposed permanent rules for the prescribing of controlled medications through telemedicine with new appropriate safeguards.

The healthcare industry needs to better align with consumers around this notion and their broader perception of what constitutes value.

Amazon has officially acquired One Medical several months after the merger was first announced in July 2022. Together, the organization will work to help more people get better care, when and how they need it.

The FDA approved several new therapies this week, including a weekly hemophilia A treatment, an extended-release version of Austedo, and the first drug for geographic atrophy due to AMD, as well as an accelerated approval to Filspari for rare kidney disease. The agency also indicated it will hold an advisory committee meeting on Onpattro for heart failure indication, granted priority review for Pfizer’s RSV vaccine and for a life-threatening hereditary immune disease, and also set goal date for blurry vision therapy.

Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug, Cost Plus Drugs, company has recently partnered with Diathrive Health in the initiative to improve healthcare access, lowering costs and improving outcomes for those living with diabetes and other chronic diseases.

The global healthcare staffing market size was valued at $40.1 billion USD in 2021 and is projected to reach USD 89.8 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 8.9% from 2022 to 2031.

The American Cancer Society has introduced the American Cancer Society Center for Diversity in Cancer Research Training to address the lack of diversity in research environments. The new center will enhance the traditional academic journey, focusing on meeting potential researchers where they are and helping them overcome barriers to future success.

Does your transition to Alternate Payment Model Performance Pathways (APP) quality reporting have your ACO scrambling for data? No surprise.

Rich Priore, Sc.D., M.H.A., a clinical associate professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at Tulane University addresses how hospitals will be affected on the cost and revenue side after the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency expires May 11.

Cuban, of "Shark Tank' fame and owner of the Dallas Mavericks, called drugs prices ‘insane’ and used some profanity when talking pharmacy benefit managers at the annual meeting of the Association for Accessible Medicines yesterday. Cuban has co-founded an online pharmacy that he says will make drug prices lower and transparent.

The trade association began lobbying in 2019.

Data collected from more than 40,000 practitioners revealed the top healthcare trends that will have the biggest impact on physicians and medical offices in 2023. Among them were patient-centric care, remote patient monitoring and mental healthcare.

Under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, some Medicare telehealth flexibilities will extend until December 31, 2024, though significant questions remain for the future of telehealth, especially in the Medicare program.

The FDA has approved two pediatric indications this week: Takhyzro for hereditary angioedema and Eylea for retinopathy of prematurity. The agency expanded the label of Cibinqo for atopic dermatitis in adolescents, and granted full approval to Jemperli for endometrial cancer. Additionally, the agency has set PDUFA dates for two drugs: reproxalap for dry eye and zuranolone for depression.

Rich Priore, Sc.D., M.H.A., a clinical associate professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at Tulane University, said if Americans invested in health prevention and wellness, fewer would be in hospitals and the cost of care would lower.

Several firms are trying to bring the clinical laboratory to patients’ doorsteps, but the task comes with plenty of challenges.

Our guest on this month’s episode of the “What's on Your Mind” podcast is Margaret Murray, M.P.A., founding CEO of the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP) and a longtime member of Managed Healthcare Executive® editorial advisory board. Murray is an expert on Medicaid and healthcare policies that affect people with low incomes. In the interview with Managing Editor of MHE, Peter Wehrwein, she discusses ACAP’s growth and its legislative wins, Medicaid redetermination, “junk insurance,” and state Medicaid programs carving out pharmacy benefits.

Healthcare leaders are urging the public in a new public service announcement to make sure they are up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccines, including the updated bivalent booster dose when eligible.

The announcement of the $10.6 billion acquisition comes a few months after the company announced it was buying Signify Health, a home health provider, for $8 billion.

In 2023, CVS executives expect revenue in pharmacy services to grow by 1% to 2% driven by generic and biosimilar launches.

In calling for extending the $35 cap on insulin prices to people with private insurance, the president spoke about big pharma making record profits.

An online condition-based care service designed to help people understand if they meet the criteria for progression to severe COVID-19 was launched under the partnership of Pfizer and Ada Health.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a risk factor for what is now the more common type of esophageal cancer, adenocarcinoma. Immunotherapy is coming on strong as a treatment.

The FDA has approved two breast cancer therapies this week: Trodelvy to treat patients with HR+/HER2- breast cancer and Orserdu to treat patients with ER+, HER2-, ESR1-mutated disease. The agency also approved a novel therapy for CKD-related anemia and Tezspire in pre-filled pen.

Evernorth, Cigna’s pharmacy and benefits solutions division, contributed more than 75% of the company’s revenue last year.