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HMO pharmacy copay comparison

TUBERCULOSIS (TB), a chronic bacterial infection, is one of the world's oldest infectious diseases. It spreads through the air and usually infects the lungs, although other organs may also be involved.

Best practices indicate that health benefits are continued during employee and CEO transitions

In The Sprawling Surroundings of Oklahoma City sits a microcosm of what many stakeholders want for healthcare's future. The Oklahoma Heart Hospital, a 78-bed cardiac specialty hospital, offers the latest in high-tech medicine complemented by high-touch patient care.

A review of agents in late-stage development for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders (June 2005).

Post-operative ileus causes significant patient morbidity and is a major contributor to patient discomfort and increased length of hospitalization post-operatively. Alvimopan (Entereg, Adolor/GlaxoSmithKline), a peripherally selective opioid mu receptor antagonist with gastrointestinal (GI) tract-specific activity, is undergoing FDA review for the treatment of post-operative ileus.

Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory dermatologic disease that can have a significant physical and psychological impact on affected patients.

Health plans step up to deliver effective, reliable, cost-effective communications

One plan puts Web power to work and reduces call center volume

Discover how data systems provide efficiencies in business intelligence

June DTR Analysis: Uncovering administrative barriers

CEO Don Hall leads Colorado Access, a Medicare/Medicaid plan that delivers individual management for big-picture health and lifestyle solutions. Intensive care managers help bring down costs for the neediest members.

How physician prescribing is controlled.

The accreditation process influences quality business improvement and has value beyond an organization seal of approval. Experts say the cost of low quality far exceeds the cost of the accreditation process.

Providers may want to be aware of changes published by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that substantially overhaul the appeals process, in part, to reduce the time frames for adjudicating fee-for-service Medicare claims appeals. A process that now exceeds 1,000 days must be reduced to 300 days.

Maybe we're encouraged by recent steps forward to harmonize our disconnected healthcare system (through proposed health information networks, for example) but there is still so much more to do.

The new independent Drug Safety Oversight Board (DSB) within CDER will employ a two-pronged approach to create "a new culture of openness, improved oversight, and enhanced independence," according to FDA officials.

A review of agents in late-stage development for the treatment of hepatitis (May 2005).

New regulations proposed by the California state Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) that are expected to be implemented by the end of this year would require HMOs in California to cover all medically necessary prescription drugs, even if they are excluded from a plan's formulary.

The new independent Drug Safety Oversight Board (DSB) within CDER will employ a two-pronged approach to create "a new culture of openness, improved oversight, and enhanced independence," according to FDA officials.

Analyses of 3 retrospective databases found that warfarin is much less effective at preventing strokes in the real world in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation (AF) than it is in clinical trials. The retrospective data were reported at the ASA's International Stroke Conference 2005.

Tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis vaccine, adsorbed (Tdap) (Boostrix, GlaxoSmithKline) for vaccination against tetanus, diptheria, and pertussis

Clopidogrel reduces 28-day mortality in the treatment of patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) when given on top of standard therapies, but metoprolol has no effect on in-hospital mortality when given during the acute phase of MI.

In-lesion restenosis is similar between the sirolimus-eluting stent (Cypher) and the paclitaxel-eluting stent (Taxus) when used for the treatment of routine coronary artery stenoses, but the sirolimus-eluting stent may offer an advantage in patients with diabetes, according to a study reported at the ACC Annual Scientific Session 2005.

An antihypertensive therapeutic strategy that starts with the calcium antagonist amlodipine is superior to one starting with the beta-blocker atenolol in preventing coronary heart disease (CHD) events, Peter S. Sever, MD, reported at the ACC Annual Scientific Session 2005.

Atorvastatin 80 mg/d is associated with better cardiovascular outcomes than atorvastatin 10 mg/d in patients with stable coronary heart disease (CHD), according to John LaRosa, MD, who presented the results of the Treating to New Targets (TNT) study at the ACC Annual Scientific Session 2005.

The angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) eprosartan is superior to the calcium antagonist nitrendipine in secondary stroke prophylaxis in patients with hypertension, Hans-Christian Diener, MD, reported at the ASA's International Stroke Conference 2005.

Ramelteon (Takeda Pharmaceuticals) is a selective melatonin receptor agonist awaiting FDA approval for the treatment of insomnia. Unlike the currently prescribed hypnotic agents that work by targeting gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors, ramelteon offers a novel mechanism of action, specifically targeting the MT1 and MT2 receptors in the brain, which are thought to play a role in regulating sedation and circadian rhythms. Ramelteon is characterized by undergoing extensive first-pass metabolism along with having high oral bioavailability. Results of phase 2 clinical trials have demonstrated that ramelteon-treated patients had significantly shorter sleep onset latencies and longer total sleep times than placebo-treated patients. Furthermore, ramelteon therapy did not appear to impair patient cognition, memory recall, levels of alertness, or ability to concentrate. Data from animal studies suggest that ramelteon is not likely to cause abuse or physical dependence. Unlike the current FDA-approved..

First once-monthly therapy approved for treatment and prevention of osteoporosis

Cost management attributes compared