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The Potential Role of PCSK9 Inhibitors for Patients With Hyperlipidemia
John A. Johnson, MD, MBA: The PCSK9 (proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9) inhibitors are fairly new medications that have become available, and, again, as we’ve mentioned earlier, the statins are also available.
We’ve seen that even with maximum statin therapy with drugs such as Crestor or Lipitor (at the maximum dose), it’s still a challenge for some clinicians to get their hyperlipidemic patients to an LDL (low-density lipoprotein) below goal. Again, the goal depends on the risks the patient has. But, in general, an LDL below 100 would be acceptable for a diabetic or below 70 for a diabetic with heart disease.
So, it’s oftentimes difficult to push the statin to a high enough dose without causing some of the safety or tolerability concerns [for] the patient. You may have to move toward a combination therapy, and newer agents are becoming available. At the health plan [level], we make those medications available when we’ve seen documentation that other medications are less effective.
Examining Low-Value Cancer Care Trends Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic
April 25th 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with the authors of a study published in the April 2024 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® about their findings on the rates of low-value cancer care services throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Shelly Lanning on How Employers Can Reduce Costs by Bridging Gaps in Women's Health Care
May 3rd 2024In a presentation at the Greater Philadelphia Business Coalition on Health Women’s Health Summit, Shelly Lanning, cofounder and president of Visana Health, addressed the need for comprehensive approaches in women’s health care and their coverage options.
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Navigating Health Literacy, Social Determinants, and Discrimination in National Health Plans
February 13th 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with the authors of a study published in the February 2024 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® about their findings on how health plans can screen for health literacy, social determinants of health, and perceived health care discrimination.
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Initiating BP Medication Linked to Higher Fall, Fracture Risks in Nursing Home Residents
May 2nd 2024Among over 60,000 nursing home residents who initiated antihypertensive medication, rates of excess fractures due to falls per 100 person-years were as high as 5 among certain patient groups, such as those with dementia and high blood pressure (BP).
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