The Biden administration might implement changes on how it would fund private Medicare Advantage (MA) plans; by the end of 2022, drug shortages increased by almost 30%; the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) is expected to bring major changes to the US health system.

On the first full day of conference activity at AMCP 2023, a morning session examined prior authorization (PA) through a lens of refining the current process and the potential role of clinical trial data in PA criteria.

Panelists at the Value-Based Insurance Design Summit discussed ways their organizations are looking to create a better benefit design to promote health equity and address known disparities.

Recent papers highlight possible role of inflammation in connections between COVID-19, cancer markers.

Protection against COVID-19 and vaccine effectiveness increased after receiving 1 or 2 booster doses compared with a primary series alone, but vaccine effectiveness generally declined as the time since last dose increased.

The survival benefits of immune checkpoint inhibitors varied in young patients versus older patients with advanced non–small-cell lung cancer, a recent study found.

The US organ transplant system might face an overhaul in a proposal to be announced on Wednesday after years of criticism; the FDA may decide whether to approve additional COVID-19 booster vaccinations for vulnerable populations; a new study finds the same, small breast cancer risk in multiple forms of hormonal birth control.

Data from the LIBERTY AD PRESCHOOL trial, and its ongoing open-label extension analysis show that dupilumab is safe and clinically effective, and can lead to statistically significant symptom improvement among patients aged 6 months to 17 years who have moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD).

The risk of second malignancy was similar among patients aged 66 and older who were treated with and without hydroxyurea.

CMS must account for inclusion of COVID years in 2023 ACO REACH benchmarks to avoid unfairly penalizing REACH ACOs.

A prespecified overall survival analysis of the phase 3 ZUMA-7 trial found that axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) led to better outcomes vs the historical standard of care for relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma (R/R LBCL).

American Indians and Alaska Native individuals had lower estimates of incidence of diabetic retinopathy than had been reported.

Following the course of lung function in treatment-naïve patients, researchers found that lung function decline does not accelerate prior to mechanical ventilation.

Minnesota looks to create abortion refuge for patients and providers; Moderna’s expected price single dose of COVID-19 sits at $130; FDA staff sees a "clinical benefit" in Biogen’s ALS drug.

On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we feature several leaders in diversity, equity, and inclusion advancing health equity in their respective organization’s policy and practice initiatives.

Specific dosing regimens of treatments prescribed by blood specialists have not been widely studied, despite the advent of newer hemophilia therapies, the researchers said.

A panel assembled at the American Academy of Dermatology 2023 Annual Meeting encouraged the audience of dermatologists to advocate together for needed changes in payment, access, and practice.

Dermatologists recommended biologics at similar rates in scenarios describing Black, Hispanic, and White patients with moderate to severe psoriasis.

Topics to be addressed at the annual conference, which will bring more than 1900 attendees to Kissimmee, Florida, include the Enhancing Oncology Model, efforts to regulate pharmacy benefit managers, and 340B reform.

Subanalyses of data from the LIBERTY PN-PRIME and LIBERTY PN-PRIME2 studies illustrate how dupilumab for prurigo nodularis can better patient outcomes, including quality of life and symptom burden.

Candida auris was first reported in the United States in 2016; the highly contagious fungal infection has been labeled an “urgent threat” by the CDC, and its spread may have aided by underresourced public health systems.

The patient received a diagnosis of myasthenia gravis (MG), then underwent a medical odyssey as physicians attempted to pin down the cause of his neurological symptoms.

Gov. Mark Gordon sings a ban on the use of abortion pills in Wyoming; a new study shows that Affordable Care Act has reduced racial disparities in health care; California Gov. Gavin Newsom announces a contract to make affordable insulin.

A substantial proportion of families of privately insured children with sickle cell anemia pay more than $100 for essential stroke screenings, a high-value service.

In a real-world clinical setting, tildrakizumab demonstrated safety and satisfaction among patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.