Social Security and Medicare spending could double by 2023; FDA panel experts want naloxone to be available over the counter after the drug information is revised; Moderna announced its COVID-19 vaccines will stay free, and the Biden administration might keep tests and treatments free for the uninsured.
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Some communities will use COVID relief money to pay medical debt; residents living near train car derailment site in Ohio are worried about toxic chemical health effects; following medical guidelines point by point would create impossibly long workdays for providers, studies are pointing out.
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Dr Linda D. Bradley Highlights Disparities in Diagnosis, Treatment for Endometriosis
February 15th 2023Women of color have a longer journey to diagnosis for endometriosis and uterine fibroids, have fewer resources to access care, and receive different treatments than White women, said Linda D. Bradley, MD, of Cleveland Clinic.
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Improving Quality of Life for Patients With Atopic Dermatitis
February 14th 2023By following FDA treatment guidelines, care for patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) is not typically affected by step therapy, quantity limits, or prior authorization, explained Jerry Bagel, MD, director of the Eczema Treatment Center of New Jersey.
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HHS wants to require nursing homes to disclose more ownership and management information; privacy advocates warn that mental health data can legally be sold from certain platforms not covered by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act; the FDA won’t review Soligenix’s cancer drug proposal because of an insufficient application.
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China’s angry reaction after spy balloon retrieval rouses drug supply chain anxiety; after allegedly overcharging California’s Medi-Cal program, managed care company Centene will pay millions in a settlement; major drug companies are chasing new pharma deals amidst dropping patent exclusivity.
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Biden’s State of the Union (SOTU) address emphasized drug access for those on Medicare, the Cancer Moonshot, and more; HIV diagnoses are increasing in Washington, DC, from missed wellness visits and preventive visits upended during the start of COVID-19; California online women’s pharmacy The Pill Club will pay $18.3 million in Medicaid fraud settlement with California.
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CVS Health Corp. is nearing a $10.5 billion deal to take on Oak Street Health Inc.; an innovative cystic fibrosis drug that can lengthen life expectancy for patients is blocked by high costs and unavailability in low-income countries; New York City will end the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for city workers.
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Dr Lucio Gordan Outlines the Treatment Paradigm for KRAS-Positive NSCLC
February 6th 2023Being able to treat patients with non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and a KRAS mutation with sotorasib has been exciting, and now there’s another drug available with the approval of adagrasib at the end of 2022, explained Lucio Gordan, MD, of Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute.
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What We’re Reading: Child RSV Shot Disparities; Hospital Transparency Compliance; Abortion Pill Bans
February 6th 2023A pediatric shot for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) may not be covered as a free routine vaccine; hospitals fail to comply with payment transparency rules; the fate of abortion pills is in the hands of conservative judges
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What We’re Reading: Eyedrops Recalled; Inaccessible Weight Loss Drugs; Doctor, GOP Governor Spar
February 3rd 2023CDC warns against EzriCare Artificial Tears, which were recalled by the manufacturer; certain weight loss drugs not covered by most payers; Mississippi's Republican governor denies being privately in support of Medicaid expansion.
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Merck & Co. and Eli Lilly & Co. report sales loss for COVID-19 treatments; Republican state attorneys general tell CVS and Walgreens that mailing mifepristone might break the law; exposure to air pollution over time is associated with a rise in incidence of depression and anxiety.
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Pharmaceutical companies will not refund prepayments made by global organization Gavi for COVID-19 vaccines it no longer needs; following the countrywide baby formula shortage of 2022, the FDA looks to consolidate food division leadership; a province in Canada starts a 3-year drug decriminalization program to try to reduce drug overdose deaths.
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The government is allowing Medicare Advantage (MA) plans to delay returning hundreds of millions of dollars or more in government overpayments; a proposed new extension of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) might make birth control coverage more accessible for certain private insurance plans; a study found that students lost around 33% of their school year because of the pandemic’s educational barriers and are struggling to regain that lost time.
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Dr Ayman Al-Hendy Outlines Evolving Treatment Options, Unmet Needs in Endometriosis
January 27th 2023The newest treatment option for endometriosis has benefits over the previous ones available, but there remains a need for a fertility-friendly option, said Ayman Al-Hendy, MD, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Chicago Medicine.
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After 3 years of continuous enrollment due to the pandemic, those on Medicaid will need to sign up again for coverage in April; fears about heavy metal levels in baby food prompt FDA to decrease lead exposure; long COVID is keeping large numbers of people out of work or needing medical care after returning.
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Eli Lilly will tack on $450 million more to increase capacity in a diabetes drug plant in light of shortages; patients emailing and messaging medical providers online might be charged; 57% of adults in a recent survey think that the federal government should secure health care coverage for all Americans.
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An Overview of the Treatment Landscape for Patients With Atopic Dermatitis: Dr Jerry Bagel
January 20th 2023Despite a recent influx of new treatments, it is crucial to remind patients there is no cure for atopic dermatitis and follow-up care is important, explained Jerry Bagel, MD, director of the Eczema Treatment Center of New Jersey.
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What We’re Reading: US Hits Debt Limit; More Oversight of Organics; Drug-Resistant Gonorrhea
January 20th 2023As the country hits the debt limit spending on Medicare and Medicaid may be at risk; the Agriculture Department targets fraudulent claims in products labeled as organic; first cases of drug-resistant gonorrhea strain found.
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