AJMC Staff

Lawmakers cross-examined pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) representatives during a Congressional hearing; the proportion of hospital inpatients covered by private Medicare Advantage (MA) plans is rapidly increasing; public health officials are concerned after poliovirus was found in sewage samples from Gaza.

Efforts to regulate social media for youth face resistance; MK-1654 meets key goals in mid-to-late stage trial; active drug shortages remain above 300 for sixth consecutive quarter.

New rules aim to curb insurance brokers and protect consumers; data highlights surge in post-pandemic hospital-onset infections; President Biden’s decision to step down highlights Harris’ stance on health care reform and equity.

Rising COVID-19 cases are attributed to travel, heatwaves, and new variants; an analysis highlights challenges in states not expanding Medicaid; the FDA notes health risks despite marketing authorization for popular e-cigarettes.

Misleading ads are under scrutiny for their role in signing up consumers for Affordable Care Act (ACA) coverage without their permission; Sen Elizabeth Warren (D, Massachusetts) said there are enough votes in the Senate to suspend the filibuster to codify Roe v Wade in 2025 with a Democratic majority; women with endometriosis have about a fourfold risk of developing ovarian cancer.

Almost half of all Americans struggle to afford quality health care and prescription medications; the cyberattack on UnitedHealth Group's Change Healthcare unit will cost the company between $2.3 billion and $2.45 billion in 2024; CMS releases the final part 2 guidance for plan outreach and education for the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan.

Senate Democrats are meeting with Novo Nordisk executives to address the decision to stop selling a long-acting insulin in the country; research is attempting to prove the health benefits of new weight loss drugs beyond weight loss abilities in order to reimburse expensive medications; Vertex Pharmaceuticals is suing HHS over financial support of its gene-editing therapy.

Up to one-third of Americans have been affected by data stolen through the Change Healthcare cyberattack; research highlights potential cognitive and psychiatric benefits of semaglutide; over 40 Iowa hospitals have ended their labor and delivery services.

A small trial by investigators at the National Cancer Institute holds promise to bring personalized cell therapy into the solid tumor arena, after more than a decade of success in blood cancers.

Pfizer announced plans for a once-a-day weight-loss pill; toxic metals have been found in over a dozen popular tampon brands across the US; CMS proposed a new rules impacting telehealth in the Medicare physician fee schedule (PFS) for 2025.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is preparing a lawsuit against the 3 largest drug middlemen over their use of rebates for insulin and other drugs; Sen Bernie Sanders (I, Vermont) feels confident that Novo Nordisk will cut Ozempic and Wegovy costs after hearing; CMS proposed a payment rule that would increase Medicare reimbursement for hospital outpatient departments by 2.6% next year.

CMS recently launched a voluntary, nationwide dementia care program; the number of physicians who reported at least 1 symptom of burnout has dropped below 50% for the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic; diabetes drugs have all been in short supply over the last 18 months, partly due to people using them off label for weight loss.

More patients achieve significant weight loss with tirzepatide; new data show significant increases in sexually transmitted disease (STD) diagnoses; many individuals in cardiology deserts are left at higher risk of dying from heart disease.

Researchers link vaccination and reduced asthma symptoms; providers warn against overburdening and security risks; insurers’ practices lead to questionable diagnoses

Medicare tightens rules after alleged $3 billion fraud scheme; new Alzheimer disease diagnostic criteria are causing controversy; loss of Medicaid is tied to struggles affording health care.

Insurers continue to raise consumer costs despite covering fewer drugs and having more drug coverage restrictions; the Biden Administration is investing hundreds of millions of dollars to train geriatricians; the Federal Trade Commission has opened an investigation into Teva Pharmaceuticals after the company refused to take down patents for its asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease inhalers.

Coverage from the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting, held May 31 to June 4 in Chicago, Illinois.

Experts urge enhanced monitoring as avian influenza spreads beyond birds; emergency abortion access still in legal limbo; leaders call for federal probe into potential misuse of health insurance subsidies.

Heatwaves are causing unexpected surges in heat-related illnesses; the CDC recommends updated COVID-19 vaccines for all ages; prioritizing RSV vaccines for the highest-risk adults.

The use of Plan B fell by 60% in states that implemented near-total abortion bans after Roe v. Wade was overturned; the Biden administration will impose inflation penalties on 64 prescription drugs in the third quarter of 2024; the FDA recently released draft guidance to ensure that drug companies and medical device makers enroll more women and people of color in clinical trials.

The CDC issued a warning to doctors on Tuesday to look out for dengue cases amid a global surge; HHS has finalized disincentives to prevent health care organizations from unreasonably blocking the exchange of electronic health record (EHR) information; patients in some states, like West Virginia, cannot afford weight-loss medications due to the high costs and lack of insurance coverage.

Rising gun deaths and injuries call for safety measures and research; rise in cases linked to summer travel, gatherings, and emerging variants; a facility will become the largest life sciences investment in North Carolina history

A federal appeals court has ruled a key part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) unconstitutional, which allows a health task force to require insurers to cover preventive health measures without out-of-pocket costs; the FDA’s recent decision to authorize 4 menthol vaping products drew harsh criticism from pediatricians and antitobacco groups; rising health care prices are lowering American wages and causing job losses.

Change Healthcare will begin notifying individuals whose data may have been exposed when hackers disrupted the claims processing system; experts advocate for early diagnosis of gestational diabetes to mitigate risks for both mother and child; researchers worry that the slow rollout of bird flu tests may hinder outbreak detection and response.

Coverage of our peer-reviewed research and news reporting in the health care and mainstream press.

The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends that kids 6 years and older with a high body mass index receive intensive behavioral interventions; Amazon’s pharmacy unit is expanding eligibility for RxPass to patients enrolled in Medicare insurance plans; Sen Bernie Sanders (I, Vermont) is trying to lower the prices of popular antiobesity drugs.

The rate of uninsured Americans will rise to 8.9% over the next decade; Senator Bernie Sanders (I, Vermont) wants a government watchdog to investigate why women are still being charged for contraception considered free under federal law, and proposed Medicare Advantage Star Ratings target top performers.

Over $3 billion in payments were issued to health care providers and suppliers; a recent poll highlights growing demand to alleviate medical debt; preliminary data show a decrease in uninsured individuals since 2019.

Ageing with HIV comes with greater risks of other health complications; behavioral counseling programs for obesity are scare and often not covered by insurance; the surgeon general is calling for legislative action to protect youth when they interact with social media.

Bringing the bispecific T-cell engager into the frontline consolidation phase "redefines the standard of care" for patients with B-ALL, an investigator said.