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Study quantifies risk of blood clots in patients with COVID-19; Biden administration aims to reverse restrictions on fetal tissue research; Michigan hospitals struggle to care for COVID-19 cases.

This week, the top managed care news included a pause in distribution of J&J’s COVID-19 vaccine; FDA clears first AI device to find possible cancerous hot spots during colonoscopies; lessons from years of public health budgetary neglect.

Symptoms of sleepwalking and/or REM sleep behavior disorder in men were significantly associated with higher odds of having Parkinson disease (PD), with PD-related neurodegeneration potentially impairing arousal regulation during sleep.

Rebecca Borgert, PharmD, BCOP, and Jim Rebello, PharmD, from Magellan Rx Management, discussed what evidence they believe could persuade payers to include biosimilars as preferred formulary products.

Data from a recent cross-sectional study show severity of atopic dermatitis (AD) is associated with prevalence of learning disorders among children.

A poster at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy 2021 meeting examined the impact of high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) on access to health care and resource use in the United States and the interaction of race, ethnicity, and income.

Study results indicate a possible relationship between diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and frailty and risk of subsequent delirium and cognitive impairment.

The review comes amid growing attention directed at identifying treatments that can prevent progression of polycythemia vera (PV) to myelofibrosis or an aggressive form of acute myeloid leukemia.

Ilumya (tildrakizumab) was shown to be safe and effective in controlling moderate to severe psoriasis for adults through 5 years of treatment in a recent study.

Elevated levels of 2 inflammatory biomarkers may indicate a greater heart failure hospitalization risk for patients who have diagnosed atrial fibrillation.

The in vitro study of melanoma cells analyzed the molecular mechanisms of the pair of proteasome inhibitors, finding that they reduced B16-F1 tumor growth.

Karen Coderre, PharmD, and Madhavi Manduru-Rao, PharmD, detail how CMS' increased weighting for Consumer Assessment of Health Care Providers and Systems surveys impacts Star ratings.

The pandemic reduced visits to specialists last year, which in turn reduced the volume of prescriptions, according to a presentation at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy 2021 meeting.

A new study finds high rates of suicide among female nurses in the United States; President Joe Biden aims to undo Trump-era restrictions on abortion referrals; research indicates regular exercise may prevent severe COVID-19 outcomes.

This is a case study of a male patient with Fabry disease who presented with severe anaphylaxis following re-initiation of full-strength treatment with intravenous agalsidase beta (Fabrazyme).

New research presented at AMCP 2021, the annual meeting of the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy, evaluated treatment patterns and costs related to hospitalization for patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) declined to change the current recommendation to pause administration of Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine.

Compared with when Medicare Part D launched, therapies today are more expensive. A panel at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy 2021 meeting discussed how the benefit needs to adapt to keep up with the future.

For some living with HIV, old wounds have reopened during the COVID-19 pandemic, explained Perry N. Halkitis, PhD, MS, MPH, dean of the Rutgers School of Public Health and director of the Center for Health, Identity, Behavior and Prevention Studies.

Brenden O’Hara, RPh, BCACP, from Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, talked about the pharmacist’s role in improving outcomes in value-based contracts and why collaboration is needed.

A report by the Harvard Business Review found a significant gap between employee needs and employer benefit offerings for treatment of physical and emotional pain, with a holistic approach associated with savings of 50% on medical claims for back and joint care.

Moderna announces upcoming trial of a vaccine candidate against flu; April 11-17 marks Black Maternal Health Week; the European Commission will not renew COVID-19 vaccine contracts with Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca when they expire next year.

Higher oxygen saturation targets are linked with greater progression in some cases of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), but the incidence remains stable.

PIE, or a preapproval information exchange, is aimed at streamlining payer and health plan involvement so that it happens at the same time a drug developer submits an application to the FDA, instead of after a drug is approved, with the intent of speeding patient access to therapies.

Results of a questionnaire-based study show higher body mass index (BMI) is associated with worse migraine symptoms and comorbidities.

Neglecting public health in state budgets for more than 10 years created an environment that was ill-suited to deal with the challenges of COVID-19 as well as other issues. On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we speak with one of the authors of a recent paper that examined state funding trends from 2008 to 2018 and discuss what could be done in the future to avoid past mistakes.

A prospective bicentric cohort study among individuals with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) showed that 32% developed at least 1 skin-related adverse reaction following cladribine administration.

Christina Polomoff, PharmD, BCACP, BCGP, discusses the differences between manufacturer coupons and cash cards and how they financially affect health plans and pharmacies.