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The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review is creating a new analysis of significant drug price increases to determine if the price hikes are supported by new clinical evidence.

The organization's list of 10 health challenges include both environmental and medical challenges they say demand attention from the World Health Organization (WHO) and health partners in 2019.

As patients with multiple myeloma live longer thanks to advancements in treatments, more attention is being paid to treatment-related toxicities that are becoming more relevant.

Researchers used a blood test to look for biomarkers indicative of Alzheimer disease in a group of people with a genetic mutation for a familial form of the disease, and they said the test can predict differences about 16 years before affected patients are expected to begin showing symptoms. The hope is that a blood test could one day be used to identify brain disease for not only Alzheimer disease but also other neurodegenerative conditions, such as multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, or stroke.

A bill co-sponsored by Senator Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Senator Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota, would allow people to buy prescription drugs from approved pharmacies in Canada; the FDA is planning an advisory meeting on February 12 to share evidence and expert opinion about the safety and effectiveness of transvaginal mesh; economist Austin Frakt recaps the public health effects of sitting in traffic, including contributing to climate change, lost time, and damage to psychological well-being.

The FDA has issued an update to its 2015 draft guidance on developing drugs to treat rare diseases.

A recent study sought to identify whether disability progression among patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) treated with rituximab differs from patients who have never been treated with rituximab.

A recent study examined the nutritional status and dietary intake among outpatients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and its possible associations with quality of life.

Higher tumor mutational burden is associated with improved overall survival in patients with stage IV or metastatic disease being treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

A single measurement of procalcitonin (PCT) is comparable to Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) score for predicting serious medical complications in patients with cancer with febrile neutropenia.

Researchers investigating the associations between ground-level ozone and fine particulate pollution and emergency department (ED) visits for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and respiratory infections found that as levels rose, more patients land in the ED with breathing problems.

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation under CMS expanded its value-based insurance design (VBID) model for Medicare Advantage, as well as created more risk sharing in Part D payment models for plan sponsors. Both plans are voluntary.

In a new survey, clinicians highlight how the ongoing government shutdown, the longest in US history, is taking a toll on patients’ health as they miss appointments or are noncompliant with their medication.

This week, the top managed care news included a new investigation into drug prices; FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD, provided updates on how the government shutdown is impacting FDA work; research found comorbidities impede clinical trial participation for patients with cancer.

Earlier this week, the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) released a draft guidance recommendations on medications for women at an increased risk for breast cancer.

CMS is proposing more changes to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), including ways to seek to end the practice of silver loading, end automatic re-enrollment in individual exchange plans, and raise premiums by 1%, it said in its proposed 2020 Payment Notice.

For the eighth year, The American Journal of Managed Care® (AJMC®) presents its annual issue focused on health information technology (IT). This year, articles featured insights on health information exchange use, data breach consequences, telemedicine experiences, and more. Here are 5 findings from the research published in the issue.

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

Amid drug shortages and recalls, at least 3 sellers of a widely used blood-pressure medication, valsartan, have raised prices since a series of safety-related recalls of the drug by other manufacturers; the FDA is attempting to conserve dwindling resources during the government shutdown by prioritizing drug applications; researchers are looking into a possible link between prescription opioids and a birth defect called gastroschisis.

Based on 2 randomized, placebo-controlled studies, the FDA approved romiplostim (Nplate) for pediatric patients 1 year and older with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) for at least 6 months who do not have sufficient response to other treatments, including corticosteroids, splenectomy, and immunoglobulins.

Minimal residual disease in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) can be a powerful predictor of outcomes and a useful guide of treatment strategies.

Patients in the most rural areas had an 87% higher chance of receiving an opioid prescription than did patients in large urban areas, according to Thursday's CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Treating patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) early with disease-modifying treatment can reduce the risk of conversion to secondary progressive MS.

More than 2 weeks of treatment with cefepime administered by intravenous (IV) push significantly increases the risk of cefepime-induced neutropenia.

The study is first to measure sleep along with spread of atherosclerosis throughout the body, according to the American College of Cardiology.

Patients who have 4 or more migraine days per month and have failed on prophylactic treatment experience reduced quality of life, work productivity, and social activity involvement.

Published results confirm the efficacy of tisagenlecleucel in patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Patient advocacy and medical groups launch an ad campaign in opposition to proposed changes to Medicare; patients often turn to GoFundMe to help pay for medical costs; and new diet guidelines are aiming to save more lives and the planet.