This week, the top managed care stories included the FDA announcing a ban on flavored e-cigarettes; Google’s artificial intelligence system can find breast cancer as well as experts; new diabetes guidelines including 2 new drug classes to treat comorbidities.
The FDA announces a ban on flavored e-cigarettes, Google’s artificial intelligence system can find breast cancer as well as experts, and new diabetes guidelines find more uses for 2 therapy classes.
Welcome to This Week in Managed Care, I’m Christina Mattina.
FDA Bans Some e-Cigarette Flavors, Preserves Exemptions
The FDA on Thursday said it would ban most e-cigarette flavors that appeal to teenagers, although the plan features 2 major exceptions to aid vaping manufacturers and adults who use the devices.
The ban will cover fruit, candy, mint, and dessert flavors from cartridge-based products that are popular with high school students. Menthol and tobacco-flavored products, which some adults have used to quit smoking, will be allowed.
The ban will also largely exempt tank-based vaping devices that cater to adult smokers.
Anti-tobacco advocates condemned the exemptions. Said Matthew Myers of the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, “Only the elimination of all flavored e-cigarettes can end the worsening youth e-cigarette epidemic and stop e-cigarette companies from luring and addicting kids with flavored products.”
For more, visit ajmc.com.
Google AI Shows Promise in Diagnosing Breast Cancer
Google’s artificial intelligence system was shown to be as good as expert radiologists in detecting off mammograms in which women had breast cancer and in reducing potential errors.
The study, published in the journal Nature, adds to research showing the promise of AI systems in reducing errors in diagnosing breast cancer, as radiologists still miss about 20 percent of cancers in these common screenings.
But AI won’t be replacing radiologists any time soon, said Dr Lisa Watanabe: “AI software is only helpful if it actually moves the dial for radiologists.”
For more, visit ajmc.com.
New Diabetes Guidelines Suggest Use of New Therapy Classes
Updated guidelines from the American Diabetes Association call for 2 newer classes of therapy in type 2 diabetes care to be used when patients have comorbidities.
SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists show cardiovascular protection in outcomes trials in patients with both type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular risk.
In the section entitled Pharmacologic Approaches to Glycemic Treatment, authors state: “The inhibitors should be considered for patients when atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), heart failure, or chronic kidney disease predominates independent of [glycated hemoglobin] A1C.”
Speaking with AJMC®, Dr Javed Butler of the University of Mississippi said specialists in diabetes and cardiology should work together on common guidelines: “Guidelines across specialties have to be written and harmonized. This is a pet peeve of mine: cardiologists, and endocrinologists, primary care practitioners, pharmacists, nurse practitioners—whoever is going to be touching these patients—all have different guidelines…The bottom line is that we are all working with the same patient and using the same evidence. Problems arise when the team players are not on the same page.”
Read more at ajmc.com.
Survey Finds Concerns About Workers’ Financial Stability
MassMutual’s recent Workplace Financial Wellness Study reports that a majority of employers believe their workers are struggling financially and having a hard time with medical costs.
The survey found that:
Consumer and student loan debt are among the reasons for employee financial struggles, the survey found.
For more, visit ajmc.com.
Most-Read Journal Articles Include Studies on Telehealth, Out-of-Network Billing, Annual Wellness Visits
Finally, AJMC® has tallied the results for its most-read journal articles for 2019:
For more about our top articles, visit ajmc.com.
For all of us at AJMC®, I’m Christina Mattina. Thanks for joining us.
How Can Employers Leverage the DPP to Improve Diabetes Rates?
February 15th 2022On this episode of Managed Care Cast, Jill Hutt, vice president of member services at the Greater Philadelphia Business Coalition on Health, explains the Coalition’s efforts to reduce diabetes rates through the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP).
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Balancing Care Access and Fragmentation for Better Outcomes in Veterans With Diabetes
April 22nd 2021The authors of a study in the April 2021 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® discuss the possible reasons behind the link between care fragmentation and hospitalizations in veterans with diabetes, as well as potential opportunities to address disjointed care in the context of the widespread telehealth uptake seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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What We’re Reading: ACA Perception; FDA Blood Sugar Warning; AI and Physician Burnout
February 22nd 2024More than half of US adults have a favorable view of the Affordable Care Act (ACA); smartwatches and rings that claim to measure blood sugar levels without piercing the skin could be dangerous and should be avoided; many believe artificial intelligence (AI) could be the solution to physician burnout.
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Advancements in Diabetes Technology: Coverage, Challenges, and Pregnancy Considerations
February 15th 2024Expert interviews highlight advancements and challenges in diabetes care technology, including automated insulin delivery systems and continuous glucose monitors, as well as improvements in insurance coverage.
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