Trump Nominates Drug Czar
Representative Tom Marino, R-Pennsylvania, has been nominated to lead the Office of National Drug Control Policy. According to STAT, Marino had originally taken himself out of the running months ago due to his mother’s health, but President Donald Trump officially nominated him on Friday. Marino has been a longtime supporter of Trump, and he is an attorney with a track record of supporting improved drug treatment and enforcement-side drug policy. Marino will have to be confirmed by the Senate.
Time for ACA Reconciliation Almost Over
The rule that allows the Senate to pass an Affordable Care Act repeal and replace bill with a simple majority is almost out of time. Once the fiscal year ends on September 30, the rule that allows the use of reconciliation to pass a repeal and replace bill will expire, reported AP. However, even with time still left, Republicans may not try to use the rule. Returning from their August recess, senators are focusing on bipartisan efforts to shore up the insurance exchanges with a series of hearings and meetings. Plus, Congress has a number of other agenda items that may take priority, such as aid for Hurricane Harvey and a government funding bill.
Fentanyl Deaths More Than Doubled in a Year
The tally of drug deaths in 2016 has shown that drug overdoses due to synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, increased 22% over the previous year, with deaths involving fentanyl more than doubling. The New York Times reported that deaths involving fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine kill people at a faster rate than the HIV epidemic at its peak. Meanwhile, there has actually been a downward trend in deaths from prescription opioids alone.
Standard Criteria for Loss of Ambulation Needed in DMD
April 19th 2024A recent study suggests the differences between ambulation definitions for patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) can impact the identification of ambulant vs nonambulant individuals, and standard criteria across settings are needed.
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Navigating Health Literacy, Social Determinants, and Discrimination in National Health Plans
February 13th 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with the authors of a study published in the February 2024 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® about their findings on how health plans can screen for health literacy, social determinants of health, and perceived health care discrimination.
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An Overview of Health Care and Pharmaceutical Trends, 2023-2024
April 19th 2024Douglas M. Long, BA, MBA, was featured as the keynote speaker on the closing day of The Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy 2024 annual meeting, with a session dedicated to surveying the health care and pharmaceutical trends of the last year.
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Drs Raymond Thertulien, Joseph Mikhael on Racial Disparities in Multiple Myeloma Care Access
December 28th 2023In the wake of the 2023 American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition, Raymond Thertulien, MD, PhD, of Novant Health, and Joseph Mikhael, MD, MEd, FRCPC, FACP, chief medical officer of the International Myeloma Foundation, discussed health equity research highlights from the meeting and drivers of racial disparities in multiple myeloma outcomes.
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Real-World Study Reveals Key Insights Into DLBCL Treatment Patterns, Outcomes
April 18th 2024A recent study offers valuable insights into the characteristics, treatment patterns, and outcomes of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in patients across different lines of therapy, providing a look into the landscape of DLBCL management.
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