Proton Pump Inhibitors Can Heighten Risk of Early Death
A new study in BMJ Open finds that proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) sold over the counter to treat heartburn increased the risk of premature death for users, and the risk was heightened when the drugs were taken for longer amounts of time. According to the New York Times, lead study author Ziyad Al-Aly, MD, urged consumers not to panic, but said PPIs should be reserved for people with demonstrated medical need, like for a bleeding ulcer. When these popular drugs are being consumed unnecessarily, however, people are “getting no benefit, only the risk,” he told the Times.
Medicare Advantage Plans Less Appealing to Sicker Patients
Sicker elderly patients are more likely to drop their Medicare Advantage (MA) plans than their healthier counterparts, according to an NPR article summarizing a Government Accountability Office report. Of 126 MA plans studied by the report, 35 had disproportionately high rates of sicker patients dropping out. Many patients reported that they found it too hard to access their preferred physicians, including specialists, in the MA plans. Some then chose to sign up for traditional Medicare instead.
Wisconsin Court Rules Against Malpractice Award Cap
An appellate court in Wisconsin has determined that the state’s $750,000 limit on non-economic medical malpractice claims is unconstitutional, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. The case involved a woman who had all 4 limbs amputated after doctors failed to detect a strep infection; she and her husband then sought over $25 million in damages for the resulting pain and suffering. In contrast, the US House of Representatives voted last week to cap non-economic malpractice damages at $250,000.
Early Involvement Critical in Treating Immunotherapy-Induced Overlap Syndrome
April 19th 2024A series of case studies reveals the importance of early diagnosis and involvement of special teams of clinicians when dealing with potential cases of overlap syndrome, which encompasses myocarditis, myasthenia gravis, and immune checkpoint inhibitor–related myositis.
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Overcoming Employment Barriers for Lasting Social Impact: Freedom House 2.0 and Pathways to Work
April 16th 2024To help celebrate and recognize National Minority Health Month, we are bringing you a special month-long podcast series with our Strategic Alliance Partner, UPMC Health Plan. Welcome to our second episode, in which we learn all about Freedom House 2.0 and the Pathways to Work program.
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Making Giant Strides in Maternity Health Through Baby Steps
April 9th 2024To help celebrate and recognize National Minority Health Month, we are kicking off a special month-long podcast series with our strategic alliance partner, UPMC Health Plan. Welcome to our first episode, which is all about the Baby Steps Maternity Program and its mission to support women throughout every step of their pregnancy journey.
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Government agencies have created an online portal for the public to report potential anticompetitive practices in health care; there are changes coming to the “boxed warning” section for chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapies (CAR T) to highlight T-cell blood cancer risk; questions about the safety of obesity medications during pregnancy have arisen in women on them who previously struggled with fertility issues.
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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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