Senate Rejects Repeal-Only Bill
With 7 Republicans breaking ranks to vote with Democrats, a bill that would repeal major parts of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) without any replacement failed to pass the Senate. According to The New York Times, with 2 bills voted down, it seems likely that Republicans will only be able to pass a bill that modestly repeals parts of the ACA, but leaves it mostly intact. The so-called “skinny repeal” would result in 15 million more Americans being uninsured next year, according to the Congressional Budget Office, and 5 Republican and 5 Democratic governors have already urged the Senate to reject such a bill.
GlaxoSmithKline to Cut R&D Projects
The pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline has announced it will narrow its focus for research and development projects. The Wall Street Journal reported that the company will cut more than 30 projects and focus on just 4 key areas: respiratory diseases, HIV and other infectious diseases, cancer, and immune-inflammatory conditions. Glaxo will invest in 16 drugs that are expected to be big sellers and shelve another 13 drug-development projects and 20 early-stage research projects. In particular, rare diseases will face the biggest cut even while other companies pour more investment into the area.
Healthcare’s Underinvestment in Cybersecurity
The healthcare industry is having trouble recruiting talent in the area of cybersecurity despite an increased demand for these employees. Compared to other industries, healthcare invests half as much of the information technology budgets in cybersecurity, reported NPR. However, a cybersecurity attack can have devastating consequences—not only could sensitive information be accessed, but hacked medical devices could have serious consequences for people who rely on them to live.
Empowering Community Health Through Wellness and Faith
April 23rd 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. In the third episode, Camille Clarke-Smith, EdD, MS, CHES, CPT, discusses approaching community health holistically through spiritual and community engagement.
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What We’re Reading: Abortion Privacy Rules; Alzheimer Drug Hurdles; Nursing Home Staffing Overhaul
April 23rd 2024New health privacy rules aim to protect patients and providers in an evolving abortion landscape; some physicians express concerns about efficacy, risks, and entrenched beliefs in treating Alzheimer disease; CMS addresses longstanding staffing deficits in nursing homes.
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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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Survey Results Reveal Potential Factors Slowing the Decline in Cardiovascular Mortality Rate
April 23rd 2024Research indicated that worsened glycemic, blood pressure, and obesity control, as well as increased alcohol consumption, leveled lipid control, and persistent socioeconomic disparities may have contributed to the decelerated cardiovascular mortality decline in recent years.
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Award-Winning Poster Presentations From AMCP 2024
April 23rd 2024At the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) 2024 annual meeting, multiple poster presentations concerned with health equity, data collection, glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists, and more were acknowledged for their originality, relevance, clarity, bias, and quality.
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