What we're reading, August 9, 2016: tying drug costs to outcomes is the future of drug pricing; Walgreens expands drug take-back kiosk program; patients with atrial fibrillation need to consult a second doctor before receiving a new medical device.
An article from Reuters Health highlights pricing drugs based on clinical outcomes rather than the number of pills or vials sold as the future of drug pricing. The challenge is that such a pricing model would require improvements in data collection and agreement on the right outcomes to measure. Experiments with new pricing plans have been taking place around the world as governments in European countries, China and Japan, and the United States look to cap runaway costs.
In Illinois, 45 Walgreens drugstores will introduce metal kiosk for people to safely dispose of unwanted medications. According to the Chicago Tribune, the kiosks are meant to provide people with a way of getting rid of prescription or over-the-counter medications without them ending up in the wrong hands. Walgreens already has kiosks installed in 300 stores in 24 states and it plans to make them available in 500 stores around the country.
Before patients with atrial fibrillation can get a recently approved medical device, Medicare is requiring that they consult a second doctor. The purpose of the new rule is to ensure patients’ opinions and values are taken into account before reaching a treatment decision, reported The Wall Street Journal. The new device, Watchman, enables stroke prevention without the use of blood thinners—the standard treatment to prevent clots for people with atrial fibrillation.
Reducing Time Sitting Can Help Lower BP in Older Adults, Randomized Trial Finds
April 20th 2024The randomized trial found that reducing sitting time over a 6-month period was association with reduced systolic blood pressure (BP) among a group of older patients with obesity and high rates of hypertension.
Read More
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.
Read More
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.
Read More
Gene, Light Therapy Combo Shows Promise Against Prostate Cancer Cells in Proof-of-Concept Study
April 18th 2024In their preclinical model, the researchers found efficacy both in vitro and in vivo by using CRISPR-Cas9 to mimic porphyria and combining the technology with light therapy.
Read More