Health Care Cost

New research underscores the substantial economic burden associated with early discontinuation of guideline-recommended hypomethylating agent (HMA) therapy among patients with refractory anemia with excess blasts, a diagnosis that substantially overlaps with higher-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

Based on US health insurance consumer behavior reported in the eHealth Insights: 2020 Retrospective report, notable trends of the past year to watch for in 2021 include the popularity of $0 premium Medicare Advantage plans, the rise of telemedicine, and potential hesitancy against taking a vaccine for coronavirus disease 2019.

The statement is aimed at drug companies, policymakers, pharmacy benefit managers, employers, and others, and calls to attention soaring insulin costs, which were the subject of several Congressional hearings in 2019.

As coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to drive significant change in health care delivery, physician leaders affiliated with the Council for Accountable Physician Practices have worked to increase investment in strategies to address disparities in care exacerbated by the pandemic, such as value-based care and telemedicine.

On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we speak with the new chief financial officer of Strive Health, a value-based kidney care company that works with payers and providers to create an integrated care delivery system for chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). We discuss the changes coming to nephrology practices, as well as new ways of looking at the whole patient to halt the slide to irreversible ESRD.

Barbara McAneny, MD, founding partner of New Mexico Oncology Hematology Consultants, discusses why putting risk on oncologists is not the way to fix cost issues in cancer care.

Several economic benefits stem from engaging in care soon after HIV transmission and maintaining viral load suppression, noted Milena Murray, PharmD, MSc, BCIDP, AAHIVP, associate professor, Midwestern University College of Pharmacy.

Migraine accounts for many billions of dollars in direct and indirect health care costs, said Peter McAllister, MD, a neurologist, board certified headache specialist, and medical director of the New England Institute for Neurology and Headache.

Tomatoes metabolically engineered to be enriched by the antiparkinsonian drug levodopa may provide a novel, cost-effective source of the drug for patients with Parkinson disease.

Our 5 most-read oncology stories and most-watched videos this year highlighted cancer care policy, diversity, and the growing practice of remote cancer care.

Robert Baird, RN, MSA, president of the National Cancer Treatment Alliance, discusses ways that employers of all sizes can pursue direct contracting with health care providers.

Recent study findings highlight mixed results following use of this medication among Mississippi and Massachusetts Medicaid beneficiaries.

In addition to significant morbidity and impaired health-related quality of life, patients with atopic dermatitis have a significant out-of-pocket (OOP) financial burden related to their disease.

Robert Baird, RN, MSA, president of the National Cancer Treatment Alliance, discusses potential issues employers can avoid by direct contracting with providers.

The use of Mohs micrographic surgery, which had the highest average Medicare payment from 2012-2017 among a set of 4 skin cancer procedures, has increased by more than 20%.

Bradley Monk, MD, FACOG, FACS, clinician at Arizona Oncology, professor at the University of Arizona and Creighton University in Phoenix, discusses the reimbursement of PARP inhibitors in ovarian cancer.

Four principal themes emerged in this study, describing why Latino/a and Black transgender women and men who have sex with men discontinued their preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV.

An outcomes-based agreement conducted by Boehringer Ingelheim and Highmark found that use of Jardiance (empagliflozin) among adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and known cardiovascular disease (CVD) was associated with a total cost of care savings of over 20%.

The German multiple sclerosis (MS) study found differences by gender for some costs, but the overall economic burden of the disease was about the same.

In its 2021 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment Final Rule, CMS announced it will delay its radiation oncology payment model from January 2020 until July 2021.

A funding dispute over how to account for a Veterans Affairs (VA) health care program is stalling deal to fund the government for another year; the Supreme Court rules in a case involving states and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs); the antiepileptic drug ezogabine lowered the pathologic excitability of cortical and spinal motor neuron cells, which have a role in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Results from a 5-year study show significantly higher rates of several gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, as well as hospital-related costs, among patients living with HIV compared with controls.

The United States reports a record 3000 daily coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) deaths; the House of Representatives passes bill in support of marijuana research; data show rises in prescription drug list prices.

This episode of Managed Care Cast is a preview of an interview with Michael E. Chernew, PhD, and A. Mark Fendrick, MD, the co-editors-in-chief of The American Journal of Managed Care®, which appears in the December issue of the journal.

Among 11 developed countries, the United States has the highest maternal mortality rate, a relative undersupply of maternity care providers, and no guaranteed access to provider home visits or paid parental leave in the postpartum period, a recent report from The Commonwealth Fund concluded.

A review found that including exercise, breathing techniques, and education components in pulmonary rehabilitation for patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) optimizes such programs.

An analysis published in Health Affairs outlines the benefits of structuring negotiations and standardizing fee-for-service payments independent of any specific reform proposals to control health care spending in 3 high-income countries.

A new report finds including rituximab in first-line therapy for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) results in better overall outcomes that more than offset the higher initial cost of therapy.