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Blinatumomab Wins CMS Favor Following Reevaluation
An immunotherapy developed by Amgen and approved by the FDA for the treatment of acute lymhoblastic leukemia in December 2014 has now received coverage assurance from Medicare, following an initial rejection.
An immunotherapy developed by Amgen and approved by the FDA for the treatment of acute lymhoblastic leukemia in December 2014 has now received coverage assurance from Medicare, following an initial rejection of the expensive drug that costs $178,000 for a standard course.
Blinatumomab (Blincyto) was granted accelerated approval for treating Philadelphia chromosome—negative (Ph-) relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Evidence submitted to the FDA showed that 32% of 185 adults with B-cell ALL had complete remission for more than 6 months following drug infusion.
This new approval from CMS is for the “add-on payments” made to hospitals for new technology whose costs are not yet reflected in the standard lump-sum amounts that hospitals receive for treating patients with a particular disease or disorder. New information submitted by Amgen convinced the decison-makers at CMS of the "value" that blinatumomab would render compared with exisiting treatments for B-cell ALL.
Read more at The New York Times.
Examining Low-Value Cancer Care Trends Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic
April 25th 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with the authors of a study published in the April 2024 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® about their findings on the rates of low-value cancer care services throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Navigating Health Policy in an Election Year: Insights From Dr Dennis Scanlon
April 2nd 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with Dennis Scanlon, PhD, the editor in chief of The American Journal of Accountable Care®, about prior authorization, price transparency, the impact of health policy on the upcoming election, and more.
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