- Center on Health Equity and Access
- Clinical
- Health Care Cost
- Health Care Delivery
- Insurance
- Policy
- Technology
- Value-Based Care
What We're Reading: COVID-19 Relief Bill Updates; FDA Probes Toxic Metals in Baby Food; Novel Test Approved to Detect Past Infection
The House of Representatives is expected to grant final approval to the COVID-19 relief bill by Tuesday; FDA probes major baby food companies selling products containing unsafe levels of toxic heavy metals; FDA issues emergency authorization for novel test to detect past COVID-19 infection.
Updates on COVID-19 Relief Bill
This past Saturday, the Senate passed the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package, sending it back to the House of Representatives for final approval, which is expected by Tuesday. Reported by CNBC, the bill is expected to be signed into law by President Joe Biden prior to the March 14 deadline, when enhanced federal unemployment benefits are set to expire. In addition to direct payments of $1400 to most Americans, the bill would provide a $300 weekly increase to jobless benefits into September and an expansion of the child tax credit for 1 year.
FDA to Address Toxic Heavy Metals in Baby Food
Reported by POLITICO, the FDA plans to investigate reports of toxic heavy metals commonly found in baby food. Spotlighted by a report released last month by the House Oversight subcommittee, findings indicated that major baby food companies were selling products that their own internal testing showed contained arsenic, lead, and cadmium at levels that health experts would consider unsafe for infants. As the FDA begins their investigation, the agency told baby food makers they are expected to actively reduce heavy metal levels in their products flagged by internal food safety controls.
FDA Issues EUA for Novel Test to Detect Past COVID-19 Infection
The FDA issued an emergency authorization for a first-of-its-kind-test developed by Seattle-based Adaptive Biotechnologies that leverages machine learning to detect past COVID-19 infections. Unlike prior tests that assessed levels of coronavirus antibodies, the T-Detect COVID test looks for evidence of past infection in the body’s adaptive immune system, particularly T cells, that function by helping the body remember past viruses.
What We’re Reading: RSV Vaccine Demand; Permanent Contraception; Drug Negotiation Impact
December 8th 2023The Biden administration recently met with manufacturers of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) immunizations to encourage them to increase access to the vaccine; since the Dobbs v Jackson decision, many patients have been seeking more permanent reproductive health care solutions; a Mathematica analysis showed that Medicare prescription drug price negotiations could have cut seniors’ out-of-pocket costs by nearly a quarter had the program been in effect in 2021.
Read More
Oncology Onward: A Conversation With Thyme Care CEO and Cofounder Robin Shah
October 2nd 2023Robin Shah, CEO of Thyme Care, which he founded in 2020 with Bobby Green, MD, president and chief medical officer, joins hosts Emeline Aviki, MD, MBA, and Stephen Schleicher, MD, MBA, to discuss his evolution as an entrepreneur in oncology care innovation and his goal of positively changing how patients experience the cancer system.
Listen
Insufficient Data, Disparities Plague Lung Cancer Risk Factor Documentation
September 24th 2023On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we speak with the senior author of a study published in the September 2023 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® on the importance of adequate and effective lung cancer risk factor documentation to determine a patient's eligibility for screening.
Listen
The Impact of Nurse Practitioner Attribution in Medicare Shared Savings ACOs
December 5th 2023Allowing nurse practitioners to serve as attribution-eligible providers for Medicare Shared Savings Program accountable care organizations leads to no change in hierarchical condition category risk scores and modest growth in attributed beneficiaries.
Read More
