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What We’re Reading: Merck Sues US Government; Cancer Drug Shortages; ACA Appeals Court Hearing
Merck sues to stop Medicare drug price negotiations; doctors delay lifesaving therapies due to cancer drug shortages; a federal appeals court will hear Affordable Care Act coverage prevention case.
Merck Sues US Government Over Medicare Drug Price Negotiations
On Tuesday, Merck & Co filed a lawsuit against the US government seeking to block a drug price negotiation program included in the Inflation Reduction Act, according to Reuters. The company argued that the program violates the Fifth and First Amendments of the US Constitution and marks the first challenge by a drugmaker to the law. Merck stated it plans to take this case all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary.
Cancer Drug Shortages Reach a New Record-High
A severe shortage of effective chemotherapy drugs is ultimately putting at risk the lives of patients with cancer, according to The Washington Post. The shortage, exacerbated by low profit margins on generic drugs and an overreliance on foreign manufacturing, is affecting a wide range of cancer treatments, including pediatric cases. Furthermore, delays in treatment caused by the shortage may have devastating consequences, with studies showing increased sickness or mortality rates for common cancers when treatment is delayed.
Appeals Court to Hear Texas Case Against ACA Provision Mandate
A federal appeals court is considering whether to continue the temporary pause of a Texas district court's ruling that invalidated an Affordable Care Act provision mandating insurers to cover preventive services for free, according to The Hill. The pause allows HHS to continue requiring insurance companies to cover preventive services such as HIV prevention drugs and cancer screenings without cost-sharing. The case was brought forward by conservative Texas employers and individuals, who believe the provision violates their religious beliefs.
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.
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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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Pegcetacoplan for PNH More Cost-Effective Than Anti-C5 Monoclonal Antibodies
April 18th 2024A cost-utility analysis conducted from the perspective of the Italian health system found that pegcetacoplan was more effective and less costly than 2 complement 5 (C5) inhibitors for the treatment of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH).
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Navigating Health Literacy, Social Determinants, and Discrimination in National Health Plans
February 13th 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with the authors of a study published in the February 2024 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® about their findings on how health plans can screen for health literacy, social determinants of health, and perceived health care discrimination.
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Gene and Cell Therapies Hold Potential—but How Can Payers Manage Their Costs?
April 18th 2024Presenters at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) 2024 annual meeting discussed the current promise and future potential of gene and cell therapies, as well as payer management strategies for these costly treatments.
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Prices for care at hospital trauma centers vary across hospitals; drug shortages reached a record high during the first quarter of 2024; although 3 of the biggest makers of asthma inhalers pledged to cap out-of-pocket costs for some US patients at $35, these do not apply to daily inhalers used by the youngest kids with asthma.
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