As the country hits the debt limit spending on Medicare and Medicaid may be at risk; the Agriculture Department targets fraudulent claims in products labeled as organic; first cases of drug-resistant gonorrhea strain found.
Medicare, Medicaid Eyed as a Bargaining Tool as US Hits Debt Ceiling
Republicans are looking for spending cuts, including changes to Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, in exchange for a vote to prevent the government from defaulting on its debts. CNBC reported that the United States hit the debt limit Thursday. The Treasury Department would have to prioritize which bills get paid and which don't, which could lead to fluctuations in some payments. Republicans are also considering means testing for benefits or raising the eligibility age for some programs.
New USDA Rule Targets Products Falsely Labeled as Organic
The Agriculture Department released a new rule, strengthening enforcement of strict definitions of being organic, “which must rely on natural substances and physical, mechanical, or biologically based farming methods to the fullest extent possible," according to The Associated Press. The rule requires increases in business and supply chain inspections of certification by the USDA’s National Organic Program for all imported organic foods. This new rule represents the biggest change to organic regulations since the creation of the USDA organic food program, according to The Organic Trade Association, which lobbied for the rule.
US Investigates First Cases of Drug-Resistant Gonorrhea
Two new cases of a new strain of gonorrhea have been identified by health authorities in Massachusetts, according to CBS News. This stain of gonorrhea appears to have developed a resistance to a broad range of antibiotic treatments, causing concern for investigators. Investigators are now working with the CDC to test other samples of gonorrhea collected in the state.
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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Dr Dalia Rotstein: Physicians Must Be Aware MS Affects People of All Backgrounds
April 24th 2024Dalia Rotstein, MD, MPH, emphazises the importance of awareness that multiple sclerosis (MS) impacts patients from various backgrounds as clinicians think through ways to improve access to care and research efforts in MS.
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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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Polatuzumab Vedotin and R-CHP Appropriate for Untreated DLBCL
April 24th 2024Population pharmacokinetic and exposure-response analyses revealed a favorable benefit-risk profilane for the treatment combination of polatuzumab vedotin and rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone (R-CHP).
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What We’re Reading: Abortion Privacy Rules; Alzheimer Drug Hurdles; Nursing Home Staffing Overhaul
April 23rd 2024New health privacy rules aim to protect patients and providers in an evolving abortion landscape; some physicians express concerns about efficacy, risks, and entrenched beliefs in treating Alzheimer disease; CMS addresses longstanding staffing deficits in nursing homes.
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