Annual results from a national survey about drug and alcohol use show more teens are vaping marijuana; HHS is trying to increase rates of organ donation; CVS is accused of fraudulent billing practices.
From 2017 to 2018, the percentage of high school seniors who confessed to using e-cigarettes to vape marijuana jumped from 7.5% to 14%, according to the Los Angeles Times. There was also an almost 91% increase in e-cigarette usage in this group during the same period. These statistics come from the Monitoring the Future report, funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the annual survey of drug and alcohol use among the United States’ more than 40,000 eighth, 10th, and 12th graders. The survey has been covering drug use for decades, but a question on daily vaping was only added this year. The most common reasons teens gave for trying e-cigarettes include wanting to check it out and because they were hanging out with their friends.
For decades, lack of available organs has hindered the donation process, The Wall Street Journal reports. With almost 20 patients per day dying, or 8000 per year, while waiting for a new organ and an estimated 115,000 on waiting lists, HHS announced Tuesday the easing of restrictions on organ donation. CMS Administrator Seema Verma detailed the government’s plans, which include raising the age on liver donation eligibility and upping reimbursements for living organ donors for lost income or child- and elder-care assistance. Transplant organizations will also be assessed every year, instead of every 4 years as they had been.
A civil complaint filed by the US government against CVS/Omnicare in Manhattan federal court on Tuesday details alleged fraudulent Medicare, Medicaid, and Tricare billing practices, says Reuters. The allegations entail how Omnicare perpetuated prescriptions by assigning them new numbers after they expired or exhausted their refills. These illegally funneled, often dangerous, drugs—including antipsychotics, antidepressants, and anticonvulsants—were supposedly meant for older and disabled patients. The lawsuit originated in June 2015 after an Omnicare pharmacist blew the whistle on these “rollover” prescriptions, an issue Omnicare confirmed at that time.
Standard Criteria for Loss of Ambulation Needed in DMD
April 19th 2024A recent study suggests the differences between ambulation definitions for patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) can impact the identification of ambulant vs nonambulant individuals, and standard criteria across settings are needed.
Read More
Overcoming Employment Barriers for Lasting Social Impact: Freedom House 2.0 and Pathways to Work
April 16th 2024To help celebrate and recognize National Minority Health Month, we are bringing you a special month-long podcast series with our Strategic Alliance Partner, UPMC Health Plan. Welcome to our second episode, in which we learn all about Freedom House 2.0 and the Pathways to Work program.
Listen
Early Involvement Critical in Treating Immunotherapy-Induced Overlap Syndrome
April 19th 2024A series of case studies reveals the importance of early diagnosis and involvement of special teams of clinicians when dealing with potential cases of overlap syndrome, which encompasses myocarditis, myasthenia gravis, and immune checkpoint inhibitor–related myositis.
Read More
Making Giant Strides in Maternity Health Through Baby Steps
April 9th 2024To help celebrate and recognize National Minority Health Month, we are kicking off a special month-long podcast series with our strategic alliance partner, UPMC Health Plan. Welcome to our first episode, which is all about the Baby Steps Maternity Program and its mission to support women throughout every step of their pregnancy journey.
Listen