The Search Is on to Replace Tom Price
On Friday, HHS Secretary Tom Price, MD, stepped down amid controversy over his use of private charter flights for government business, and now a replacement needs to be found. According to POLITICO, already a dozen names are being discussed, from a former senator to famous talk show doctor Mehmet Oz, MD. However, rumored to be considered is Seema Verma, the current administrator for CMS, who is close to Vice President Mike Pence; Florida Governor Rick Scott, who is a former hospital executive; Scott Gottlieb, MD, who is the current FDA Commissioner; and David Shulkin, the VA secretary and a holdover from the Obama administration.
CHIP Not Reauthorized by Deadline
Congress has missed its chance to reauthorize funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which is set to expire. The Senate had released a bipartisan plan to reauthorize the program earlier in September, but hadn’t voted on it. According to The Hill, 3 states and the District of Columbia are set to run out of money by December. The majority of states will run out of money by March 2018.
CDC Releases Report on STDs
There are an estimated 110 million sexually transmitted disease (STD) cases at any given time in the United States, according to a new report from the CDC. The most common STD is chlamydia, which had a 4.7% increase in the number of cases from 2015 to 2016. The number of gonorrhea infections increased 22.2% among men and 13.8% among women during that same time frame. And the rate of syphilis is at the highest it has been since 1993.
Insurance Coverage Limits JAKi Therapy Access for Patients With AA, Especially Non-White Populations
April 25th 2024A survey study showed major barriers to Janus kinase inhibitor (JAKi) therapy for patients with alopecia areata, especially for non-White patients who face higher rates of being uninsured and struggle more to afford the treatment.
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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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Empowering Community Health Through Wellness and Faith
April 23rd 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. In the third episode, Camille Clarke-Smith, EdD, MS, CHES, CPT, discusses approaching community health holistically through spiritual and community engagement.
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Lack of Mutations Associated With Favorable Prognosis in MPN-U
April 25th 2024While the Dynamic International Prognostic Scoring System and bone marrow blasts may predict overall survival, the lack of certain mutations is also associated with a better prognosis for myeloproliferative neoplasm, unclassifiable (MPN-U).
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What We’re Reading: FDA Approves UTI Antibiotic; Ozempic, Wegovy Price Investigation; US Births Fall
April 25th 2024The FDA recently approved an antibiotic for the treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women; a Senate committee recently launched an investigation into the prices of Novo Nordisk’s diabetes and weight loss drugs; US births fell last year, resuming a national slide after a previous increase during the pandemic.
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