Laura is the vice president of content for The American Journal of Managed Care® (AJMC®) and all its brands, including The American Journal of Accountable Care®, Evidence-Based Oncology™, and The Center for Biosimilars®. She has been working on AJMC® since 2014 and has been with AJMC®’s parent company, MJH Life Sciences®, since 2011.
She has an MA in business and economic reporting from New York University. You can connect with Laura on LinkedIn or Twitter.
CMS Proposes $9 Billion Lump-Sum Repayment to 340B Hospitals
After the Supreme Court ruled reimbursement cuts to 340B hospitals were done unlawfully, CMS is proposing to repay hospitals and providers in the program with a lump sum that has repercussions for other hospitals because of the agency’s need to be budget neutral.
Oncology Practices Made Shifts Toward Biosimilar Use, but Payer Challenges Remain
Two abstracts presented at the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting evaluated biosimilar adoption across oncology practices and highlighted the role payers play in preventing or promoting adoption.
Dr Robert Dellavalle Discusses the Importance of Diversity in Clinical Trials
Unless all populations are represented adequately in trials, it will be hard to know if a drug works the same in all populations as it does in one specific one, explained Robert Dellavalle, MD, PhD, MSPH, of University of Colorado School of Medicine and Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center.
Dr Byron Lam Highlights Treatments in the Pipeline for Inherited Retinal Disease
Gene therapy is only one exciting area of treatments in the pipeline to potentially treat inherited retinal disease, said Byron L. Lam, MD, professor of ophthalmology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine's Bascom Palmer Eye Institute.
SmithRx to Offer Adalimumab Biosimilar Yusimry at 90% Discount to Humira
The pharmacy benefit manager SmithRx has announced that through a partnership with the Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company, it will offer Yusimry, an adalimumab biosimilar, for less than 90% of the cost of the reference product, Humira.
Dr Byron Lam Reviews Current Treatments and Therapies in the Pipeline for Inherited Retinal Disease
The most exciting treatment for inherited retinal disease was approved in 2017, but there are many novel treatments in phase 2 or phase 3 trials at this point, said Byron L. Lam, MD, professor of ophthalmology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine's Bascom Palmer Eye Institute.
Dr Byron Lam Discusses Impact on SES Factors on Glaucoma Screening Follow-up
Insurance is by far the most important factor of whether patients followed up with treatment after getting screened for glaucoma, said Byron L. Lam, MD, professor of ophthalmology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine's Bascom Palmer Eye Institute.
Dr Charles Wykoff: Gene Therapy for Wet AMD Would Be a Tremendous Opportunity
Gene therapies like RGX-314 are looking to treat very common diseases in ophthalmology, which would represent a tremendous opportunity for chronic disease management, said Charles C. Wykoff, MD, PhD, of Retina Consultants of Texas and the Blanton Eye Institute at Houston Methodist Hospital.
Margaret Rehayem Discusses How Employers Should Look at Their Humira Biosimilar Strategy
Oncology has been an easy area for employers to adopt biosimilars because of the rising costs in the space, said Margaret Rehayem, vice president, National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions. Now that multiple adalimumab (Humira) biosimilars are hitting the US market, employers should take a step back to review their current strategy around the drug.
Dr Jennifer Sun Highlights Ongoing Research on Preventive Strategies for Diabetic Eye Disease
The DRCR Retina Network is undertaking research to develop preventive strategies for diabetic eye disease, explained Jennifer K. Sun, MD, MPH, associate professor of ophthalmology and chief of the Center for Clinical Eye Research and Trials, Harvard Medical School; and chair, DRCR Retina Network.
Margaret Rehayem: Rebates Remain Influential and a Barrier to Biosimilar Adoption for Employers
Rebates remain very attractive for many employers, but they should push back on the reliance on rebates that may be preventing biosimilars from being added to formularies, said Margaret Rehayem, vice president, National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions.
Dr Charles Wykoff Discusses Gene Therapy to Treat Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Gene therapy has the promise of being one and done, but it isn’t always that way for all patients, which leaves questions about where these therapies fit in the commercial landscape, said Charles C. Wykoff, MD, PhD, of Retina Consultants of Texas and the Blanton Eye Institute at Houston Methodist Hospital.
There Remains a Need to Educate Employers, Employees on Biosimilars: Margaret Rehayem
While employers fall on a spectrum when it comes to knowledge and understanding of biosimilars, there does remain a need to educate them, as well as for them to educate their employees, said Margaret Rehayem, vice president, National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions.
Providers Need to Be Educated About How Conditions May Vary in Skin of Color, Says Dr Andrew Alexis
Lack of knowledge about how skin conditions present on lightly pigmented skin has resulted in diagnostic delays, underassessment, and an impact on quality of life for patients with skin of color.
Dr Darius Moshfeghi Outlines the Impact of Delayed Treatment in ROP
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) that occurs in preterm babies can progress fast, which requires quick decisions early about treatment, explained Darius M. Moshfeghi, MD, chief, Retina Division, and professor at the Horngren Family Vitreoretinal Center, Byers Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University School of Medicine.
Dr Sancy Leachman Discusses Tailoring Genetic Testing for Melanoma to the Patient
Each patient needs to weigh the benefits and risks of genetic testing for melanoma and have someone who can take the time to explain everything, including insurance risks, said Sancy Leachman, MD, PhD, professor and chair in the Department of Dermatology and director of the Melanoma Research Program at the Knight Cancer Institute at Oregon Health and Science University.