AJMC Staff

The new federal spending bill includes changes to Medicaid enrollment, postpartum coverage, and other health programs; new research shows widened disparities among US adults with diabetes using insulin; in 2022, the Drug Enforcement Administration confiscated more than 379 million fentanyl doses.

Content published on AJMC.com focusing on automated insulin delivery devices over the past year highlighted utilization of these devices by age, compared different types of systems, looked at barriers to uptake, and examined equity issues standing in the way of access.

Among young adults, 2-year cancer survival increased more in states with expanded Medicaid coverage; some pharmacies implemented purchase limits to help combat children’s medicine supply shortages; an FDA advisory panel will meet next month to discuss the state of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Eli Lilly is experiencing a shortage of the diabetes drug tirzepatide (Mounjaro); a data breach has caused over 200,000 Medicare enrollees to receive new identification cards; a restructuring of the current model for developing and selling antibiotics could be a solution to shortages and drug-resistant germs.

While the combination improved multiple depression scores, patients receiving both therapies did have more adverse events than those in control groups, the meta-analysis found.

Women with endometriosis may experience a delay in optimal care due to a variety of reasons including cultural beliefs, prior authorization hurdles, and more, explained Robin Kroll, MD, medical director, Seattle Clinical Research Center

The top news out of the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) highlighted findings in gliobastoma, HER2-low breast cancer, and Hodgkin lymphoma.

Bipartisan lawmakers aim to pass bill that could incentivize development of new antibiotics; the right to use in vitro fertilization (IVF) may be enshrined in law; CDC director says that vaccine misinformation is a public health threat.

COVID-19 vaccines have prevented more than 3.2 million deaths, but the US death rate this year has not declined to prepandemic numbers; Texas Attorney General (AG) Ken Paxton’s office has requested driver’s license records with sex changes from the past 2 years, among other documents, from the Texas Department of Public Safety; even though hepatitis C virus (HCV) is curable, some people who are incarcerated are going without treatment and dying.

There are promising developments in the pipeline for EGFR exon 20 insertion–positive non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and groups like The Exon 20 Group can help ensure patients are getting access to programs to navigate their care.

Studies highlight use and sequencing of BTK inhibitors, CAR T-cell therapy, and natural killer (NK) cell therapy.

Moderna’s mRNA-4157/V940 combined with Merck’s pembrolizumab reduced melanoma recurrence and death; HHS proposed permanently implementing emergency opioid use disorder policies enacted in 2020; maternal death rates were 62% higher in 2020 in states that now have abortion restrictions.

Coverage of FDA approvals for teclistamab, the first bispecific antibody in multiple myeloma; tremelimumab and durvalumab in liver cancer; cemiplimab with chemotherapy in first-line NSCLC; and mirvetuximab soravtansine-gynx for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer.

Among the conference highlights from the annual meeting of the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) were an interview on chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapies and a session on best practices for value-based contracting.

CMS plans to limit the number of nonstandardized Affordable Care Act (ACA) exchange plans offered by each insurer in 2024; CVS and Walgreens agree to settle on lawsuits revolving around their role in the opioid crisis; cases of COVID-19 rise during the holiday season as people meet with their families.

A judge blocked the FDA’s mandate that would require cigarette companies to publish a graphic warning on packaging; the Jynneos mpox vaccine effectively offered strong protection against the virus; intense movement was found to reduce the risk of death within 7 years.

Coverage of our peer-reviewed research and news reporting in the health care and mainstream press.

The American College of Cardiology’s 71st Scientific Session covered how to address the impact of social determinants of health on cardiovascular outcomes, understanding the latest developments in digital health, and the role of COVID-19 on heart health.

Approximately 5.5 million people have enrolled in health care coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace for 2023; the Gavi alliance is debating the end of the worldwide vaccine sharing initiative; the White House is now tracking nonfatal opioid overdoses.

CMS proposed a rule to streamline the prior authorization process and expand health information access; a scathing report urged the FDA to consider restructuring and potentially dividing the agency; the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) and American Medical Association (AMA) are coleading the Rise to Health Coalition.

Pfizer requested authorization for its bivalent COVID-19 vaccine for children aged younger than 5 years; most flu viruses from samples are similar to strains chosen by officials for this year's updated vaccines; Alabama Medicaid agreed to end a longstanding policy allowing refusal to pay for antiviral treatment for hepatitis C in patients with a substance use disorder.

The CDC reported that the number of people who were hospitalized with the flu nearly doubled during the week of Thanksgiving; contraception for people producing sperm is finding promising results in clinical trials; marijuana use in children has risen 245% in the last 20 years.

Teenage brains prematurely aged by 3 years during pandemic lockdowns; Washington state health officials report high flu activity and 7 deaths; medical groups ask a Texas judge to refrain from issuing a nationwide injunction against the preventive health screenings covered by the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Coverage of our peer-reviewed research and news reporting in the health care and mainstream press.

Methotrexate dampens the immune response to vaccines, and a recent study showed that discontinuing treatment for 1 week instead of 2 worked just as well for patients with rheumatoid arthritis getting a flu shot.

The Biden administration plans to end the national emergency that was called for the monkeypox virus outbreak as cases appear to be under control; bisexual and gay men will more easily be able to donate blood under new guidelines set to be released by the FDA; the FDA has paused the emergency use authorization for the monoclonal antibody treatment bebtelovimab.