AJMC Staff

Appeals court to review ruling wiping out some cost-free preventative services; a new legislation aims to boost reimbursement rates for medical providers; changes to coverage may limit elderly home care access

WHO warns of global obesity epidemic challenges; doctors advised to conserve a certain type of tetanus shot; a new set of rules will bar medical debt from consumer credit reports

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

Blockage of proposed bill that would protect in vitro fertilization (IVF) reignites debate over reproductive rights and health care access; ransomware attack leaves patients and providers stranded; people 65 years and older should get an additional booster for the COVID-19 vaccine, CDC says.

Test your knowledge of the studies published in the February 2024 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care. Can you get all of the questions right?

Survey highlights widespread opposition to Alabama's law restricting in vitro fertilization (IVF) access; investigation focuses on potential anticompetitive practices; Medicare weighs options for implementing a new program to deliver healthy meals to seniors with chronic conditions.

The Community Oncology Alliance (COA), which represents independent cancer care practices, has asked CMS to act following a dramatic drop in reimbursements from Express Scripts, Inc. effective January 1, 2024.

Congress is unlikely to include many major health care priorities in the next government funding package; many adults continue to see racism as a problem across aspects of US society; the Endocrine Society will review its clinical guidelines for gender-affirming care.

Patients with cancer express shock and anxiety over the recent ruling by the Alabama Supreme Court regarding frozen embryos; doctors are beginning to charge fees for administrative tasks; some universities are implementing accelerated nursing programs to help with the shortage.

The bispecific antibody is used to treat patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (R/R MM) who have achieved and maintained a complete response for at least 6 months; this approval allows a dosing frequency of 1.5 mg/kg every 2 weeks.

The House Democratic Women’s Caucus wrote a letter urging insurers to comply with both contraceptive coverage requirements and recent Biden administration guidance; several pharmacy chains are experiencing disruptions following a hack at Change Healthcare, UnitedHealth’s technology unit; the FDA said it is not planning to take a tougher stance against clinical trial reporting requirement noncompliance.

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More than half of US adults have a favorable view of the Affordable Care Act (ACA); smartwatches and rings that claim to measure blood sugar levels without piercing the skin could be dangerous and should be avoided; many believe artificial intelligence (AI) could be the solution to physician burnout.

The amount of in-network care claims jumped significantly after surprise billing protections took effect; experts say the US is in the midst of the “fourth wave” of the opioid epidemic; the prevalence of long COVID symptoms 30 and 90 days post infection was 43% to 58% lower among adults who were fully vaccinated before infection.

Insurers grapple with expanding overage for weight loss medications; a new analysis reveals a potential correlation between COVID-19 vaccinations and various adverse effects (AEs); reshaping Medicaid programs remains an ongoing debate about ensuring health care access.

Discontinuation of asthma drug leaves patients in search of alternative; FDA’s approach to artificial intelligence (AI) raises opportunities and challenges; landmark FDA approval signals hope for millions with severe food allergies.

Medicare beneficiaries are beginning to see the first savings from the Inflation Reduction Act; abortion pills prescribed to patients via telehealth and the mail are safe; nearly half of health care workers have witnessed racism or discrimination in their workplace.

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Details from the final interim data analysis of the ADAPT+ study confirm previous findings seen with efgartigimod (Vyvgart) in generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG), the rare neuromuscular autoimmune disease.

The Federal Trade Commission and HHS will examine generic drug shortage causes; the Biden administration recently dedicated an additional $515 million to a major initiative to study long COVID; cybersecurity experts warn that US hospitals are at risk for attacks and the government is doing little to prevent such breaches.

Part of the recent Medicare reimbursement cuts could be addressed in a spending package next month; Medicaid/Medicare dual eligibles are expected to generate big profits for health insurers; FDA sent warning letters to online vendors selling unapproved and misbranded versions of semaglutide and tirzepatide.

A ruling against Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America marks victory for efforts to lower health care costs; new guidelines align with flu and respiratory syncytial virus protocols; children and pregnant individuals are burdened with long-term health symptoms in the aftermath of COVID-19.

Overcoming insurance hurdles for critical medications; rising heat and wildfires reverse decades of clean air progress; conflicts between parents and schools arise as teens seek mental health support

The findings follow endorsement of the screening measure from the American Diabetes Association, which recommended the practice to identify patients who have type 1 diabetes (T1D) who could benefit from targeted strategies to prevent symptomatic heart failure (HF).

Dubbed the FLEX trial, the study will explore whether batoclimab will address important patient needs throughout different phases of the myasthenia gravis (MG).

A wave of drug supply chain problems would occur if the FDA pulled cough and cold medications containing the active ingredient phenylephrine from shelves; lawmakers in 19 states are considering bills allowing medically assisted death; tuberculosis awareness is lagging as state and local health departments lack the resources to keep up with prevention and control efforts.

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House Republicans voted to ban quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) from being used as a drug pricing metric in federal health programs; insurance executives disapproved of newly proposed 2025 Medicare Advantage (MA) rates; patients with long COVID enrolled in an online exercise program said their health improved more than people who received standard care.

The FDA has accepted GSK’s application for priority review for extended use of Arexvy in higher-risk adults aged 50 to 59 years; pharmacy retail chains are finding it harder to draw the next generation of pharmacists; antivaccine activists are falsely downplaying the dangers of measles amid global outbreaks.

States channel billions into housing for the homeless using Medicaid funds; AstraZeneca invests $300 million to discover and develop cell therapies; the CDC highlights dangers of menthol cigarette addiction.