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The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) released a draft scoping document on new biologics for severe asthma. Public comment on the draft is open until June 5.

The Trump administration confirms it will not approve state requests to impose lifetime limits on Medicaid benefits; a significant number of young adults are providing long-term care for older loved ones and are more likely to be stressed by the caregiving than older counterparts; 5 more states file lawsuit against Purdue Pharma for its alleged role in the opioid epidemic, and Florida files lawsuit against multiple painkiller makers and drug distributors.

A group of healthcare organizations have come together to advocate for policies that support independent practices moving to risk-based care models.

The Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018, as proposed in the House of Representatives, would make the program more complicated to administer for states, impose new mandates, and take away program flexibility, while leaving low-income households at risk of losing so-called food stamps, now called Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, according to a new research report.

The FDA has approved Pfizer’s epoetin alfa-epbx (Retacrit), a biosimilar to epoetin alfa (Epogen), marking the first biosimilar approval of 2018 and the first biosimilar erythropoiesis-stimulating agent approved in the United States.

A new study published in JAMA showed that although estimates of prescription medication use for children and teens fell overall from 1999 to 2014, patterns differed by types of medications, with drugs for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), asthma, and contraception all increasing. Use of antibiotics, antihistamines, and upper respiratory combination medications decreased.

Massachusetts General Hospital has received a $750,000 human clinical trial grant to explore the use of positron emission tomography imaging of inflammation to serve as a biomarker for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis diagnosis and clinical trials.

Democrats are eager to run on healthcare in the 2018 midterm elections; the Virginia State Senate convened for a procedural move that put the state budget bill before the finance committee as a battle over Medicaid expansion continued; in separate letters sent to HHS Secretary Alex Azar, more than 200 Democratic lawmakers from the House and Senate warned against making changes to a federal family planning program for low-income Americans,

The HHS secretary took on critics who said the plan went too easy on pharma and touted provisions that he said would change incentives that have worked in favor of companies and against patients.

Another organization has announced a plan for making health coverage affordable, following a spate of similar proposals like “Medicare for All” and “Medicare Extra for All” and in the wake of continued efforts by the Trump administration to nibble away at the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

In the 4 months following their approvals, pembrolizumab and nivolumab reached more than 60% of eligible patients with melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, and renal cell carcinoma.

It’s midway through the year and practices most likely have selected their quality measures and are collecting data to meet the reporting requirements under CMS’ Quality Payment Program under the 2018 Final Rule. But how do you know your practice is working to maximize your performance? It is all about communication and planning.

Vermont healthcare organization OneCare Vermont is being closely watched because it was within 1% of meeting its financial target in its first year; scientists are turning to drug repurposing to methodically build upon previous research to find new drug candidates while saving time and expense; 2 organizations are investigating why so many American mothers die or nearly die in childbirth.

While the number of drugs approved for rare diseases has increased significantly since the passage of the Orphan Drug Act of 1983, questions linger about whether is connected with innovation in treatments for rare diseases, especially given the fact that patent protection for new products often extends well beyond the 7 years granted to orphan drugs.

Through an HIV heatmap, as well as an extensive survey and customized web-based software to connect social determinants with viral suppression rates, an HIV primary care program is working to reduce the number of new HIV diagnoses and increase viral suppression rates in Long Island and Queens.

Out-of-pocket costs for consumers and targeting the complex pharmaceutical rebating system were the high points of a presentation that began in the Rose Garden and ended with HHS Secretary Alex Azar's details in the White House press room.

A month after the Surgeon General issued an advisory calling for more people to carry naloxone, a Health Affairs blog post underscored the complexity of identifying who is most likely to benefit, as well as ensuring accessibility and affordability.

This week, the top managed care stories included another report that shows uninsured rates are rising; FDA confirms shortages of the EpiPen, but the manufacturer insists the delay will be short; a Senate panel examines the need for transparency in insulin pricing.

The Institute for Patient Access has issued a response to the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) following its report assessing the clinical effectiveness and economic value of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) inhibitors for the treatment of chronic or episodic migraines.

This month, mental health professionals from across the country gathered in New York, New York, for a pair of conferences that addressed advances in treating mental health disorders. Below are 5 key takeaways from the meetings on new directions in the field.

Tennessee has become the second state to pass a law allowing pharmaceutical companies to market their products for off-label uses; a House panel advanced legislation that would expand access to private sector care outside of the Veterans Affairs (VA) health system; and nearly half of oncologists recommend medical marijuana to their patients.

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

Cancer is a leading cause of death among women of parenting age, and a new study demonstrates that women with metastatic cancer who are the parents of dependent children have higher rates of psychological distress and lower health-related quality of life.

The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that men aged 55 to 69 make their own decision on whether or not to be screened periodically for prostate cancer after they have had a conversation with their physician on potential benefits and harms.

During a Kaiser Family Foundation webcast, “Why are Health Prices So High, and What can be Done About Them?” stakeholders from varying sectors of the healthcare industry offered differing opinions on what is driving healthcare costs in the United States.

Since its inception, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) has implemented 37 models testing healthcare delivery and payment reform. A new Goverment Accountability Office assessment found that CMMI has partially met goals for performance targets.

As high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) grow in popularity, the University of Michigan Center for Value-Based Insurance Design is advocating for a clinically nuanced alternative to the traditional HDHP.

Geisinger Health System will begin to integrate DNA sequencing as part of routine preventive care; a review of evidence confirms that HPV vaccinations protect women against cervical cancer; and new research has found that you may be breathing in tobacco residue in spaces that people haven't smoked in for years.

Common polygenic variation significantly contributes to the aggregation of migraine in families, whether they are common or rare subtypes.

A small observational study found that people with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have poor dental hygiene practices and reduced oral health-related quality of life.