Clinical

What we're reading, November 23, 2016: Alaska has a novel plan to hold down insurance premiums; MedPAC's executive director discusses continuation of value efforts; and new findings regarding microcephaly in Zika-infected babies.

What we're reading, November 22, 2016: Virginia declares opioid addiction a public health emergency; House calls for a pause of ongoing Obamacare lawsuit; and Anthem-Cigna antitrust trial begins.

A prospective trial that reached out to patients with cirrhosis to undergo an ultrasound screen found that the outreach effort doubled the percentage of patients who were screened for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Clinicians can sometimes focus only on a patient’s medical needs, but listening to the patient’s own goals and priorities often reveals social drivers of health that must be addressed, said Renee Murray, associate clinical director of Care Management Initiatives at Camden Coalition.

Many payers are incorporating Fitbit technology into healthcare plans as part of both prevention and clinical treatment programs, hoping that it can help members become healthier and more active, according to Ben Sommers, MBA, vice president of North America Business Development at Fitbit Wellness.

A study published by researchers from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle has found that admission to the intensive care unit reduced survival and increased the cost of care among patients undergoing treatment for acute myeloid leukemia.

The authors developed and validated a survey instrument to assess primary care providers’ and pharmacists’ experiences, attitudes, and beliefs regarding medication discontinuation.

A study conducted in Canada to estimate the prevalence of psychotropic and opioid medication use by older women diagnosed with breast cancer found a significant increase in use, especially during the active treatment phase.

Gerd Burmester, MD, of Charité — Universitätsmedizin Berlin, discussed the results of a randomized, double-blind monotherapy study comparing the safety and efficacy of sarilumab with adalimumab in patients who cannot tolerate methotrexate.

A hospital in China has made history by injecting a patient with lung cancer with revolutionary, yet controversial, CRISPR-Cas9—edited T cells. The first patient was injected on October 28.

Amgen and Allergan have announced that they have submitted a Biologics License Application (BLA) for ABP 215, a biosimilar to bevacizumab (Avastin).

During a session at the Annual Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology, John D. Isaacs, MD, PhD, FRCP, not only reviewed regulatory perspectives as biosimilars enter the market, but conveyed the importance of crafting antibodies to our own purposes.

A new study conducted at the Massachusetts General Hospital evaluated the impact of intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT), along with induction chemotherapy and chemo-radiotherapy, in patients with advanced disease, and observed hints of success.

David Hafler, MD, chairman of the Department of Neurology at the Yale School of Medicine, spoke of exciting times in the field of genome-wide association study-specifically speaking to neurology, genetics, the environment, and the autoimmune response.

A prospective trial among breast cancer patients enrolled in The Pathways Study has found that higher levels of vitamin D can lower the risk of breast cancer morbidity and mortality.

Overall, both case management (CM) and disease management (DM) are vital to reduce healthcare costs by helping beneficiaries control their disease and prevent excessive utilization. However, there are differences in their approach.

Using precision medicine to implement clinical decisions can help healthcare providers achieve the triple aim, said Leonard M. Fromer, MD, FAAFP, executive medical director of the Group Practice Forum.

A study conducted in Australia has concluded that a person’s inherited risk factors for melanoma should be considered when developing self-examination and surveillance programs.

What we're reading, November 11, 2016: Medicare premium increases lower than expected for high earners; HHS' Office of Inspector General will increase pharmaceutical oversight; and a study on the safety of mail-order abortion pills.

The FDA today granted approval to the programmed death ligand-1 inhibitor, nivolumab (Opdivo), for treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN), following platinum-based treatment.

Get Smart About Antibiotics Week raises awareness about the threat of antibiotic resistance and emphasizes the importance of appropriate antibiotic use.

The American Society of Clinical Oncology’s Ad Hoc Palliative Care Expert Panel has developed specific evidence-based recommendations for access to palliative care services for individuals with advanced cancer and for their family caregivers.

A study published in the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network has found that screening for distress tests improves provider confidence and awareness toward person-centered care.

The Prevent Cancer Foundation has developed a digital tool that can compare coverage of screening tests for breast, cervical, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancers across health insurance plans available in a specific state.

Based on a retrospective meta-analysis of clinical trial data, authors of a recent paper in JAMA Oncology concluded that BRAF/MEK and programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) inhibitors were the most effective treatments that were relatively safe in melanoma.

A new study by researchers at the Johns Hopkins University has found that second opinions did not change treatment choice among men diagnosed with low-risk prostate cancer.

Low rates of vaccination among US adults result in preventable diseases and costs to individuals and society in terms of deaths, disabilities, and economic losses from hospitalizations, lost income, and physician visits.

Researchers from Canada’s McGill University have developed a potential tool that can detect early signs of cachexia in cancer patients, which could impact survival.

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has announced that it is collaborating with Innovative Oncology Business Solutions, Inc, on ASCO COME HOME.

Obesity is more than just a lifestyle disease. Ted Kyle, RPh, MBA, principal at ConscienHealth, explained that understanding its complexities as well as the behavioral and physical care it requires is essential in improving the health and productivity of employees.