Week in Review

This week, the top managed care news included a report finding slow progress in reducing low-value care; a study finding savings by accountable care organizations may be overstated; CMS proposing a rule to allow for electronic prior authorization in Part D drugs.

This week, the top managed care news included the Community Oncology Alliance submitting an alternative to the Oncology Care Model; more study results demonstrating diabetes drugs can prevent renal failure; US task force recommending pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention.

This week, the top managed care news included the American Society of Clinical Oncology discussing drug pricing; community oncologists seeking a delay in taking on downside risk in the Oncology Care Model; CDC finding a drop in new diabetes cases in the United States.

This week, the top managed care news included the FDA's approval of a $2.1 million gene therapy; a study revealing that the worldwide need for palliative care will nearly double by 2060; the FDA granting priority review to Amarin’s Vascepa for a cardiovascular indication.

This week, the top managed care news included a study questioning the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program; FDA issuing a warning about do-it-yourself artificial pancreas systems; measles cases reach the highest level since 1994.

This week, the top managed care news included 44 states suing drug makers for price fixing; Gilead pledging to donate pre-exposure prophylaxis for up to 200,000 people for up to 11 years; Philadelphia soda tax reduced consumption of sugary drinks.

This week, the top managed care news included HHS announcing a finalized rule requiring the disclosure of drug prices in television ads; a report finding high satisfaction with employer health coverage despite the cost; a study finding heart failure is surging among young adults.

This week, the top managed care news included CMS Administrator Seema Verma calling for more disruption to the healthcare system; former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD, reflecting on the agency’s record of innovation; liraglutide demonstrating promise for youth with type 2 diabetes.

This week, the top managed care news included HHS announcing 5 new primary care payment models; a judge blocking a "gag rule" for Title X; CMS reopening the rule for chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy add-on payments.

This week, the top managed care news included CDC clarifying its opioid guidelines for chronic pain; pharmacy benefit managers testifying before a Senate committee; Sanofi expanding its insulin savings program starting in June.

This week, the top managed care news included courts rejecting multiple health initiatives from the Trump administration; Congress heard more about rising insulin prices; a new agreement seeks standards for reporting social determinants of health.

This week, the top managed care news included the Department of Justice siding with a federal judge in striking down the Affordable Care Act; FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD, calling for stricter oversight of electronic health records; and a study finding that healthy eating in Medicare and Medicaid is cost effective.

This week, the top managed care news included new primary prevention guidelines that could increase the use of some diabetes drugs; the FDA expanded criteria for which patients can take part in clinical trials; a summit on value-based insurance design showed the need for tough conversations with stakeholders.

This week, the top managed care news included the 2020 budget plan proposing a mix of healthcare spending cuts and increases; the FDA approving the first immunotherapy regimen for breast cancer; and researchers uncovering how sodium glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors work.

This week, the top managed care news included Scott Gottlieb, MD, resigning as FDA commissioner; Eli Lilly offering a discounted version of Humalog; and a second patient reported cured of HIV.

This week, the top managed care news included pharmaceutical executives appearing before a Senate drug pricing hearing; HHS finalizing a Title X rule change; and an analysis that found travel and wait times for healthcare services come with a high price.

This week, the top managed care news included CMS' proposal to cover chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy; a study faulting the FDA’s handling of fentanyl oversight; and breast surgeons calling for genetic testing for all patients with breast cancer.

This week, the top managed care news included increased demand for long-acting contraception since President Trump took office; a payer decision on an insulin pump alarmed diabetes advocates; and despite being involved in cancer treatment decisions, many primary care providers don't feel prepared to do so.

This week, the top managed care news included President Trump's State of the Union address highlighting healthcare; HHS Secretary Alex Azar taking on drug rebates; and physicians asking Congress to fully implement the HITECH Act.

This week, the top managed care news included House and Senate hearings on the cost of prescription drugs; a study finding patients with diabetes can be safely switched to cheaper insulin; and the first non-chemotherapy combination being approved for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

This week, the top managed care news included the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review investigating rising drug prices; CMS expanding value-based insurance design; and researchers using a blood test to detect preclinical Alzheimer disease.

This week, the top managed care news included a new investigation into drug prices; FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD, provided updates on how the government shutdown is impacting FDA work; research found comorbidities impede clinical trial participation for patients with cancer.

This week, the top managed care news included the FDA commissioner discussing boosting drug competition; BMS offering details on its acquisition of Celgene; and cancer mortality rates declining for the 25th consecutive year.

This week, the top managed care news included a government shutdown affects healthcare; Democrats take control of the House; and The American Journal of Managed Care® names its most influential person in healthcare.

Here are the top 5 articles for the month of December.

This week, we recapped the top news from 2018 with a look at policy changes, new research, decisions at the polls, and more.

This week, the top managed care news included a federal judge ruling that the Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional; new diabetes standards address cardiovascular risk; efforts targeting loneliness show improved health outcomes.

This week, the top managed care news included a report that found uninsured rates were on the rise in 2017; an analysis of rising health insurance costs for families; predictions for cardiology trends in 2019.