IVIG Plus Glucocorticoids Effective for Treating COVID-19 Pediatric Syndrome
A large multicenter clinical trial has found intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) plus glucocorticoids may be better than IVIG alone for treating multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) caused by COVID-19.
Kedrion to Market RYPLAZIM to Treat Rare Disease
Kedrion Biopharma is now marketing and distributing RYPLAZIM (plasminogen human-tvmh) in the United States to treat C-PLGD.
FDA Approves Avacopan to Treat Rare Autoimmune Disease
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Chemo- Centryx Inc.’s Avacopan, sold under the brand name Tavneos, to treat antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitides.
Studies Reveal Antibody Responses of Pregnant Women Infected with SARS-CoV-2
Two recent studies effectively determined the antibody responses of pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2 and the effect of the fetal sex on those responses, as well as the direct clinical implications for COVID-19 infection and future maternal-fetal vaccination strategies.
CMS Launches New Medicare.gov Tool to Compare Nursing Home Vaccination Rates
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is making it easier to check COVID-19 vaccination rates for nursing home staff and residents by making vaccination data available in a user-friendly format.
Interim Rule Advances Key Protections Against Surprise Medical Bills
An interim final rule with comment period to further implement the No Surprises Act details a process that will take patients out of the middle of payment disputes, provides a transparent process to settle out-of-network (OON) rates between providers and payers, and outlines requirements for healthcare cost estimates for uninsured (or self-pay) individuals.
HHS Announces the Availability of $25.5 Billion in COVID-19 Provider Funding
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is making $25.5 billion in new funding available for healthcare providers affected by the COVID- 19 pandemic.
OCR Issues Guidance on HIPAA, COVID-19 Vaccinations and the Workplace
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued guidance to help the public understand when the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy Rule applies to disclosures and requests for information about whether a person has received a COVID-19 vaccine.
High Oncotic Pressure Cardiopulmonary Bypass Priming with Human Albumin Improves Outcomes in Pediatric Open-Heart Surgery
Specialists at India’s Sir Ganga Ram Hospital conducted a double-blinded, randomized controlled study to examine the impact of high oncotic pressure priming by the addition of 20 percent human albumin prior to the initiation of CPB
First-Line Intravenous Immune Globulin Monotherapy Evaluated in Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathy
The investigators concluded first-line IVIG monotherapy led to clinically relevant improvement in nearly one-half of IIM patients, the majority of whom experienced a rapid clinical response.
