New Secretary of Health and Human Services Confirmed
Alex Michael Azar II was confirmed the 24th Secretary of Health and Human Services.
CMS Launches Voluntary Bundled Payment Model
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation has launched a new voluntary bundled payment model called Bundled Payments for Care Improvement Advanced.
First Digital Pill for Mental Illness Approved by FDA
Abilify MyCite (aripiprazole tablets with sensor; Otsuka Pharmaceutical), the first digital ingestion tracking system, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
FDA Issues Product Advisory for CSL Behring’s AlbuRx
CSL Behring noted the potential for fading print with more effect on the expiration dating on the patient tear-off portion of the vial label.
Study Finds Antibiotics Can Weaken the Immune System
Researchers have found antibiotics can be counterproductive and weaken the immune system’s ability to fight off bacteria.
Study Shows Antabuse Lowers Risk of Death from Cancer
A nationwide epidemiological study showed cancer patients who continuously used disulfiram (Antabuse), a drug prescribed to alcoholics to prevent them from drinking, have a lower risk of death from cancer compared to those who stopped using the drug once diagnosed.
Hike Proposed for Medicare Payments in 2019
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has proposed a 1.84 percent increase in 2019 Medicare payments to health insurers that manage Medicare Advantage insurance plans for more than 20 million elderly and disabled people.
Subcutaneous Prophylaxis with Bispecific Monoclonal Antibody Reduces Bleeding Rate in Hemophilia A and Inhibitors
A Phase III study involving 109 male participants with hemophilia A and inhibitors showed that once-weekly subcutaneous prophylactic administration of an investigational bispecific humanized monoclonal antibody (emicizumab; ACE910) was associated with a significantly lower rate of bleeding events than no prophylaxis.
HHS Proposed Significant Cuts to Medicare Payments for 340B Drugs
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has proposed 2018 updates to the Medicare hospital outpatient prospective payment system to decrease Medicare Part B payments to hospitals for 340B drugs by almost 30 percent.
Senate Passes CHRONIC Care Act of 2017
The U.S. Senate passed the Creating High-Quality Results and Outcomes Necessary to Improve Chronic(CHRONIC) Care Act of 2017, which aims to improve care for seniors with chronic conditions.