pharmaceuticals

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Medicine
www.bostonherald.com
2 days ago
Medicine

When copay assistance backfires on patients

Employers may stop counting copay assistance from drugmakers towards annual deductibles, leading patients to pay more out-of-pocket.
Patients can face unexpected high bills for medications when insurers or employers implement copay accumulator programs.
MedCity News
4 months ago
Medicine

U.K. Is First to Approve a CRISPR-Based Therapy, Covering Two Blood Disorders

The UK has authorized a gene-editing medicine for treating sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia, marking the first approval worldwide for a therapy based on CRISPR technology.
The therapy, known as Casgevy, involves editing a gene in a patient's stem cells to produce high levels of fetal hemoglobin.
Casgevy offers a potentially curative treatment option for these inherited blood disorders, reducing the need for chronic therapies and blood transfusions.
moreMedicine
Health
Ars Technica
1 week ago
Health

Tick-killing pill shows promising results in human trial

A human pill is being developed for Lyme disease prevention which can kill ticks within 24 hours and provide protection for up to 30 days.
WSJ
4 months ago
Health

The Rift Over Giving Probiotics to the Tiniest Patients

The FDA crackdown on products for premature babies has left doctors without a key tool for preventing a deadly gut disease.
Probiotics have been used for years to protect prematurely born babies, but American hospitals have stopped using them due to recent FDA restrictions.
MedCity News
4 months ago
Health

Report: Workers Trust Employers More Than Insurers With Their Health

37% of employees trust their insurer to suggest high-quality care regardless of cost, while 53% trust their employer with their health.
Employees need more support from their employers when it comes to healthcare, as many have had to delay or skip care due to lack of paid time off.
Weight management is a major concern for employees, with obesity/weight loss being the biggest personal health worry for a quarter of respondents.
www.cnn.com
10 months ago
Health

Cancer drugs among top 5 most affected by shortages in the US

As the US faces a near-record number of drug shortages, cancer treatments are among the hardest hit.There is an active shortage of about two dozen chemotherapy drugs, the fifth most of any drug category, according to data from the end of March from the University of Utah Drug Information Service.The fact that we have this many chemo drugs in shortage is really concerning, said Michael Ganio, senior director of pharmacy practice and quality at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.
moreHealth
Forbes
2 months ago
Media industry

Council Post: How Newsjacking Earns Coverage, Satisfies Clients And Builds Media Relationships

The average marketing budget for healthcare and pharmaceutical companies dropped by 8% from 2021 to 2022.
Newsjacking, which involves incorporating major news events into pitches to editors, can be an effective tactic in generating media coverage for clients.
MobileAppAaily
2 months ago
Artificial intelligence

6 Predictions Of 2024 That Will Put AI To Reality Check Test

AI's impact in 2023 fell short of expectations
AI will bloom in tech, banking, pharmaceuticals, and education in 2024
WSJ
2 months ago
Right-wing politics

Merck to Buy Harpoon Therapeutics for $680 Million

Merck & Co. is acquiring Harpoon Therapeutics for $680 million in cash.
The acquisition price of $23 per share is more than double Harpoon's closing price of $10.55.
WSJ
4 months ago
Coronavirus

Opinion | The Covid Vaccine Windfall Turns on Pfizer and Moderna

Pfizer and Moderna's stock prices surged during the Covid panic
Pfizer became the first pharmaceutical company to have over $100 billion in annual sales in 2022
Law
MedCity News
7 months ago
Law

43K Patients in California Could Get Refunds, Bill Corrections As Part of Discounted Care Settlement

Santa Clara Valley Healthcare is notifying 43,000 patients about their eligibility for billing corrections and refunds.
The health system settled a lawsuit regarding failure to inform patients about charity care programs.
Patients whose bills were sent to collections between October 28, 2018, and December 31, 2021 are eligible for re-review.
Patients have 65 days to confirm interest and 150 days to complete their application for bill correction.
Santa Clara County will establish better policies to ensure patients are aware of charity care programs.
MedCity News
7 months ago
Law

CMS Lowers No Surprises Act Fee After Court Nixes Price Hike

CMS is lowering the administrative fee for initiating a reimbursement dispute under the No Surprises Act.
This comes after the Texas Medical Association challenged HHS over the fee hike.
The No Surprises Act protects against surprise medical bills and establishes a process for IDR.
CMS had initially announced a fee increase to $350 but it was vacated by a Texas federal judge.
The fee increase was criticized for making the IDR process more expensive and cost-prohibitive for providers.
MedCity News
7 months ago
Law

House Reps Introduce Bill To Ease State Medicaid Staffing Shortages Amid Redeterminations

A bill introduced in the House of Representatives aims to alleviate staffing shortages at state Medicaid agencies.
The bill would prevent beneficiaries from being disenrolled due to staffing problems or procedural reasons.
The Medicaid Staffing Flexibility and Protection Act would allow state Medicaid agencies to hire outside contractors to help with redeterminations.
The bill aims to reduce the number of people removed from coverage due to staffing shortages.
The Medicaid continuous enrollment provision, which prevented disenrollment during the Covid-19 emergency, is being unwound.
MedCity News
7 months ago
Law

HHS Launches Civil Rights Investigation Into Vanderbilt's Sharing of Transgender Patient Data

Takeaway 1: Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) is under federal investigation for allegedly turning over transgender patients' medical records to the Tennessee attorney general. This investigation was launched after two VUMC patients filed a class-action lawsuit against the hospital.
Takeaway 2: VUMC's issues with transgender care began when 60 Republican members of the Tennessee House of Representatives raised concerns about the hospital's transgender care clinic. This scrutiny was further escalated when conservative columnist Matt Walsh criticized VUMC's clinic in a series of tweets, alleging that the hospital performed surgeries on minors.
Takeaway 3: In addition to the ongoing federal investigation, VUMC was also under investigation by Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti for potential manipulation of medical billing codes to evade coverage limitations on gender-related treatment. This scrutiny has led to the suspension of gender-affirming surgeries for patients under 18 while the hospital completes an internal review of its clinical guidelines.
MedCity News
7 months ago
Law

Senator Probes Google About 'Premature Deployment of Unproven Technology' In Healthcare Settings

Takeaway 1: Senator Mark Warner is concerned about the premature deployment of unproven AI technology in healthcare, particularly Mayo Clinic's use of Med-PaLM 2 by Google. He is worried that this could erode trust in medical institutions, exacerbate racial disparities in health outcomes, and increase the risk of diagnostic and care delivery errors.
Takeaway 2: Warner's letter addresses his concerns to Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet and Google, highlighting the rush by tech companies to capture market share in the generative AI space. This frenzy has led to the deployment of fledgling technology in an effort to gain a first-mover advantage. Warner emphasizes that such rapid deployment is particularly concerning in the healthcare industry due to the potential life-and-death consequences of mistakes and the sensitivity of health information.
Takeaway 3: While AI has been used in healthcare settings for years, the introduction of large language models and generative AI tools like Med-PaLM 2 bring new complexities and risks to the field. Warner cites a report where a Google research director acknowledges these risks, supporting Warner's concerns about the potential negative impacts of deploying unproven AI technology in the healthcare sector.
MedCity News
7 months ago
Law

Healthcare M&A Activity Reaches 3-Year Low, But It Might Pick Up in the Back Half of '23

Takeaway 1: M&A activity in the healthcare sector declined in Q2 2023, reaching its lowest point in three years. The number of deals decreased by 7% compared to the same quarter last year and by 41% compared to Q2 2021.
Takeaway 2: The report suggests that M&A activity could increase in the second half of this year due to healthcare companies' shrinking valuations and divestitures of non-core assets. Lower valuations make deals attractive to buyers who previously shied away from high valuations in the healthcare sector.
Takeaway 3: The trend of clinical services leaving hospitals and shifting to ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) and office-care settings will continue to influence healthcare dealmaking. Regions with a significant number of procedures taking place in ASCs and doctor's offices, such as Austin and Las Vegas, may present attractive acquisition opportunities for companies with ambulatory assets and high patient volumes.
moreLaw
MedCity News
7 months ago
Law

Nektar Sues Eli Lilly, Claiming the Big Pharma Breached Contract to Favor Another Drug

Nektar Therapeutics is accusing former partner Eli Lilly of miscalculating clinical data for their atopic dermatitis drug, rezpegaldesleukin, which resulted in its development being scuttled. Nektar claims that Lilly took this action to favor a different atopic dermatitis drug it had acquired through a $1.1 billion acquisition.
The lawsuit filed by Nektar against Lilly is considered significant and substantial, indicating the seriousness of the allegations. Nektar suggests that rezpeg could have been in a Phase 2 study for atopic dermatitis much earlier if not for Lilly's alleged actions.
In the market for atopic dermatitis treatments, the dominant drug is Dupixent, developed by Sanofi and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals. Nektar's rezpegaldesleukin was expected to provide dosing and efficacy advantages over existing treatments, but its development fell behind due to the alleged actions of Lilly, hindering its competitive position in the market.
MedCity News
7 months ago
Law

How Did The 3 Biggest For-Profit Hospital Chains Perform in Q2?

The three largest for-profit health systems - HCA Healthcare, Tenet Healthcare, and Community Health Systems - have all reported improved financial positions in Q2 2023 compared to the same period last year. This improvement can be attributed to declining contract labor expenses.
HCA Healthcare reported increased revenues of $5.1 billion in Q2 2023, compared to $4.6 billion in Q2 2022. Tenet Healthcare's revenues also rose to $3.1 billion in Q2 2023, compared to $2.9 billion in Q2 2022. This indicates overall growth for both health systems.
Although HCA and Tenet posted net incomes for the quarter, Community Health Systems (CHS) reported a net loss of $38 million in Q2 2023. However, CHS still performed better than the previous year, with a total net loss for the first half of the year of $89 million, compared to $327 million in the first half of 2022.
MedCity News
7 months ago
Law

Hospitals Still Struggling to Get Back Online 4 Days After Cyberattack on Prospect Medical Holdings

Ransomware attacks can have significant impacts on healthcare facilities: The recent attack on Prospect Medical Holdings has caused hospitals and outpatient centers in multiple states to go offline, leading to disruptions in patient care and the need for paper record-keeping. This highlights the vulnerability of healthcare systems to cyberattacks and the importance of robust cybersecurity measures.
Healthcare facilities must prioritize patient care during and after cyberattacks: Prospect Medical Holdings has emphasized the importance of addressing the needs of their patients while working to restore their online systems. During such incidents, healthcare providers should have contingency plans in place to ensure that patient care is not compromised, even if digital systems are offline.
Cybersecurity measures and preparedness are crucial in the healthcare industry: The attack on Prospect Medical Holdings underscores the need for healthcare organizations to invest in strong cybersecurity measures and be prepared for potential cyber threats. Collaborating with third-party cybersecurity specialists and regularly updating systems can help prevent successful attacks and reduce the impact if an attack does occur.
MedCity News
7 months ago
Law

GSK Patent Suit Aims to Halt Pfizer's RSV Vaccine for Adults, But Not Infants

GSK is suing Pfizer over allegations that Pfizer's RSV vaccine infringes on GSK's patents. This indicates that there is a significant level of competition between the two companies in the RSV vaccine market.
Both GSK's Arexvy and Pfizer's Abrysvo are new vaccines that recently received FDA approval for preventing RSV in adults over the age of 60. This highlights the importance of developing effective vaccines for a vulnerable age group.
The basis of RSV vaccine research has been the identification of the prefusion form of the F protein, which has shown better results in eliciting protective antibodies. Multiple companies, including Pfizer, Moderna, and Icosavax, are developing vaccines that target this conformation of the F protein.
MedCity News
7 months ago
Law

'A Criminal Justice Approach to a Public Health Problem': How the Justice System Can Improve SUD Support

Incarcerated individuals are increasingly receiving substance use treatment through digital health solutions, which can help them to successfully reintegrate into society upon release.
Digital health solutions can provide personalized treatment plans tailored to the individual's needs and can help incarcerated individuals to access treatment and services regardless of their geographic location.
MedCity News
7 months ago
Law

Labor Department Sues UnitedHealth Group Over 'Thousands' of Claims Denials

UnitedHealth Insurance is facing a lawsuit due to the company's alleged denials of insurance claims.
The lawsuit is claiming that UnitedHealth is denying claims without providing a valid reason, which is in violation of federal law.
If the lawsuit is successful, it could have far-reaching implications for the healthcare industry and could result in increased regulation of insurance companies.
MedCity News
7 months ago
Law

'We Can Be More Selective About Who We Treat': UHS CFO's Comments Spark Concerns About Cherry-Picking

UHS has made a commitment to financial well-being for healthcare providers by introducing a new financing platform.
This platform provides flexible financing options, such as extended payment plans, to help healthcare providers reduce costs and maintain liquidity.
UHS is also investing in advanced analytics technology to ensure that healthcare providers can better understand their financial situation and make informed decisions.
MedCity News
9 months ago
Law

Lawsuits Against Medicare Drug Negotiations Are Mounting, But They Probably Won't Be Able to Stop The Plan

Earlier this month, became the first entity to the White House's Medicare drug pricing negotiation program.Since then, three more lawsuits have been filed in opposition to the program.While legal experts legally challenge agree that the plaintiffs' arguments probably won't hold up during a court battle, these lawsuits still could delay when the government's ability to negotiate price goes into effect.
ipwatchdog.com | Patents & Intellectual Property Law
9 months ago
Intellectual property law

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Sues HHS Over Constitutional Defects in Inflation Reduction Act's Medicare Negotiation Program - ipwatchdog.com | Patents & Intellectual Property Law

"The only plausible explanation for the way the Inflation Reduction Act is structured is that the President and Members of Congress thought that it would be easier and more politically palatable..." - U.S. Chamber of Commerce
On June 9, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and several affiliate organizations filed a lawsuit in the Southern District of Ohio raising a series of constitutional challenges to provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
IPWatchdog.com | Patents & Intellectual Property Law
9 months ago
Intellectual property law

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Sues HHS Over Constitutional Defects in Inflation Reduction Act's Medicare Negotiation Program

"The only plausible explanation for the way the Inflation Reduction Act is structured is that the President and Members of Congress thought that it would be easier and more politically palatable..." - U.S. Chamber of Commerce
On June 9, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and several affiliate organizations filed a lawsuit in the Southern District of Ohio raising a series of constitutional challenges to provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
MedCity News
9 months ago
Law

Why One Healthcare Lawyer Thinks Merck's Drug Pricing Lawsuit Defense 'Makes No Sense'

recently became the first drugmaker to legally challenge the White House's Medicare drug price negotiation program - but the company's defense doesn't seem to have any legs, healthcare law expert Robin Feldman said in a recent interview.The pharmaceutical company filed a against the U.S. government on Tuesday, arguing that the program violates the Constitution's First and Fifth Amendments.
MedCity News
7 months ago
Law

Average Healthcare Data Breach Cost Reaches Nearly $11M

Healthcare organizations must remain vigilant to data breaches by continually monitoring for potential threats and investing in robust cybersecurity systems.
Ransomware is a growing threat to healthcare data security, so organizations should have procedures in place to quickly identify, contain, and address any potential attack.
Healthcare organizations should prioritize the training of their staff on how to recognize and respond to cyber-attacks to minimize the risk of a data breach.
MedCity News
9 months ago
Law

Providers Should Beware of Ransomware Gang Clop & The Latest Software Vulnerability It's Targeting

Healthcare organizations must be wary of cybercriminals exploiting a software vulnerability called MOVEit.The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency an alert this month warning health systems about this vulnerability - the alert stated that Clop, a Russian ransomware gang known for going after healthcare providers, has been exploiting MOVEit.
MedCity News
9 months ago
Law

Feds Warn Healthcare Providers About 'Obscure' Ransomware Gang

The Health Sector Cybersecurity Coordination Center (HC3), which was created by the Department of Health and Human Services, recently healthcare providers about a "relatively unknown" ransomware gang that is beginning to attack organizations in the healthcare sector.HC3 issued an alert on a cybercriminal group called TimisoaraHackerTeam (THT).
MedCity News
9 months ago
Law

Federal Agencies Release New Guidelines to Help Providers Fend Off Ransomware

A group of federal agencies recently released an updated set of guidelines to help healthcare organizations protect themselves from ransomware attacks and the data breaches that often follow.The guide was authored by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, National Security Agency, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center.
MedCity News
10 months ago
Law

How Can Medtechs Prepare for the FDA's Shift Left Strategy on Cybersecurity

The recent FDA guidance on security marks good and bad news for the industry.In short, the FDA can now refuse submissions from medical device manufacturers if they can't demonstrate that they have comprehensive cybersecurity processes and detailed information on the composition of their software in place.
MedCity News
8 months ago
Law

Senate Finance Committee Advances Bill Targeting PBMs

The Senate Finance Committee has recently introduced a bill that would require PBMs (Pharmacy Benefit Managers) to disclose more information regarding their prescription drug costs, including prices for which they are receiving rebates.
The bill also includes provisions that would prohibit PBMs from denying access to certain drugs and would require them to pass on their discounts and rebates to consumers.
MedCity News
8 months ago
Law

The Biden Administration Proposes Rule To Improve Mental Health Parity

The Biden Administration has proposed new rules that will require health insurers to provide equal coverage for mental health services and physical health services.
The proposed rule requires health insurers to cover mental health services with the same cost-sharing, deductibles, and copayments as other medical services.
The proposed rule also requires health insurers to cover multiple types of mental health services, including psychotherapy, inpatient and outpatient visits, and prescription drugs.
MedCity News
8 months ago
Law

Hospitals' Price Transparency Compliance Is Improving Despite Remaining Low at 36%

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed a new rule requiring hospitals to disclose negotiated prices with insurers and post them online, in an effort to increase healthcare price transparency.
The proposed rule would require hospitals to post their standard charge information, including negotiated rates with insurers, shoppable services, and financial assistance policies.
MedCity News
8 months ago
Law

Coalition Applauds Reintroduction of Obesity Treatment Bill, Urges Passage

The Senate recently passed a bill that would make certain medications used to treat obesity and chronic diseases more accessible and affordable.
The bill would require government healthcare programs to cover certain medications that both prevent and treat obesity and chronic illnesses.
The bill also includes measures to reduce costs associated with these medications, such as eliminating co-payments and deductibles, and providing rebates for certain medications.
MedCity News
8 months ago
Law

Startup Sues Athenahealth, Alleging Trade Secret Theft & Deceptive Practices

Athenahealth, a healthcare technology company, is facing a lawsuit alleging trade secret deception and misuse of their EHR software.
The lawsuit claims that Athenahealth wrongfully obtained confidential information from a healthcare software company, resulting in an unfair competitive advantage.
This case highlights the importance of protecting trade secrets to prevent deceptive practices in the healthcare industry.
MedCity News
8 months ago
Law

Ticking the Talons of Healthcare Transparency

Healthcare transparency has the potential to drastically improve the quality of healthcare by reducing errors, improving cost efficiency, and providing more accurate data for research.
Technology advancements such as blockchain, machine learning, and artificial intelligence are changing the way healthcare organizations share and access data, making transparency more attainable than ever.
Transparency initiatives should include an emphasis on patient engagement, as well as take into account ethical concerns around data privacy and security.
MedCity News
8 months ago
Law

The Kraft Heinz Lawsuit Against Aetna Is the 'Tip of the Iceberg'

Kraft Heinz and Aetna are facing a lawsuit alleging that the companies breached their fiduciary duties to employers by mishandling data.
The lawsuit claims that Kraft Heinz and Aetna failed to properly protect an employer’s data, which was allegedly used to create and market products and services without the employer’s knowledge.
MedCity News
8 months ago
Law

'This Is Almost Biblical in Its Impact': Providers Push Back Against CMS' New Proposed Rules

CMS has projected a 4.8% increase in healthcare inflation for the 2023 fiscal year, which will affect reimbursement levels for providers.
CMS has also proposed changes to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System, which could have a significant impact on healthcare providers and their reimbursement policies.
MedCity News
8 months ago
Law

Nearly 2,000 Organizations Urge Congress to Pass PBM Reform

Nearly 2000 organizations have urged Congress to pass pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reform in order to protect patient access to essential medications and increase transparency and accountability.
The organizations highlighted the potential for PBMs to drive up costs by utilizing tactics such as retroactive clawbacks, spread pricing, and formulary control.
MedCity News
8 months ago
Law

Europe Imposes Maximum Fine on Illumina for Early Grail Acquisition

The European Commission has launched an antitrust investigation into Illumina and Grail, two major players in the liquid biopsy space.
The investigation is intended to uncover any potential anticompetitive practices that may be occurring in the liquid biopsy space.
The outcome of the investigation could have a major impact on the liquid biopsy space, as it could potentially lead to changes in market structures and dynamics.
MedCity News
8 months ago
Law

Health Connect America Gets Fined $4.6M for Wrongful Billing of Medicaid

Mental health providers are facing increased scrutiny for improper billing of Medicaid services for children.
States are imposing hefty fines on providers who are found to be overbilling Medicaid for mental health services for children.
It is essential for mental health providers to be aware of the legal requirements of billing Medicaid for the services they provide to children.
Dealbreaker
8 months ago
Law

Finance Is So Woke It's Investing Less In Black Companies And Holding Those With Diverse Boards To Higher Standards

Financial institutions are increasingly taking into account social justice issues in their investments, leading to decreased investments in Black-owned companies.
Companies with more diverse boards are being held to higher standards and are receiving greater scrutiny from investors.
Financial institutions are recognizing the importance of social justice and are taking a more active role in ensuring that their investments uphold these values.
MedCity News
8 months ago
Law

Hospitals Have Concerns About CMS' Proposed $9B Lump Sum Payment for Illegal 340B Cuts

CMS is proposing new rules for 340B drugs which would require hospitals to meet specific legal requirements when dispensing them.
Under the proposal, hospitals would need to ensure that 340B drugs are only dispensed to patients who are eligible for the program.
Pharmacies providing 340B drugs would need to adhere to new guidelines to ensure compliance with the proposed rules.
MedCity News
8 months ago
Law

Digital Health's H1 Funding Landscape: Slimmer Checks, Fewer Deals & a Smaller Investor Pool

Digital health companies are increasingly attractive to venture capitalists, who recognize the potential of the industry for high returns on investment.
Investors are starting to recognize the importance of digital health companies in the healthcare landscape, and are taking a more long-term approach to investing in them.
Digital health companies have access to a wide range of funding options, from venture capital to private equity and crowdfunding, allowing them to scale up quickly and expand into new markets.
MedCity News
8 months ago
Law

Biden Administration Takes Action Against Junk Insurance, Surprise Bills

The Biden-Harris administration Friday that it is taking a series of steps to lower healthcare costs for consumers, including cracking down on "junk" insurance. Junk insurance refers to short-term health plans that are often lacking in coverage like mental health and prescription drugs, and they don't have consumer protections like coverage of pre-existing conditions.
MedCity News
8 months ago
Law

Have Insurtechs Truly Disrupted the Mainstream Health Insurance Industry?

Hype rarely achieves expectations. And that seems to be the case with the tech-enabled, new-kids-on-the-block insurtech companies who came to being in the 2010s. They were armed with huge funding rounds but ultimately encountered an even bigger brick wall of size and scale, and entrenched ways of doing business.
MedCity News
8 months ago
Law

Medical Expenses Will Rise by 7% Next Year, Report Predicts

New predicts that healthcare costs will increase by 7% next year. The estimate is higher than the projected medical cost trends in 2022 and 2023 - which were 5.5% and 6.0%, respectively - according to a report published Wednesday. For its report, PwC surveyed and spoke with actuaries who work at health plans.
New York Post
8 months ago
New York City

'Pharma bro' Martin Shkreli owes financial firm $1.7M, court docs show

Martin Shkreli owes $1.7 million to financial services firm Marks Paneth, court filings show.William Farrington
"Pharma bro" Martin Shkreli is also a deadbeat, according to court papers.He owes nearly $1.7 million to financial services firm Marks Paneth, a Manhattan Supreme Court filing says.
MedCity News
9 months ago
Law

How Can Providers Respond to the Wave of Laws Banning Gender-Affirming Care for Minors?

Twenty states have passed a law or policy to ban gender-affirming healthcare for transgender people under 18, and an additional seven states are considering passing these laws.More than 44% of the country's transgender youth live in these 27 states.Some states, such as Texas, Oklahoma and South Carolina, have considered banning gender-affirming care for transgender people up to age 26, according to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) , which is the largest LGBTQ lobbying organization in the country.
MedCity News
9 months ago
Law

New York Signs Law To Protect State Providers Providing Abortion Drug Telemed Services to Out-of-State Patients

On Friday, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed new legislation that will protect the state's doctors, medical providers and facilitators who prescribe abortion care telehealth services to patients outside of New York from litigation in states where abortion services are banned or restricted."This legislation will help more women access medication abortion and reproductive care by ensuring our health care providers can deliver telehealth services to out-of-state patients without fear of legal or professional repercussions," Hochul said in a news release.
MedCity News
9 months ago
Law

PwC: Healthcare Deals Remained Strong in 2023 Despite Headwinds

The healthcare industry faced several headwinds in the last year, such as higher interest rates, more antitrust regulatory review concerns, higher valuations and recession worries.But despite these headwinds, health services deals "remained resilient" for the 12 months ending May 15, according to a PwC published Wednesday.
MedCity News
9 months ago
Law

Deloitte: Employers Could Have a Significant Impact on Employees' Lifespans

With U.S. life expectancy at its lowest point since 1996 and behind other comparable countries, employers have a major role to play in creating a change, a new report explains.The report from Deloitte, published Tuesday, found that while the average lifespan for Americans is 77.9 years, Americans are living only 65.9 years in good health.
MedCity News
9 months ago
Law

How Planned Parenthood's CEO Wants Insurers To Support Reproductive Health

Currently, have enacted full bans on abortion, while another six states have partial bans following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.When that happened, many insurers stepped up to work with employers and explain their benefits, as well as help with travel assistance for abortion services, said Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund.
Dealbreaker
9 months ago
Law

Short Seller Fails To Convince Novartis That Other Pharma Is Full Of It About Kidney Drug

Despite his discovery of new, fraud-filled corners of the globe (warm, sunny, beachy ones, no less), it must be said that Carson Block's not having the best couple of years.The Justice Department might be thinking about taking his toys away (and, you know, maybe more).Columbia went ahead and gave his bête noir tenure despite his vociferous protests.
MedCity News
9 months ago
Law

How California's New Legislation Could Affect Healthcare M&A Activity

Healthcare dealmakers must prepare for a new law and a recently introduced bill in the California Senate.Both aim to increase oversight in the healthcare M&A space, which is a legislative trend other states are beginning to participate in too.The first piece of California legislation that the healthcare industry should be aware of is , which was signed into law a year ago.
MedCity News
9 months ago
Law

New FDA Draft Guidance Signals Acceptance of Decentralized Trials (When Done Right)

When regulators speak, we listen.Naturally risk-averse industries like the life sciences need health authority acceptance before trying new approaches and especially before committing to wholesale operational change, even if the outcome has great potential.Consider decentralized clinical trials (DCTs) - a new model for conducting research.
www.independent.co.uk
9 months ago
UK news

Cocktail of chemicals' found in British oysters include cocaine and pesticides

Pharmaceuticals, pesticides, illegal drugs and E.coli are among a cocktail of chemicals found in water off the south coast, a study has found.And now the substances are even being found in oysters and crabs in the area.Scientists have been investigating the water quality between Chichester and Langstone harbours near Portsmouth and have found more than 50 compounds in 228 samples across 22 sites.
Chicago Tribune
9 months ago
Chicago

Wildfires, pollution bring Chicago hazy skies, red sunsets

You may have been wondering about the recent vibrant, reddish sunsets and hazy skyline in Chicago.What's behind these phenomena can be traced back to a combination of particulate matter and smoke from Canadian wildfires and pollutants that create ground-level ozone.These conditions have occurred before, as recently as last July when wildfires in the western United States caused red suns and moons and hazy skies to be visible across Illinois.
Patently-O
10 months ago
Intellectual property law

Some Thoughts on Amgen v. Sanofi

By Chris Holman
Much has been already been written about the Supreme Court's recent decision in Amgen v. Sanofi, including Dennis's prompt response.Speaking for myself, I read Amgen as an endorsement of the Federal Circuit's current interpretation and application of the enablement requirement, and maintenance of the status quo.
www.thelocal.fr
10 months ago
France politics

Macron says France to train Ukrainian fighter pilots

Emmanuel Macron on Monday announced 13 billion of new foreign investment in France through the Choose France project - an initiative that aims to make France a more attractive place for foreign businesses.Here are the sectors where big new investments have been announced.Published: 15 May 2023 15:18 CEST Macron on Monday attended the 6th annual Choose France conference at Versailles one of his pet projects which is central to his vision of making France a more business-friendly country.
www.thelocal.fr
10 months ago
France politics

E-batteries, solar panels and medicines: France announces 13 billion of new foreign investment

Macron on Monday attended the 6th annual Choose France conference at Versailles one of his pet projects which is central to his vision of making France a more business-friendly country.The Elysee's figures released on Monday show 13 billion of investment via Choose France only one part of the foreign direct investment in France.
Chicago Tribune
1 year ago
Chicago

Editorial: When will the ghost of the Peotone airport folly finally stop haunting Illinois?

We don't believe in ghosts.We do, however, believe in the specter of the Illinois boondoggle, a tax revenue-devouring phantasm that haunts taxpayers with empty promises of job bonanzas and an economic nirvana.That specter has taken various forms over the years.The Illiana tollway was a proposed trucking highway that Illinois didn't need and couldn't afford.
MedCity News
9 months ago
Law

Courts Allowed to Ban Mife Today, Viagra Tomorrow?

Women's health is once again the center of a political ping-pong match with evidence-based science on one side and anti-choice advocates on the other.The current match involves a Texas lawsuit aimed at overruling the FDA's 2000 approval of one of the two drugs prescribed for medication abortion, mifepristone.
www.theguardian.com
9 months ago
Mental health

Universities accused of hiding student suicide attempts behind GDPR

1. Universities are accused of using GDPR as an excuse to withhold information on student suicide attempts.
2. Concerns have been raised that universities may be attempting to conceal their responsibility for student welfare and mental health.
3. Student mental health is a growing concern that should be addressed more openly and transparently by universities.
MedCity News
9 months ago
Law

Federal Lawsuit Alleges Tennessee's Employee Benefits Program Discriminates Against Transgender People

A federal recently filed by two people alleges that the state of Tennessee and its insurance committee are discriminatory against transgender people through the state's employee benefits program.The plaintiffs are Gerda Zinner, a 30-year-old transgender woman and an academic advisor at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and Story VanNess, a 38-year-old transgender woman and a former special education teacher at Knox County Board of Education (VanNess has since left her job).
MedCity News
9 months ago
Law

Pfizer's RSV Vaccine Wins FDA Approval on Heels of Regulatory Nod for GSK

Respiratory syncytial virus had stymied vaccine research efforts for decades.Now there are two vaccines approved for the pathogen.The FDA on Wednesday approved Pfizer's RSV vaccine, which carries the brand name Abrysvo.The regulatory decision follows the approval of GSK's RSV shot, Arexvy, in early May.
MedCity News
10 months ago
Law

Survey: 65% of Americans Say Employer-sponsored Insurance Necessary for Financial Security

About 65% of Americans believe that employer-sponsored insurance provides them with "financial peace of mind," a new shows.The AHIP report, published Wednesday, was conducted by Locust Street Group from April 17 to April 25 as part of AHIP's Coverage@Work campaign, which aims to gather insights on Americans' thoughts on employer-sponsored coverage.
Chicago Tribune
10 months ago
Chicago

Migrant crisis puts more pressure on Chicago budget

Chicago would receive less migrant aid than city leaders had hoped for in the pending state budget deal, a continuation of Springfield's recent practice of awarding Chicago far below its funding requests for housing a growing population of asylum seekers.The $50.6 billion state budget approved by the Illinois Senate late Thursday includes $42.5 million to provide services for migrants arriving from the country's southern border.
MedCity News
10 months ago
Law

FDA Nod Makes Pfizer's Paxlovid the First Approved Oral Covid-19 Antiviral Drug

Pfizer's Paxlovid now has full FDA approval for treating mild-to-moderate Covid-19, a regulatory decision that makes the pill the first oral antiviral for the novel coronavirus.The approval announced Thursday covers the treatment of adults who are at high risk of progressing to severe Covid-19 that could lead to hospitalization or death.
MedCity News
10 months ago
Law

Report: Private Insurers Estimated To Pay $1.1B in Rebates in 2023

Private insurers are expected to pay about $1.1 billion in medical loss ratio rebates in 2023, a new found.The report, published Wednesday by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), relied on preliminary data reported by insurers to state regulators.Some insurers haven't reported their rebate estimates for this year yet, but final data will be released later in the year.
MedCity News
10 months ago
Law

Small, Rural Communities Have Become Abortion Access Battlegrounds

In April, Mark Lee Dickson arrived in West Wendover, Nevada, a 4,500-person city that hugs the Utah-Nevada border to pitch an ordinance banning abortion.Dickson is the director of the anti-abortion group Right to Life of East Texas and founder of another organization that has spent the past few years traveling the United States trying to persuade local governments to pass abortion bans.
MedCity News
10 months ago
Law

Unions File Antitrust Complaint Against UPMC & Allege 'Draconian' Labor Practices

A group of labor unions filed an on Thursday.The plaintiffs alleged that the health system has prevented its workers from being able to advocate for themselves and their patients through "a draconian system of mobility restrictions and widespread labor law violations that lock in sub-competitive pay and working conditions."
TechRepublic
10 months ago
Information security

Chinese state-sponsored attack uses custom router implant to target European governments

Check Point Research released a new report that exposes the activities of a Chinese state-sponsored APT threat actor the research team tracks as Camaro Dragon.The threat actor uses a custom implant to compromise a specific TP-Link router model and steal information from it, as well as provide backdoor access to the attackers.
SecurityWeek
10 months ago
Information security

New Babuk-Based Ransomware Targeting Organizations in US, Korea

An emerging threat actor has been targeting organizations in the US and South Korea with a new ransomware family based on leaked Babuk source code, Cisco's Talos research unit reports.Dubbed RA Group and active since April 2023, the gang has compromised at least three organizations in the US and one in South Korea, spanning across the insurance, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and wealth management sectors.
MedCity News
10 months ago
Law

MedCity INVEST Speaker Q&A: Thompson Coburn's Daniel Tardiff

Daniel Tardiff will be speaking on the panel "Legal Tales From the Startup Side" at the MedCity INVEST conference at 5:15 p.m. on May 23 at the Ritz-Carlton in Chicago.The panel is complimentary, but registration is required.A networking reception will follow the event.Click here to register for the panel and to learn more.
MedCity News
10 months ago
Law

Report: 22.2M Women Could Lose Access To Free Mammogram Screenings

The March 30 Braidwood v. Becerra decision strikes down a part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that prevents cost sharing for some preventive services, which potentially includes mammogram screenings for breast cancer.This means 22.2 million women between the ages of 50 and 64 could lose access to free mammogram screenings, a new Urban Institute found.
MedCity News
10 months ago
Law

FTC Files Suit to Block Amgen's $28B Buyout of Horizon Therapeutics

Amgen's $28 billion deal to acquire Horizon Therapeutics has hit a regulatory obstacle.The Federal Trade Commission is suing to block the transaction, contending it would allow Amgen to make the monopoly positions of two Horizon drugs even stronger.The FTC suit, filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, comes as the regulator keeps a close eye on M&A activity in the life sciences sector.
MedCity News
10 months ago
Law

FDA's Landmark Guidance on Decentralized Clinical Trials (DCTs) Signals a New Era of Patient-Centered Research

The FDA's new draft guidance on Decentralized Clinical Trials (DCTs) is a landmark moment for the industry, emphasizing the importance of virtual trials for improving patient access to groundbreaking research while providing recommendations on how to incorporate remote trial elements safely.In this new guidance, the FDA encourages the use of remote clinical trial visits and clinical trial-related activities as important strategies to make trials more convenient and more accessible to participants.
MedCity News
10 months ago
Law

State, Federal Policy Should Exempt Medical Devices from 'Right-to-Repair' Movement

Delaware may soon become the latest state to pass so-called "right to repair" legislation without including an exemption for medical devices.Legislators and policymakers at the state and federal levels should understand the risks that come with classifying life-saving medical devices like CT, MRI, and PET scanners with other forms of technology.
MedCity News
10 months ago
Law

'Abortion Trafficking': Taking a Minor Out of State for an Abortion Is Now a Crime in Idaho:

Mackenzie Davidson grew up in a Mormon household and sheepishly admits she knew little about pregnancy."This is embarrassing," she said, sitting outside a café along a street thronged with students in this college town."But I didn't know that you had to have sex to have kids until I was 13 or 14."
She's a writer for the University of Idaho student newspaper, The Argonaut, and was asked recently to report on a new law.
MedCity News
10 months ago
Law

California Lawmakers Approve Emergency Loan Program for Struggling Hospitals

The California Senate and Assembly a bill called AB 112 on Thursday.It establishes the Distressed Hospital Loan Program, which would provide interest-free cash loans to nonprofit and public hospitals undergoing significant financial distress.The loan program would provide up to $150 million in funds over the next couple years.
MedCity News
10 months ago
Law

Mount Sinai Doctors Vote to Strike Over Pay, Benefits Disparities

More than 90% of voting resident physicians at Elmhurst Hospital in Queens voted to authorize a strike on Wednesday.Elmhurst's resident physicians are employed by Mount Sinai's Icahn School of Medicine and represented by a union called the Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR).The union has been in talks with Mount Sinai about a new contract since last July, but it says the health system has failed to bargain in good faith.
Acm
10 months ago
Digital life

How does Quantum Computing Impact the Finance Industry?

Based on the World Economic Forum's estimate from 2022, national governments have invested more than $25 billion in quantum computing research, and over $1 billion in venture capital deals were closed in the previous year.Quantum computers (QCs) are in the early stages of development, and there are many technical challenges that need to be overcome before they can become practical tools for everyday use.
MedCity News
10 months ago
Law

Telehealth Companies Applaud DEA for Delaying Telemedicine Restrictions of Controlled Substances

"We take those comments seriously and are considering them carefully," the DEA said."We recognize the importance of telemedicine in providing Americans with access to needed medications, and we have decided to extend the current flexibilities while we work to find a way forward to give Americans that access with appropriate safeguards."
MedCity News
10 months ago
Law

Medicare, VHA Made $128M in Duplicate Payments, OIG Report Shows

Medicare paid providers for medical services that were authorized and also covered by the Veterans Affairs' community care programs between January 2017 and December 2021.This led to duplicate payments of up to $128 million, an by the Office of Inspector General (OIG) found.The audit, published Monday, examined $19.2 billion in Medicare Parts A and B payments for 36.2 million claims of people eligible for both Medicare and Veterans Health Administration (VHA) benefits.
www.npr.org
10 months ago
Law

Record number of people arrested in an international fentanyl operation, DOJ says

Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Tuesday that the department's investigative operation targeting fentanyl and opioid traffickers on the dark web resulted in a record number of arrests and seizures.Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images The Department of Justice announced Tuesday it's made a record number of arrests and seizures in a coordinated international effort to target fentanyl and opioid sales on the dark web.
IPWatchdog.com | Patents & Intellectual Property Law
1 year ago
Intellectual property law

China Gains on Top Filers at European Patent Office

"The number of patent applications...underlines that innovation remained robust last year despite economic uncertainties around the globe."- European Patent Office
U.S. companies and inventors still filed more patent applications with the European Patent Office (EPO) than any other country, according to its Patent Index 2022, which was released today.
MedCity News
11 months ago
Law

Reading Between the Lines of the DEA's Proposed Rules on Telemedicine

The unprecedented expansion of telehealth and mental health care during the pandemic was a monumental shift for behavioral health care in more ways than one.The flexibilities for behavioral health visits that resulted from the government's Covid-19 public health emergency (PHE) declaration meant patients could more easily meet remotely with licensed clinicians at their convenience.
MedCity News
11 months ago
Law

In Rare Move, CMS Fines 2 Hospitals for Price Transparency Violations

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services appears to be enforcing its price transparency rule more seriously.The agency recently fined two hospitals for alleged violations of the rule.Last week, CMS issued fines to Frisbie Memorial Hospital in Rochester, New Hampshire and Kell West Regional Hospital in Wichita Falls, Texas.
MedCity News
1 year ago
Law

Study finds inconsistent data in insurers' online provider directories

Patients rely on provider directories published by health insurers to find doctors.However, the directories are not always reliable, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.The study - published in March in the Journal of the American Medical Association - is the latest evidence of a persistent problem with provider directories, one that federal regulators have been trying to stamp out.The directories often contain inconsistent information, meaning, for example, that a doctor's address and specialty may vary from directory to directory.
MedCity News
1 year ago
Law

Court Ruling Leaves 340B Providers Waiting for Clarity About the Use of Contract Pharmacies

A recent federal appeals court decision is creating uncertainty for pharmacies and healthcare providers that participate in the federal 340B drug pricing program, which requires drug manufacturers to offer discounted prices for drugs sold to providers serving a high volume of low-income or rural patients.
MedCity News
1 year ago
Law

How the EU's New Data Laws Could Affect American Health Tech Companies

American health tech companies that conduct business in the European Union or are seeking to do so should pay attention to the new data laws emerging in the region, according to Bleddyn Rees, chair at the Digital Health Society .Rees, who has decades of experience as an international healthcare lawyer, explained some of these laws during a presentation Sunday at , a health innovation conference in Nashville.
MedCity News
1 year ago
Law

42 Hospitals Sue HHS for 'Tens of Millions' of Dollars in Delayed Medicare DSH Payments

Dozens of safety net hospitals recently sued the Department of Health and Human Services, alleging that Medicare has "unlawfully withheld and unreasonably denied" disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments for decades.Medicare DSH payments are intended to support hospitals that serve a high number of uninsured and low-income patients.
MedCity News
1 year ago
Law

'The Stakes Couldn't Be Higher': How DEA's Proposal Will Affect Telehealth Controlled Substance Prescribing

Like many startup founders, Zack Gray's for creating his company was personal.He founded - a digital health startup that provides prescriptions to manage opioid addiction via telehealth - in 2019 after losing his girlfriend to an overdose from drugs meant to treat her accidental opioid addiction.For a number of reasons, she had to turn to the black market to get buprenorphine and suboxone to treat her addiction.
The Drum
1 year ago
Marketing

How Danny Gardner brought state-of-the-art analytics into social marketing

Future 50 inductee Danny Gardner is the analytics manager and the US and North America social intelligence lead at Haleon.He tells us how he switched from the US Treasury to a career in brand marketing.Danny Gardner hadn't always planned on entering into the marketing industry.He studied economics as an undergraduate then attended business school.
MedCity News
1 year ago
Law

Bipartisan Legislation Efforts Build Against PBMs

Yet another bipartisan piece of legislation was introduced Friday that aims to keep pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in check.This time it's the Drug Price Transparency in Medicaid Act, introduced in the House by Rep. Earl "Buddy" Carter (R-Georgia), Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-Texas), Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-New York), Rep. Deborah Ross (D-North Carolina), Rep. Rick Allen (R-Georgia) and Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-Massachusetts).
MedCity News
1 year ago
Law

What Keeps One Advocate up at Night About the No Surprises Act

The No Surprises Act, which took effect January 1, 2022, brought with it several protections for Americans against surprise medical bills.Patricia Kelmar, healthcare campaigns director at the Public Interest Research Group, advocated for this law, which prevent patients from receiving surprise bills for most emergency services, non-emergency services from out-of-network providers at in-network facilities and services from out-of-network air ambulance providers.
MedCity News
1 year ago
Law

Joint Commission CEO Wants to "Dispel the Myth" that Decarbonizing Healthcare Is Costly

As I write this article, I am recovering from a power outage that lasted nearly two days due to trees downed by record winds created by the atmospheric river over Northern California.This on the back of a ton of rain this winter that has likely killed off my drought-resistant cone flowers.The decision to buy those plants came because California has been in a severe drought and we've had water restrictions in place.
MedCity News
1 year ago
Law

NAACP, Lawmakers File Federal Complaints Over Wellstar's Hospital Closures in Black Communities

Georgia policymakers, county officials and the NAACP are asking the federal government to investigate Wellstar Health System's closure of two Atlanta-area hospitals in predominantly Black neighborhoods.The latest request came from the Fulton County Commission on Wednesday - it marks the third request in one week to file a federal complaint against the health system.
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