Diabetes

This week, the top managed care news included a diabetes drug showing positive results in treating heart failure; new lipid guidelines promoting the use of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors; and a study finding doctors are more likely to prescribe opioids if they are in a hurry.

New York City health officials have declared an end to the city’s biggest measles outbreak in nearly 3 decades; Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, has proposed canceling $81 billion in existing medical debt; Vertex Pharmaceuticals is taking a chance on a start-up’s early-stage science that could potentially one day emerge as a functional cure for type 1 diabetes (T1D).

Coverage from the European Society of Cardiology 2019 Congress in Paris, France.

Coverage from the July 11, 2019, meeting of the Institute for Value-Based Medicine®, an initiative of The American Journal of Managed Care®. The meeting took place in Arlington, Virginia.

Dapagliflozin’s fast track designation follows findings from last year’s DECLARE-TIMI trial, a cardiovascular outcomes trial that showed the drug’s significant impact on delaying the loss of kidney function and reducing hospitalization risk for heart failure.

The findings suggest that a commonly used diabetes therapy, metformin, could be used to target specific proteins that trigger DNA repair.

Cancer treatment raises the risk of heart disease in childhood cancer survivors, as does diabetes and hypertension.

Studies on anticoagulants and SGLT2 inhibitors, and guidelines for dyslipidemia and more are anticipated at the meeting.

During the menopause transition, women with type 2 diabetes are more likely to have sleep disturbances due to an alteration in their hormonal response to insulin.

Despite advances in therapies for diabetes, those living with the disease are not faring better in reaching treatment targets due to lack of access to care, starting with the ability to be properly diagnosed.

As a progressive condition, diabetes presents an ongoing challenge for physicians to provide adequate control of patients’ disease, and new agents with novel mechanisms of action help reduce the burden in the management of diabetes.

This week, the top managed care news included HHS laying out a plan for importing certain prescription drugs from other countries; a potential new standard of care for chronic lymphocytic leukemia; 3 insulin makers get subpoenaed over their pricing practices.

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

Tuesday's Democratic presidential debate, the first of 2 days, included disagreements over the viability of Medicare for All; 3 insulin makers received subpoenas from the New York Attorney General over their pricing practices; US News & Report released its 30th Annual Best Hospitals rankings.

The University of Michigan Center for Value-Based Insurance Design (V-BID), in collaboration with a group of healthcare stakeholders, has announced the details of V-BID X, a template for reducing cost sharing for certain high-value services and raising cost sharing for certain low-value services while not increasing premiums or deductibles.

Nasal glucagon is seen as a game-changing delivery method to replace the multistep system of mixing powder and liquid with a simple, 1-step spray.

The bill would reduce prices up to 75% based on anticipated 2020 levels, according to Senator Jeanne Shaheen, D-NH, the lead sponsor.

Under new guidance released by Internal Revenue Service and the Department of Treasury, high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) with health savings accounts can cover chronic care treatment before a patient meets their deductible.

Researchers are closing in on a sought after goal of a blood test that can detect posssible signs of Alzheimer disease and other forms of dementia; Planned Parenthood President Leana Wen, MD, has been ousted after 8 months; Abbott Laboratories is ramping up manufacturing capacity for its lower-cost continuing glucose monitor FreeStyle Libre.

Every week, The American Journal of Managed Care® recaps the top managed care news of the week, and you can now listen to it on our podcast, Managed Care Cast.

An exercise-focused intervention may be effective for improving mental health, work ability, and productivity outcomes while reducing metabolic syndrome severity for individuals at a high risk for cardiovascular and metabolic disease, according to researchers.

This week, the top managed care news included uncertainty surrounding the fate of the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate; a study finding Medicare beneficiaries may be paying more for some generics than brand-name drugs; the Trump administration proposing 5 new payment models to transform kidney disease care.

HHS has launched a summit to streamline and improve quality programs across the agency; more than 160 children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) appeared before a Senate committee to ask for more funding for the Special Diabetes Program; the CDC has confirmed 11 cases of a rare polio-like illness in 8 states.

Following an executive order from President Donald Trump, HHS announced the launch of Advancing American Kidney Health, an initiative to improve the health of the 37 million Americans living with kidney disease, by releasing 5 new payment models.

Physician, patient, and caregiver education is important to improve diabetes care, said Jaime A. Davidson, MD, FACP, MACE, professor of medicine, Touchstone Diabetes Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

Network analyses of patients with diabetes in Hawaii illustrate structures and links that health plans could leverage to strengthen quality improvement and disease management programs.

Every week, The American Journal of Managed Care® recaps the top managed care news of the week, and you can now listen to it on our podcast, Managed Care Cast.

The Triple Aim will be within reach when there is greater stakeholder engagement and systemic ownership. A good start is for more employers to provide more American workers with access to high-quality wellness programs that can impact chronic disease with population health strategies.

This week, we recap the top managed care news from the first half of 2019, including outcomes from some of the biggest diabetes trials, research into the annual Medicare wellness visit, and an experimental treatment in Parkinson disease.

With more than 30 million patients with diabetes and only 6000 endocrinologists, that primary care doctor is playing a crucial role in seeing diabetics, said Jaime A. Davidson, MD, FACP, MACE, professor of medicine, Touchstone Diabetes Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.