Diabetes

Material suppliers, manufacturers, pharmacies, and rebate programs all contribute to the rising prices of insulin, according to Alan Carter, PharmD, principal investigator and senior advisor at MRIGlobal, and adjunct faculty at University of Missouri—Kansas City School of Pharmacy.

This week, the top managed care news included the Senate announcing it would delay voting on the healthcare bill until after July 4; the FDA outlined a plan to expedite drug approvals; and Joe and Jill Biden launched the Biden Cancer Initiative.

The crossover among device makers, digital health, and big data continues, as consolidation that some have predicted in the diabetes space is apparent.

With the year 2017 halfway over, The American Journal of Managed Care® is looking back at the news of the first half of the year. Here we bring you the most read news stories, including conference coverage, a take on the new president’s first executive order, reimbursement challenges, and more.

The scientific statement seeks research on the mechanisms that make it so challenging for people to keep weight off once it is lost.

Diabetes patients will be more satisfied with treatment when they perceive benefits and will continue treatment when physicians keep in contact and point out the progress, says William Polonsky, PhD, CDE, president of the Behavioral Diabetes Institute and associate clinical professor at University of California, San Diego.

The study found that teenagers at the upper end of the "normal" BMI range later experienced higher death rates from lesser-known cardiovascular diseases.

Several studies looked at older diabetes drugs for possible effects on breast cancer prevention, as well as the effects of diet and alcohol use on breast cancer risk.

The offer of free medications to low-income Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes enrolled in Part D plans has no impact on generic prescribing rates.

The agreement will record data for patient experience, clinical improvement, and cost of care for patients switching from multiple daily injections to insulin pump therapy.

Eda Cengiz, MD, MHS, FAAP, associate professor of pediatrics at Yale School of Medicine addresses the improvements that are needed in the future of closed-loop systems for diabetes treatment.

The chairman of the Mississippi State Senate Medicaid Committee outlines steps the state has taken to promote healthier lifestyles among children.

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 gap in disease incidence among ethnic groups demands a policy response, say experts who weighed in on the SEARCH data.

From the Editor-in-Chief

The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has updated its recommendation on screening for obesity in children and adolescents to suggest regular screenings in those aged 6 and older, who can then be referred to weight management interventions.

The top managed care stories this week included proposed rule changes to the implementation of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act; a study found Medicaid expansion increased emergency department utilization; and a diabetes drug received a new cardiovascular indication.

An expert discusses her research on a critical period for patients with type 1 diabetes: moving from having parents make care decisions to taking control of disease management.

The study highlights the importance of Medicare's plan to launch the Diabetes Prevention Program in early 2018.

The American Diabetes Association recently recognized the important role that psychosocial care plays in diabetes management. Addressing behavioral health needs at all stages of development in youth with diabetes is critical.

Evaluation of healthcare utilization and costs over 3 years for adults with insulin-requiring diabetes who transition from multiple daily insulin injections to insulin infusion pumps.

The move to quality ratings will put more pressure on hospitals to find ways to improve the standard of care while cutting costs.

Liraglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist sold as Victoza, becomes the second diabetes therapy to receive the cardiovascular indication.

Glytec’s Glucommander electronic glucose management system (eGMS) helped the Kaweah Delta hospital shift its standard of care to basal-bolus insulin, explained Raymie McFarland, vice president of Quality Initiatives at Glytec. Basal-bolus is considered best practice and is safer for patients, but many hospitals have not adopted it due to its difficulty. Glytec hopes its eGMS can change that.

The new law includes requirements that drugmakers reveal discounts for pharmacy benefit managers and prevents gag rules on pharmacists who want to suggest cheaper alternatives.

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.

Hybrid closed-loop insulin delivery systems, also called an “artificial pancreas,” have attracted a great deal of attention since the FDA approved the first such device last September. These systems continuously monitor blood glucose levels and adjust insulin dosing accordingly, although they require some input from users around mealtimes.

This week, the top managed care news included a report from CMS that found 2 million people dropped Obamacare coverage after failing to pay their premiums; a study found the diabetes drug canagliflozin reduced cardiovascular risk; and the Supreme Court of the United States rules in favor of biosimilars.

Cardiovascular outcomes trials and a photography ban that dominated social media were big news at the 77th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association.

The researchers' approach to finding the compound could be used to find cures in other diseases.