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Blinatumomab Wins CMS Favor Following Reevaluation
An immunotherapy developed by Amgen and approved by the FDA for the treatment of acute lymhoblastic leukemia in December 2014 has now received coverage assurance from Medicare, following an initial rejection.
An immunotherapy developed by Amgen and approved by the FDA for the treatment of acute lymhoblastic leukemia in December 2014 has now received coverage assurance from Medicare, following an initial rejection of the expensive drug that costs $178,000 for a standard course.
Blinatumomab (Blincyto) was granted accelerated approval for treating Philadelphia chromosome—negative (Ph-) relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Evidence submitted to the FDA showed that 32% of 185 adults with B-cell ALL had complete remission for more than 6 months following drug infusion.
This new approval from CMS is for the “add-on payments” made to hospitals for new technology whose costs are not yet reflected in the standard lump-sum amounts that hospitals receive for treating patients with a particular disease or disorder. New information submitted by Amgen convinced the decison-makers at CMS of the "value" that blinatumomab would render compared with exisiting treatments for B-cell ALL.
Read more at The New York Times.
Exploring Racial, Ethnic Disparities in Cancer Care Prior Authorization Decisions
October 24th 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with the author of a study published in the October 2024 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® that explored prior authorization decisions in cancer care by race and ethnicity for commercially insured patients.
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Exploring Possibilities in Disease Modification in MPNs
October 25th 2024Experts are asking whether the study and treatment of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) is ready for a new era with new end points, with data that show how survival benefits are biologically linked to changes in the spleen, reduction in fibrosis, or other responses.
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Frameworks for Advancing Health Equity: Community Wellness Centers
September 27th 2024Delia Orosco, MS, director of Community Wellness Centers at Inland Empire Health Plan, shares insight into innovative initiatives provided by the wellness centers and their new mobile mammogram clinics.
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Sarcoma Care: Biomarker Advancements Shape the Future
October 24th 2024At the regional Institute for Value-Based Medicine® event in Boston, Vinayak Venkataraman, MD, medical oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, was a panelist for the discussion, “Recent Advancements in Identifying Predictive Biomarkers for Sarcomas."
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Recognizing Symptoms of Myeloproliferative Neoplasms and Clinical Trial Challenges
October 24th 2024There can be a delay in diagnosis of myeloproliferative neoplasms as the symptoms of the diseases can be variable and common, such as fatigue, migraines, and difficulty concentrating, explained Ruben Mesa, MD, of Atrium Health.
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