Drugmakers turn to artificial intelligence (AI); new reports of vaccine appointment cancellations or insurance issues; Biden plans to clear Americans’ credit scores of medical debt.
Major pharmaceutical companies, including Amgen, Bayer, and Novartis, are increasingly deploying artificial intelligence (AI) to revolutionize clinical trials, according to Reuters. AI tools, like Amgen's ATOMIC, are streamlining patient recruitment by identifying high-performing clinics and doctors, significantly reducing enrollment times. Moreover, AI is aiding in the design of trials, potentially eliminating the need for placebo groups through the creation of external control arms based on real-world patient data. This AI-driven approach not only expedites drug development but also offers substantial cost savings.
The rollout of the newest COVID-19 vaccines, authorized for individuals 6 months and older, is facing challenges, according to the Associated Press. Some individuals have had to cancel appointments due to insurance companies not yet updating billing codes for the vaccines, while others have seen appointments canceled because of supply issues. Slow shipments and order backlogs have contributed to limited vaccine availability in certain areas. Although Moderna and Pfizer say they have adequate supply, logistical hiccups are affecting the distribution process, causing frustration for those eagerly seeking vaccinations.
The Biden administration has revealed its intentions to develop federal rules that would prevent unpaid medical bills from affecting patients' credit scores, according to Kaiser Health News. This action comes in response to the significant problem of medical debt affecting about 100 million Americans, leading many to take on additional work, lose their homes, and even ration essentials. These new regulations, although expected to face opposition from the medical industry, have garnered robust support from patient and consumer groups who have long advocated for stronger protections against medical debt. While the process to enact these rules may be lengthy, they offer potential relief to those facing the devastating consequences of medical debt on their credit reports and financial lives.
Higher Weight-Adjusted Waist Index Tied to Greater Mortality Risk in Patients With Osteoarthritis
April 23rd 2025Researchers consider the weight-adjusted waist index a more precise predictor of mortality risk in patients with osteoarthritis than traditional obesity measures, like body mass index.
Read More
New Research Challenges Assumptions About Hospital-Physician Integration, Medicare Patient Mix
April 22nd 2025On this episode of Managed Care Cast, Brady Post, PhD, lead author of a study published in the April 2025 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care®, challenges the claim that hospital-employed physicians serve a more complex patient mix.
Listen
Personalized Care Key as Tirzepatide Use Expands Rapidly
April 15th 2025Using commercial insurance claims data and the US launch of tirzepatide as their dividing point, John Ostrominski, MD, Harvard Medical School, and his team studied trends in the use of both glucose-lowering and weight-lowering medications, comparing outcomes between adults with and without type 2 diabetes.
Listen