- Center on Health Equity & Access
- Clinical
- Health Care Cost
- Health Care Delivery
- Insurance
- Policy
- Technology
- Value-Based Care
What We’re Reading: Biden to Boost Care Worker Compensation; Social Media Hype Drives Weight Loss Drug Demand; Reducing Fatigue From Long COVID
President Joe Biden signs order to boost care worker compensation and support caregivers; social media adds are fueling weight loss medication demands; an investigational metabolic modulator has been shown to mitigate fatigue in patients with long COVID.
Biden Signs Executive Order to Boost Compensation for Care Workers
President Joe Biden will sign an executive order on Tuesday addressing issues in child care and long-term care in the United States, according to The Hill. The order focuses on boosting compensation for care workers, supporting family caregivers, and expanding affordable care options through 50 directives to federal agencies. It also includes provisions to improve access to home-based care for veterans, increase pay and benefits for Head Start teachers and staff, and streamline processes for American Indian and Alaska Native communities to access child care.
Social Media Drives Demand for Weight Loss Medications, Triggering Regulatory Concerns
Social media ads, which can include misinformation, have driven up the demand for weight loss drugs, according to CBS News. Although doctors have expressed concerns about inappropriate use and unreliable sources for the drug, regulatory systems have limited tools to curb misleading advertising from prescribers on social media. Simultaneously, pharmaceutical companies are leading campaigns to raise awareness of obesity without mentioning their drugs. Overseas regulators have also been active in auditing and removing some instances of unethical advertising.
New Metabolic Modulator Shows Promise in Reducing Fatigue in Patients With Long COVID
AXA1125, an investigational metabolic modulator, has shown promising results in reducing physical and cognitive fatigue in patients with long COVID, according to researchers at the University of Oxford. The phase 2 pilot study included 41 adults with fatigue-dominant long COVID who received either AXA1125 or placebo orally for 4 weeks. AXA1125 was associated with a significant reduction in fatigue scores and improved mitochondrial health, suggesting potential therapeutic benefits for patients with long COVID, although further research is needed in larger trials.
Hospital Stays and Probable Dementia as Predictors of Relocation to Long-Term Care Facilities
October 22nd 2024This article explores late-life relocations in patients with dementia, hospital stays, and their implications for health care policy, geriatric care, and future research priorities.
Read More
Bridging the Vaccination Gap: Insights on Global Immunization Challenges
July 30th 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we speak with Jeffery A. Goad, PharmD, MPH, 2024-2025 president of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, on the recent report from the World Health Organization and UNICEF on public immunization rates, with national and global health implications.
Listen
Frameworks for Advancing Health Equity: Health Equity by Design
July 23rd 2024Melissa Clarke, MD, CMQ, the chief health equity officer at Elevance Health, explains "Health Equity by Design" and how Elevance Health is committed to ensuring a personalized and intentional approach for all its members.
Listen
Cost Savings From an mHealth Tool for Improving Medication Adherence
October 21st 2024The Wellth smartphone app significantly increased medication adherence and lowered unnecessary health care utilization and costs over 9 months among Medicaid beneficiaries who were self-managing chronic conditions.
Read More
