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What We’re Reading: Cyberattack Payouts; Measles Vaccination for Young Travelers; Medication Abortions Surge
UnitedHealth Group aims to restore services amid investigations; providers advised to administer measles vaccine to infants before international travel; study finds significant increase in medication abortions after Supreme Court decision.
UnitedHealth Group Pays Out Over $2 Billion to Health Providers Affected by Cyberattack
UnitedHealth Group announced it has disbursed over $2 billion to support health care providers impacted by the cyberattack on its subsidiary, Change Healthcare, according to CNBC. The attack, which disrupted vital services including e-prescription software and payment management tools, prompted UnitedHealth to implement temporary funding assistance programs and restore critical infrastructure. As investigations into the cyberattack's extent unfold, UnitedHealth has emphasized its collaboration with law enforcement and cybersecurity experts to assess the breach and safeguard against future threats.
CDC Urges Measles Vaccination for Young Travelers Amid Rising Cases
The CDC issued an alert urging health providers to ensure that children as young as 6 months old receive the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine before traveling internationally, amidst a surge in measles cases both domestically and globally, according to CIDRAP. With 58 cases reported in the US so far this year, equaling the total for all of 2023, most cases were linked to international travel, particularly affecting unvaccinated children. Declining vaccination coverage in US kindergarteners has raised concerns about herd immunity, prompting health officials to emphasize the importance of vaccination to prevent outbreaks.
Medication Abortions Surge in the US Following Roe v Wade Reversal
A notable rise in medication abortions in the US were identified post the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v Wade, according to NBC News. In 2023, there were approximately 642,700 medication abortions, constituting 63% of all abortions in the country, up from 492,210 in 2020. The surge in medication abortions follows legal changes in response to the Dobbs v Jackson ruling, with 14 states implementing complete abortion bans. Despite potential restrictions on medication abortion, the procedure has remained popular due to its privacy and accessibility benefits.
Survey Finds Slow Start on CMS Interoperability Rule Implementation
April 10th 2025With deadlines looming in 2026 and 2027 for compliance with the CMS Advancing Interoperability and Improving Prior Authorization Final Rule, a survey indicates a concerning lack of readiness among payers and providers to meet the new requirements for data sharing.
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NCCN Data Find Racial, Socioeconomic Disparities in Quality of Care for Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer
April 9th 2025New data from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) reveal that socially vulnerable and minority patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer are less likely to receive recommended treatments and achieve longer survival.
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Varied Access: The Pharmacogenetic Testing Coverage Divide
February 18th 2025On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we speak with the author of a study published in the February 2025 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® to uncover significant differences in coverage decisions for pharmacogenetic tests across major US health insurers.
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Lp(a) and Getting a Head Start Against Heart Disease: Jeremy Wigginton, MD
April 8th 2025Lipoprotein a (Lp[a]) is a valuable tool for assessing a patient's risk of cardiovascular disease, which can facilitate earlier intervention efforts and reduce health care costs, argued Jeremy Wigginton, MD.
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