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What We’re Reading: DOJ Health Fraud Charges; Demand for Weight Loss Drugs; MDMA Therapy for PTSD
The Department of Justice (DOJ) charged almost 80 people in $2.5B health care fraud ruse; nearly 50% of US adults would spend $100/month on Wegovy, other weight loss medications; Australia is the first country to offer 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, commonly known as ecstasy or MDMA, for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
DOJ Files Charges in $2.5B Health Care Fraud Scheme
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has charged 78 people regarding their alleged connection in defrauding care programs for the elderly and people with disabilities of more than $2.5 billion, it declared Wednesday, according to The Hill. Included in the charges filed against them are allegations of telemedicine and pharmaceutical fraud, and opioid distribution claims. Most of the defendants acquired their money by making fraudulent Medicare requirement claims for things that were frequently ineligible.
Almost 50% of US Adults Would Shell Out $100/Month for Weight Loss Drugs
Nearly 50% of Americans would be prepared to spend up to $100 monthly for new weight loss drugs like Wegovy, which also marketed as Ozembic for diabetes, and 33% said they would open-endedly pay whatever they can manage to obtain the drugs, according to a survey by STAT and The Harris Poll, reported STAT. Even though 47% said they would be able to spend the money up to a specific point, like losing a fixed amount of weight or until a special event, demand is so high that almost 25% say that they would pay up to $250 monthly, and another 17% would be ready to pay as much as $500 monthly. The survey polled 2046 US adults and was administered in early June.
Australia First in the World to Offer MDMA for PTSD
Australia announced that it would become the first country in the world to permit psychiatrists to broadly prescribe 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy), for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to The Washington Post. The unit of scientists at the University of Western Australia have been working to alter the chemical so that it’s better equipped to treat mental health conditions. The Therapeutic Goods Administration, Australia’s drug regulator, ruled that MDMA would be considered a controlled substance starting in July, and permit psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, to be used for treatment-resistant depression therapy.
The Breakdown: Breast Cancer Research Awareness Day
August 19th 2025Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in the US. In light of Breast Cancer Research Awareness Day, The American Journal of Managed Care® breaks down the most recent advancements in breast cancer prevention, screening, and therapies.
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Oral GC Dose Tapering for MG Linked to Efgartigimod Initiation
August 25th 2025Using US claims data, the authors evaluated oral glucocorticoid (GC) use at 5 time points during their retrospective analysis: 3 months before starting efgartigimod and 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after starting efgartigimod.
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Hope on the Horizon for Underserved Patients With Multiple Myeloma: Joseph Mikhael, MD
August 12th 2025Explore the disparities in multiple myeloma treatment and how new initiatives aim to improve clinical trial participation among underrepresented patients during a conversation with Joseph Mikhael, MD, MEd, FRCPC, FACP, FASCO, chief medical officer of the International Myeloma Foundation.
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