An uptick in laxative use causes shortage; ketamine can help suicidal thoughts but can be hard to access; new data suggest that abortions increased in most states in 2023.
Rising Laxative Reliance Contributes to Shortage
Soaring demand is adding to a shortage of polyethylene glycol 3350, the generic name for laxatives like Miralax and Glycolax, say gastroenterologists and suppliers, reports The Wall Street Journal. Throughout the United States, customers are noticing the lack. Experts in gastroenterology and behavior indicate that the aging population and most Americans don’t have enough fiber intake that can lead to constipation. They also indicated the lingering physical and psychological effects of the pandemic as a cause behind customers’ increasing reliance on the products. Health providers say this rising overuse is concerning.
Ketamine Accessibility Issues Can Prevent Its Use for Suicidal Thoughts
Intravenous (IV) ketamine shows promise in relieving certain mental health symptoms, but all mental illness treatment that uses IV ketamine is presently off label, meaning that it’s hard to get insurance to cover the treatments that can cost anywhere from $400 to $1000 per session, according to Stat News. Accessibility can also pose an issue in other ways; patients might live far from infusion centers and have problems finding a provider who can prescribe the medication. Esketamine (Spravato) is the only ketamine drug currently approved for depression if taken in conjunction with an oral antidepressant. Many insurances will cover this, but out-of-pocket monthly costs run $784.
Most States Saw Abortion Increases in 2023
Legal abortions likely grew across the country in the first 6 months of the year compared with 2020, according to a new analysis of estimates, as states with more lenient abortion laws took in patients traveling from states with bans, and abortion pill access through telemedicine continued to grow, reports The New York Times. The Guttmacher Institute offered new research that provides the most updated view of legal abortions since the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization decision in 2022 toppled abortion access across the country and permitted more than 12 states to ban or restrict it. The data propose that thousands of women have traversed state lines for an abortion when they have encountered restrictions at home. It also suggests an increase in abortions for those living in states where they are legal.
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.
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Integrated CKD Care Model Cuts ED Visits by 30%, Boosts Specialized Treatment
April 21st 2025An analysis of an interdisciplinary care model for managing chronic kidney disease (CKD) shows hospital admissions dropped by 26% and emergency department (ED) visits decreased by 30% after clinic initiation.
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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.
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No Major Shifts in OBGYN Practice Locations Found Post Dobbs Decision
April 21st 2025Despite widespread concern following the Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, researchers found no significant changes nationwide in obstetrician and gynecologist (OBGYN) practice locations.
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