- Center on Health Equity & Access
- Clinical
- Health Care Cost
- Health Care Delivery
- Insurance
- Policy
- Technology
- Value-Based Care
What We're Reading: Calif. Drug Price Lawsuit Tossed; Testing ARBs for Cancer Link; Hope for Nonaddictive Painkiller
A judge tossed a lawsuit brought by pharmaceutical companies to block a California law requiring advance notice of big price increases; the FDA is testing all angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) over a discovered impurity that is linked to cancer; research in monkeys has suggested that an experimental painkiller is effective at easing pain without being addictive.
Judge Tosses Lawsuit to Block California Drug Pricing Law
A lawsuit brought by pharmaceutical companies to block a California law that requires notice before big drug price increases has been dismissed by a judge, according to the Associated Press. The law requires pharmaceutical companies to provide 60 days’ notice before raising the national wholesale price above a certain threshold. Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America has 30 days to refile after the judge determined it failed to show that the court had jurisdiction to hear the case.
FDA Investigates Link Between Heart Drug and Cancer
The FDA is testing angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) over a substance linked to cancer. According to STAT, the impurity in the drugs, known as NDMA, is an organic chemical and a possible carcinogen. The FDA believes the impurity occurred during the manufacturing process and is testing all products in the ARB class. In a worst-case scenario, the agency estimated that if 8000 people took the highest-dose pill with NDMA daily for 4 years, there would be 1 additional case of cancer beyond the average cancer rate. Most patients received less exposure than this worst-case scenario.
Hope for Nonaddictive Painkiller Test in Monkeys
Research in monkeys has suggested that an experimental painkiller is effective while also being less addictive than opioids. HealthDay reported that the AT-121 provides the same pain relief as an opioid but at a much lower dose. The compound blocked abuse potential, similar to how buprenorphine does for heroin. In addition, the monkeys did not exhibit withdrawal symptoms after they stopped using AT-121 after 3 days. The success in monkeys suggests that the findings could be replicated in humans, but it is not guaranteed.
Exploring Racial, Ethnic Disparities in Cancer Care Prior Authorization Decisions
October 24th 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with the author of a study published in the October 2024 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® that explored prior authorization decisions in cancer care by race and ethnicity for commercially insured patients.
Listen
Uniting to Support Patients With Cancer Beyond Treatment
November 17th 2024Kasey Bond, MPH, of Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone Health, speaks to why it’s vital to keep patients at the center of all strategic partnerships between academic institutions and community-based oncology practices.
Read More
Examining Low-Value Cancer Care Trends Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic
April 25th 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with the authors of a study published in the April 2024 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® about their findings on the rates of low-value cancer care services throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Listen
Bridging Cancer Care Gaps and Overcoming Medical Mistrust
November 13th 2024In this clip from our interview with Oscar B. Lahoud, MD, cochair of our Institute for Value-Based Medicine® evening hosted with NYU Langone Health, he addressed medical mistrust in underrepresented communities.
Read More
How English- and Spanish-Preferring Patients With Cancer Decide on Emergency Care
November 13th 2024Care delivery innovations to help patients with cancer avoid emergency department visits are underused. The authors interviewed English- and Spanish-preferring patients at 2 diverse health systems to understand why.
Read More
