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What We're Reading: EPA and Drinking Water; Teens Seek Vaccines; Companies Cut Praluent Price
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expected to make a decision soon regarding stricter regulations of polyfluoroalkyl compounds, or PFAS, which are chemicals in coatings meant to protect consumer goods from stains, water, and corrosion that have been found in drinking water; teenagers are turning to Reddit and other sites to figure out how to get vaccinated if their parents subscribe to antivaccine beliefs; Regeneron and Sanofi announced they are cutting the price of its proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitor alirocumab (Praluent).
Decision From EPA Expected Soon on Chemical Regulations Affecting Health
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expected to make a decision soon regarding stricter regulations of polyfluoroalkyl compounds, or PFAS, which are chemicals in coatings meant to protect consumer goods from stains, water, and corrosion, The Associated Press reported. Increasing numbers of states have found them seeping into water supplies; studies have indicated links between the chemicals and excessive cholesterol levels, ulcerative colitis, thyroid disease, testicular and kidney cancer, problems in pregnancies, low birth weight, and liver problems.
Teens From Homes With Antivaccine Beliefs Turning to Internet to Figure Out How to Get Vaccinated
Teenagers are turning to Reddit and other sites to figure out how to get vaccinated if their parents subscribe to antivaccine beliefs, The Washington Post reported. The paper detailed the pursuit of an Ohio teen who started to get his vaccinations done last fall, but the 18-year-old is afraid for his younger siblings.
Regeneron, Sanofi Cutting Price of Praluent by 60%
Regeneron and Sanofi announced they are cutting the price of its proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitor alirocumab (Praluent) by 60% in the United States. The companies said that the new list price will be $5850 annually in early March for both the 75 mg and 150 mg doses.
Urticaria Diagnosis Challenged by Overlapping Pruritic Skin Conditions
April 23rd 2025Urticaria is complicated to diagnose by its symptomatic overlap with other skin conditions and the frequent misclassification in literature of distinct pathologies like vasculitic urticaria and bullous pemphigus.
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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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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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ACOs’ Focus on Rooting Out Fraud Aligns With CMS Vision Under Oz
April 23rd 2025Accountable care organizations (ACOs) are increasingly playing the role of data sleuths as they identify and report trends of anomalous billing in hopes of salvaging their shared savings. This mission dovetails with that of CMS, which under the new administration plans to prioritize rooting out fraud, waste, and abuse.
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