Managed care interface
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Managed care interface · Feb 2001
Asthma outcome changes associated with use of the leukotriene-receptor antagonist zafirlukast.
A new class of asthma drugs modifying the leukotriene pathway was introduced in 1996. The authors investigated outcome changes associated with use of the leukotriene-receptor antagonist zafirlukast. ⋯ A 12-month pre- and post-zafirlukast treatment comparison in a smaller group of patients and a classification of patients into three mutually exclusive outcome groups (increase, decrease, or no change in outcome events) verified the majority of the findings. A cost analysis from a third-party perspective indicated that costs of zafirlukast treatment were more than offset by cost savings associated with the reductions in outcome events.
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The U. S. ⋯ Herdrich--that decisions by an HMO's physician employees in which eligibility issues and reasonable medical treatment are inextricably mixed are not fiduciary acts under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)--was applauded by the managed care industry. By delineating issues on which it was not ruling, however, the Court's decision may have given a boost to additional lawsuits against managed care plans on both ERISA and malpractice grounds.