American health & drug benefits
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Am Health Drug Benefits · Apr 2017
Comparing Healthcare Utilization and Costs Among Medicaid-Insured Patients with Chronic Noncancer Pain with and without Opioid-Induced Constipation: A Retrospective Analysis.
Constipation is a common adverse effect of opioid use and has been associated with increased healthcare utilization and costs among patients receiving opioids for pain management. ⋯ Among Medicaid enrollees who receive opioids for chronic noncancer pain, constipation is associated with increased all-cause healthcare utilization and costs.
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Am Health Drug Benefits · Nov 2016
Clinical Characteristics and Unmet Need Among Patients with Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Stratified by Statin Use.
The American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA) 2013 guidelines for blood cholesterol treatment recommend high-intensity statins for adults with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Currently, little is known about the real-world patient characteristics of ASCVD, as well as the clinical and economic consequences of different treatment options for this disease. ⋯ The low percentage of patients who initiated high-intensity statin therapy, low adherence to statin therapy, and high rates of CV events during the follow-up period suggest a substantial unmet need among patients with ASCVD in the real-world setting. The demographic and clinical heterogeneity across the cohorts suggests significant variability in physician perception of the appropriate use of statins and may provide an opportunity to improve care and health outcomes in these high-risk patients.
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Am Health Drug Benefits · Jul 2016
Oncologist Support for Consolidated Payments for Cancer Care Management in the United States.
The cost of cancer care in the United States continues to rise, with pressure on oncologists to provide high-quality, cost-effective care while maintaining the financial stability of their practice. Existing payment models do not typically reward care coordination or quality of care. In May 2014, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) released a payment reform proposal (revised in May 2015) that includes a new payment structure for quality-of-care performance metrics. ⋯ Support for ASCO's payment reform proposal is mixed among oncology physicians and medical directors, underscoring the importance of continuous and broader engagement of practicing physicians around the country via outreach and dialogue on topics that impact their clinical practices, as well as providing education or awareness activities by ASCO to its membership.
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Am Health Drug Benefits · Jun 2016
Patient-Reported Outcomes in Oncology Drug Labeling in the United States: A Framework for Navigating Early Challenges.
Despite an increased use of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in oncology clinical trials, integrating the patient perspective into drug approval decisions and documentation has been challenging. ⋯ PRO data collected in clinical trials should be used in drug development to evaluate the drug's efficacy; it is encouraging that US regulators are willing to work with drug sponsors to overcome the challenges associated with the development, implementation, and interpretation of PROs. The tools discussed in this article can facilitate the planning process for oncology researchers, as well as assist in communicating with US regulators.
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Am Health Drug Benefits · May 2016
Benefits of Early Roflumilast Treatment After Hospital or Emergency Department Discharge for a COPD Exacerbation.
Chronic lower respiratory disease, which includes chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is the third leading cause of death in the United States. Roflumilast is an oral, once-daily, selective phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor approved for reducing the risk for COPD exacerbations in patients with severe COPD associated with chronic bronchitis and a history of exacerbations. ⋯ In this real-world study, the patients with COPD who initiated roflumilast treatment ≤30 days after a hospital or emergency department discharge for a COPD-related exacerbation experienced fewer subsequent exacerbations and rehospitalizations, reduced healthcare utilizations, and lower healthcare costs than the patients who delayed their roflumilast treatment.