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FDA approves use of Imbruvica to treat patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today expanded the approved use of Imbruvica (ibrutinib) to treat patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) who carry a deletion in chromosome 17 (17p deletion), which is associated with poor responses to standard treatment for CLL. Imbruvica received a breakthrough therapy designation for this use.

29 Jul 2014

First Edition: July 29, 2014

Today's headlines include coverage of the latest Medicare trustee report and the details of the veterans care legislation on Capitol Hill.

29 Jul 2014

HealthInsight to lead health care quality improvement activities for Medicare program

HealthInsight has been named to lead health care quality improvement activities for the Medicare Program for a four-state region serving Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon and Utah under a five-year contract awarded by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

26 Jul 2014

Baltimore Mayor to launch community-based projects to improve health and nutrition

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake will join local community leaders on July 30, 2014 to launch two community-based projects designed to improve nutrition and health status for residents of Baltimore.

26 Jul 2014

NC Senate votes for managed care Medicaid overhaul

The move would offer a set amount of money per patient for care to managed care plans and would take administration of the program out of the hands of the state Department of Health and Human Services and into the hands of a politically appointed board.

26 Jul 2014

Consumers in states around the country to get premium rebates

Local news outlets report on a federal announcement Thursday showing how much money will be sent back to people and employers under rules that say insurers must spend at least 80 percent of premium payments on medical care.

26 Jul 2014

Mexico, US sign statement of intent to promote safety of fresh agricultural products

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the government of Mexico's National Service for Agro-Alimentary Public Health, Safety and Quality (SENASICA) and Federal Commission for the Protection from Sanitary Risks (COFEPRIS) signed a statement of intent forming a partnership to promote the safety of fresh and minimally processed agricultural products.

25 Jul 2014

Senate could vote on VA nominee's confirmation before the August break

Meanwhile, Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell named Leslie Dach, a former Wal-Mart vice president, to be a senior adviser as part of Burwell's effort to head off difficulties in the upcoming health law enrollment period.

25 Jul 2014

10 million newly insured because of health law, study says

The study, done by Harvard researchers and published by the New England Journal of Medicine, was based on Gallup polling and data from the Department of Health and Human Services.

25 Jul 2014

Health insurers to refund consumers $330 million

The refunds are required under the health law when insurers spend less than 80 to 85 percent of health care premiums for medical care. Florida consumers will receive the biggest rebates, with $41.7 million returned, according to government data.

25 Jul 2014

FDA approves Targiniq ER to treat severe pain

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Targiniq ER (oxycodone hydrochloride and naloxone hydrochloride extended-release tablets), an extended-release/long-acting (ER/LA) opioid analgesic to treat pain severe enough to require daily, around-the-clock, long-term opioid treatment and for which alternative treatment options are inadequate.

24 Jul 2014

Zydelig gets FDA approval for treatment of patients with three types of blood cancers

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Zydelig (idelalisib) to treat patients with three types of blood cancers.

24 Jul 2014

SIV can be entrenched in tissues before virus is detectable in blood plasma

Scientists have generally believed that HIV and its monkey equivalent, SIV, gain a permanent foothold in the body very early after infection, making it difficult to completely eliminate the virus even after antiretroviral therapy has controlled it.

22 Jul 2014

State highlights: Iowa invests in autism program; rural docs feel the pinch of Wisconsin's low Medicaid payments

A selection of health policy stories from New York, Missouri, Texas, Massachusetts, Maine, Georgia and Pennsylvania.

22 Jul 2014

For Medicare, good news for future, changes in hospice rules

And a new report by a conservative group identifies Medicare Advantage cuts by congressional district.

22 Jul 2014

First Edition: July, 21, 2014

Today's headlines include a story about an effort by regulators to widen insurer networks, as well as a range of other health policy developments.

21 Jul 2014

Scientists identify genes that may help predict steroid responsiveness in people with EoE

Results from a clinical trial show that high doses of the corticosteroid fluticasone propionate safely and effectively induce remission in many people with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), a chronic inflammatory disease of the esophagus characterized by high levels of white blood cells called eosinophils.

19 Jul 2014

National Drug Early Warning System to monitor emerging drug trends

An innovative National Drug Early Warning System (NDEWS) is being developed to monitor emerging trends that will help health experts respond quickly to potential outbreaks of illicit drugs such as heroin and to identify increased use of designer synthetic compounds.

18 Jul 2014

FDA approves Ruconest for treatment of acute attacks in adolescent patients with HAE

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration yesterday approved Ruconest, the first recombinant C1-Esterase Inhibitor product for the treatment of acute attacks in adult and adolescent patients with hereditary angioedema (HAE).

18 Jul 2014

Insurers seek rule change that would boost profits

The industry wants to exclude brokers' fees from being factored into administrative costs, which would reduce consumer refunds under the health law's so-called medical loss ratio rule. Currently, the rule requires plans in the small group market to spend at least 80 percent of premiums on medical costs and no more than 20 percent on administrative costs.

18 Jul 2014

Health and Human Services News and Research

FDA approves use of Imbruvica to treat patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia

First Edition: July 29, 2014

HealthInsight to lead health care quality improvement activities for Medicare program

Baltimore Mayor to launch community-based projects to improve health and nutrition

NC Senate votes for managed care Medicaid overhaul

Consumers in states around the country to get premium rebates

Mexico, US sign statement of intent to promote safety of fresh agricultural products

Senate could vote on VA nominee's confirmation before the August break

10 million newly insured because of health law, study says

Health insurers to refund consumers $330 million

FDA approves Targiniq ER to treat severe pain

Zydelig gets FDA approval for treatment of patients with three types of blood cancers

SIV can be entrenched in tissues before virus is detectable in blood plasma

State highlights: Iowa invests in autism program; rural docs feel the pinch of Wisconsin's low Medicaid payments

For Medicare, good news for future, changes in hospice rules

First Edition: July, 21, 2014

Scientists identify genes that may help predict steroid responsiveness in people with EoE

National Drug Early Warning System to monitor emerging drug trends

FDA approves Ruconest for treatment of acute attacks in adolescent patients with HAE

Insurers seek rule change that would boost profits

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