GAO report calls out HHS for misdirecting ACA reinsurance funds
The Health and Human Services department is failing to properly administer a reinsurance program under the Affordable Care Act by unlawfully diverting funds intended for the U.S. Treasury, according to a nonpartisan watchdog <a... (Source: Skin and Allergy News)
Source: Skin and Allergy News - September 29, 2016 Category: Dermatology Source Type: news
Congress sends Zika funding bill to President
In a move that narrowly avoids a government shutdown, Congress has passed a long-awaited bill that keeps the government afloat and provides $1.1 billion in funding to combat the Zika virus.
The House cleared H.R. 5325 late... (Source: Skin and Allergy News)
Source: Skin and Allergy News - September 29, 2016 Category: Dermatology Source Type: news
Nonsexual secondary Zika virus case confirmed in Utah
We report a rapidly progressive, fatal [Zika virus] infection acquired outside the United States and secondary local... (Source: Skin and Allergy News)
Source: Skin and Allergy News - September 29, 2016 Category: Dermatology Source Type: news
Americas are declared measles free by PAHO
The Americas are measles free.
The region is the first in the world to have eradicated the disease, according to Pan-American Health Organization officials who spoke during a media briefing.
“Bye-bye measles,” said PAHO director Carissa F. Etienne, MD, during the briefing.
<table... (Source: Skin and Allergy News)
Source: Skin and Allergy News - September 27, 2016 Category: Dermatology Source Type: news
Feds require more transparent reporting of clinical trial results
New federal regulations aim to strengthen the current requirements on reporting of clinical trial information.
The new rule offers a checklist to help determine which clinical trials are subject to regulations and who is responsible for information that appears on ClinicalTrials.gov. In addition,... (Source: Skin and Allergy News)
Source: Skin and Allergy News - September 27, 2016 Category: Dermatology Source Type: news
FDA approves biosimilar adalimumab
There are “no clinically meaningful differences” between Amgen’s biosimilar adalimumab (Amjevita) and AbbVie’s branded product Humira, the Food and Drug Administration noted it its Sept. 23 announcement of Amjevita’s approval.
Although Amjevita (adalimumab-atto) is expected to cost less than... (Source: Skin and Allergy News)
Source: Skin and Allergy News - September 26, 2016 Category: Dermatology Source Type: news
Zika cases in pregnant women hit new weekly high
The weekly number of pregnant women in the United States with laboratory evidence of Zika virus infection topped 200 for the first time during the week ending Sept. 15, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
With the 50 states and the District of Columbia reporting 18 new... (Source: Skin and Allergy News)
Source: Skin and Allergy News - September 23, 2016 Category: Dermatology Source Type: news
New-onset pediatric AD phenotype differs from adult AD
The skin phenotype of new-onset pediatric atopic dermatitis differs substantially from that in adult AD, according to an assessment of biopsy findings in infants and children.
The study findings have important therapeutic implications, especially in light of the fact that much of the work in this... (Source: Skin and Allergy News)
Source: Skin and Allergy News - September 23, 2016 Category: Dermatology Source Type: news
Empiric warfarin adjustment cut drug-drug interactions with antimicrobials
BOSTON – A medication management strategy to minimize the effect of drug-drug interactions (DDIs) between warfarin and common antimicrobials resulted in significantly greater time within therapeutic range for anticoagulation, as well as a numerically smaller, but nonsignificant, number of bleeding... (Source: Skin and Allergy News)
Source: Skin and Allergy News - September 23, 2016 Category: Dermatology Source Type: news
Two novel DNA Zika virus vaccines set for human trials
The search is on for clinical trial participants to help verify whether two genetically based vaccines that lowered Zika virus viremia in infected primates will be effective in humans.
Although much is still unknown about the pathogenesis, immunity, and transmission of the flavivirus, its... (Source: Skin and Allergy News)
Source: Skin and Allergy News - September 22, 2016 Category: Dermatology Source Type: news
EpiPen cost increases far exceed overall medical inflation
Total Medicare part D spending on EpiPen auto-injectors rose from $7.0 million in 2007 to $87.9 million in 2014 – an increase of 1,151%, according to an analysis released Sept. 20 by the Kaiser Family Foundation.
The number of EpiPen users also increased over that time, however, bringing with it... (Source: Skin and Allergy News)
Source: Skin and Allergy News - September 22, 2016 Category: Dermatology Source Type: news
Legislators: Investigate Medicare fraud before paying doctors
Republican leaders in Congress are calling on CMS to impose stricter safeguards against fraudulent Medicare billing by physicians.
The chairmen of the Senate Finance Committee, the House Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce Committees, and the chairmen of key House subcommittees said that the... (Source: Skin and Allergy News)
Source: Skin and Allergy News - September 22, 2016 Category: Dermatology Source Type: news
Decision Support in Medicine: Bullous Pemphigoid
1. Are you confident of the diagnosis?What you should be alert for in the historyDetermine if the lesions are pruritic. Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is almost always pruritic, and itch can be the first presenting symptom or can herald a relapse.Ask about... (Source: Skin and Allergy News)
Source: Skin and Allergy News - September 21, 2016 Category: Dermatology Source Type: news
Severe foot pathology predicts death in diabetes
MUNICH – When it comes to predicting mortality in diabetes patients, the foot may trump the heart.
Over a 5-year period, patients who had the most severe foot pathology were almost four times more likely to die than those who had a constellation of cardiovascular risk factors. The association with... (Source: Skin and Allergy News)
Source: Skin and Allergy News - September 21, 2016 Category: Dermatology Source Type: news
EHR woes will get worse before they get better: ONC chief
WASHINGTON – EHR woes may tick up as medical practices begin to move from fee for service to a value-based care model, according to the new federal health IT leader, B. Vindell Washington, MD.
“If you are in an environment where you have, say for example, 20%-25% of your patients that are in an... (Source: Skin and Allergy News)
Source: Skin and Allergy News - September 19, 2016 Category: Dermatology Source Type: news
