About pharma
Finch Therapeutics' microbiome med quells stubborn C. difficile: This new “drug” is a therapeutic example of altering the microbiome to treat a disease. “The study pitted the drug, CP101, against placebo in 206 patients who had undergone the standard-of-care antibiotics for C. difficile infection. One dose of CP101 staved off recurrent C. difficile infections for eight weeks in nearly three-quarters of patients, compared to 62% of patients who received placebo. “ The treatment is designed to restore the gut microbes patients have lost due to antibiotics.
About the public’s health
Healthy lifestyle and the risk of Alzheimer dementia: Five risk factors/health behaviors were assessed: “non-smoking,≥150 min/wk moderate/vigorous-intensity physical activity, light to moderate alcohol consumption, high-quality Mediterranean-DASH Diet Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay diet…, and engagement in late-life cognitive activities…
Compared to participants with 0 to 1 healthy lifestyle factor, the risk of Alzheimer dementia was 37% lower… in those with 2 to 3 healthy lifestyle factors and 60% lower… in those with 4 to 5 healthy lifestyle factors.”
AstraZeneca CEO Soriot says fast-tracked COVID-19 shot will protect for just one year: The article raises the question of how long a vaccine will be protective.
Insurers May Only Pay For Coronavirus Tests When They're 'Medically Necessary':”The Families First Coronavirus Response Act passed by Congress requires health plans to fully pay for testing deemed "medically necessary." But as testing expands enough to allow people without symptoms to be tested, a gray area is beginning to appear.
The coverage mandate can be up to interpretation.”
CDC reports novel resistant meningococcus strain: A reminder that public health problems other than COVID-19 continue to appear.
“An analysis of meningococcus isolates from US health departments has identified a novel strain of ciprofloxacin-resistant and beta-lactamase–producing Neisseria meningitidis, scientists with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Maryland Department of Health reported today in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
The findings prompted the CDC to issue a health advisory with recommendations for healthcare providers and public health officials.”
Safety Update: COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma in 20,000 Hospitalized Patients: From the Mayo Clinic ahead of publication: “These updated data provide robust evidence that transfusion of convalescent plasma is safe in hospitalized patients with COVID-19, and support the notion that earlier administration of plasma within the clinical course of COVID-19 is more likely to reduce mortality.”
The quest for a COVID-19 digital warning system taps smartwatches, rings and more: This article is a nice summary of the devices that are being marketed for early detection of COVID-19. I previously reported on the ring.
Guidance on Returning to Work: This monograph is from the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration and is intended “to assist employers and workers in safely returning to work and reopening businesses deemed by local authorities as ‘non-essential businesses’ during the evolving Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Employers can use this guidance to develop policies and procedures to ensure the safety and health of their employees.”
About health insurance
Medicare Advantage Plans Struggle to Communicate Effectively with Members, J.D. Power Finds: “Clear, helpful, proactive communication provided by Medicare Advantage plans to members is a key driver of overall customer satisfaction and consumer perception of trust. Overall member satisfaction increases 209 points (on a 1,000- point scale) when plans meet three key performance indicators related to information and communication: making sure members fully understand their out-of-pocket costs; providing health education; and delivering useful reminders for preventive services (emphasis added).
Missing the mark on communication: Despite the significant positive effect on member satisfaction, just 15% of Medicare Advantage plans deliver all three information and communication performance indicators.”
Read the study for more details.
5 Common & Costly Gaps in Coordination of Benefits: The short article provides a good summary of the problems that need to be addressed in order to enhance COB activity.
Effects of Medicaid Health Plan Dominance in Health Insurance Marketplaces: “In this brief [from the Urban Institute], we spoke with stakeholders in six states to assess the impact of Medicaid insurers increasing dominance in the ACA marketplaces. Overall, stakeholders said there are no longer major distinctions between Medicaid and traditional commercial insurers in the marketplace. Commercial insurers have adopted cost-containment strategies employed by Medicaid insurers including narrowing networks for more favorable provider payment rates. Medicaid insurers have started adopting commercial insurers’ practices, such as paying broker commissions, engaging in more marketing and advertising, and slowly increasing payments to providers. In doing so, stakeholders credit Medicaid insurers for increasing choice and affordability in the individual health insurance market.”