About healthcare quality
CMS launches new Care Compare site that combines provider comparison tools into one place: “The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched the updated Care Compare site…[which] combines the previously existing sites that allow consumers to comparison shop based on the quality metrics for hospitals, nursing homes, home health providers, dialysis facilities, long-term care hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, physicians and hospice.”
About pharma
The Rising Cost of Insulin for Pump Users: How Policy Drives Prices: This article emphasizes Medicare’s uncoordinated medication payments policies that vary by which part covers the drug. “Medicare reimbursement for insulin is based on the route of administration via syringe (Part D) or via pump (Part B). Recently, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a voluntary model for Part D enhanced plans that lower out-of-pocket costs to a co-pay of ≤$35/month. Meanwhile, the 21st Century Cures Act and manufacturer price increases raised the cost of insulin for pump users by 304% in less than 2 years.“
FTC Approves Final Order Imposing Conditions on AbbVie’s Acquisition of Allergan: “Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a final order settling charges that AbbVie's $63 billion acquisition of Allergan would violate federal antitrust law…
The final order requires AbbVie and Allergan to divest to Nestlé, S.A. Allergan's Zenpep and Viokase, which are currently sold to treat EPI. AbbVie and Allergan also are required to divest to AstraZeneca plc. Allergan's rights and assets related to brazikumab - an IL-23 inhibitor that is in development to treat moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.”
About the public’s health
Roche nets FDA authorization for combination COVID-19 and flu test: “Roche announced the launch of its second COVID-19 diagnostic of the week after securing an FDA authorization for a test that detects the novel coronavirus as well as influenza A and B.
The high-throughput laboratory test may prove especially useful as the pandemic collides with the annual flu season, allowing healthcare providers to tell the difference between patients showing similar sets of respiratory symptoms from a single sample.”