The 10 most innovative health companies of 2022: From Fast Company. At the top is Walgreens (which is #33on the global list of innovative companies).
About Covid-19
Global Covid Deaths Top 6 Million as Omicron Wave Leaves Scars: “More than 6 million people worldwide have died from Covid-19 two years after the novel pathogen started spreading globally, despite the distribution of vaccines that slashed fatality rates across the globe.
The latest 1 million recorded deaths came more slowly than the previous intervals. It took about 125 days to go from 5 million deaths to 6 million, compared to 117 days to hit the 5-million mark and less than 90 days each to reach the 3- and 4-million ones. The pace has returned to what was seen during the first year of the pandemic, when the virus was still taking hold.”
SARS-CoV-2 is associated with changes in brain structure in UK Biobank: “The availability of pre-infection imaging data reduces the likelihood of pre-existing risk factors being misinterpreted as disease effects. We identified significant longitudinal effects when comparing the two groups, including: (i) greater reduction in grey matter thickness and tissue-contrast in the orbitofrontal cortex and parahippocampal gyrus, (ii) greater changes in markers of tissue damage in regions functionally-connected to the primary olfactory cortex, and (iii) greater reduction in global brain size. The infected participants also showed on average larger cognitive decline between the two timepoints. Importantly, these imaging and cognitive longitudinal effects were still seen after excluding the 15 cases who had been hospitalised.”
One reason not to rely on natural infection for protection.
Whole genome sequencing reveals host factors underlying critical Covid-19: “…we find evidence implicating multiple genes, including reduced expression of a membrane flippase (ATP11A), and increased mucin expression (MUC1), in critical disease….
Our results are broadly consistent with a multi-component model of Covid-19 pathophysiology, in which at least two distinct mechanisms can predispose to life-threatening disease: failure to control viral replication, or an enhanced tendency towards pulmonary inflammation and intravascular coagulation.”
Florida’s top health official says healthy children should not get coronavirus vaccine: “Florida’s governor and chief health official announced a new state policy Monday that will recommend against giving a coronavirus vaccine to healthy children, regardless of their age — a policy that flies in the face of recommendations by every medical group in the nation.”
World’s First Inhaled Covid-19 Vaccine Enters Final Stage Clinical Trials: “Yicai Global said the world's first inhalation-based COVID-19 vaccine is now in Phase III trials, according to a report in Beijing Daily, citing the chief scientist of Chinese vaccine maker CanSino Biologics.
The Convidecia nasal spray vaccine, which is needle-free and does not need to be stored in special bottles or at ultra-low temperatures, has started partial Phase III tests, Zhu Tao said.
It completed first and second stage clinical trials last year and is applying for emergency use in China.
The inhalation-based vaccine uses the same formula as CanSino's recombinant coronavirus jab and is atomized by a special device for nebulized inhalation, which is less painful than traditional intramuscular injections and more conducive to mass distribution.”
Moderna vows never to enforce Covid jab patents in policy U-turn: “Moderna has pledged never to enforce its Covid-19 vaccine patents in low- and middle-income nations following searing criticism by campaigners that its opposition to waiving intellectual property rights threatens Africa’s access to life-saving jabs. The US drug company announced the U-turn on patent enforcement on Tuesday along with up to $1bn funding for new initiatives aimed at better preparing the world for future pandemics and major public health risks.”
About health insurance
Hundreds of organizations reject CMS' direct contracting model rebrand: “More than 250 organizations sent a March 8 letter to HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra condemning its rebranding of the Global and Professional Direct Contracting model.
The new model was announced by CMS Feb. 24 and is now called the Accountable Care Organization Realizing Equity, Access and Community Health model, or ACO REACH.
The letter — signed by organizations representing seniors, people with disabilities, consumers and health professionals — calls for an end to the new model and a rejection of the privatization of traditional Medicare.”
Court Rejects Hospitals Over Medicare Pay for Training Residents: “‘A change in Medicare reimbursement policy under the Affordable Care Act for teaching hospitals’ costs of training residents didn’t apply to costs incurred before the ACA became law, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit ruled Monday.’ This ‘lawsuit filed by three teaching hospitals challenged the Department of Health and Human Services’ denial of reimbursement for their shared costs of training residents at community clinics and other off-site locations from 2001 to 2006.’”
Long Island Medical Doctor Pleads Guilty to Medicare Billing Fraud Scheme: “‘With today’s guilty plea, Dr. Barnard admits to committing a multi-million dollar fraud on the Medicare program by billing for procedures he did not perform,’ stated United States Attorney Peace. ‘By claiming to render services to disabled and other vulnerable patients, Dr. Barnard not only pocketed taxpayer funds that were intended to help beneficiaries in need, he also betrayed his oath for profit. We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of taxpayer-funded health care programs.’”
Tobacco Surcharges Associated With Reduced ACA Marketplace Enrollment: “The Affordable Care Act (ACA) allows insurers to charge tobacco users who have nongroup coverage up to 50 percent more than nonusers of tobacco. In this study we used 2014–19 administrative data on enrollees in the federally facilitated ACA Marketplace, HealthCare.gov, to examine the relationships among surcharge rates, total Marketplace enrollment, and enrollment by tobacco users. We found that the tobacco surcharge rate averaged approximately 14 percent and that it was associated with lower total enrollment as well as a reduced share of total enrollees who reported any tobacco use. Our analysis also found that tobacco surcharges have a significantly larger effect on tobacco users’ share of enrollment in rural areas than in urban areas, which may in turn contribute to urban-rural health disparities. Given that tobacco surcharges may decrease Marketplace enrollment overall and shift the composition of enrollment away from tobacco users, our findings suggest that reducing tobacco surcharges may increase total Marketplace enrollment.”
What the results imply is that smokers would rather continue smoking than quit and have more affordable health insurance. Regarding the recommendation, can companies afford to lower rates when smokers cost so much more than non-smokers? Should the government subsidize smokers’ rates, thereby encouraging that behavior? Perhaps a plan that could work would encourage enrollment by refunding excess premiums for those who take part in smoking cessation programs and quit.
Marketplace Health Insurance Ratings: Most Potential Enrollees Have Access To Plans Of Medium Or High Quality: “In most participating counties (1,390 of 2,265, or 61.4 percent), the highest-rated ACA Marketplace insurer had a three-star rating. Fewer than one-third of counties (703, or 31.0 percent) had access to four- or five-star-rated insurers. Fewer than 10 percent (172, or 7.6 percent) had access to only one- or two-star-rated insurers. In plan-based analyses, each one-point increase in star rating was associated with a $28 increase in the average monthly plan premium…We found no systematic racial or ethnic disparities in access to plans from high-rated insurers.”
And in a related article: 9 of the highest performing Medicare, Medicaid plans in 2020-21
About hospitals and healthcare systems
Health system financial results for Q4: FYI: Revenue, Net Income and Operating Income for 8 systems.
Hospital Service Offerings Still Differ Substantially By Ownership Type: “After hospital and market characteristics are adjusted for, nonprofit hospitals offer relatively unprofitable services more than for-profit hospitals and less than government hospitals. Profitable services typically exhibit the opposite pattern. For-profit hospitals are also more likely to adopt or discontinue services consistent with changes in service profitability than are nonprofits, which in turn are more likely to do so than government hospitals. These results are similar to those we found before passage of the Affordable Care Act, when many more patients were uninsured. Policy makers and researchers tend to focus on whether nonprofit hospitals provide sufficient free care to justify tax benefits, thereby overlooking the significance of ownership for service provision, which likely has critical health and spending consequences.”
About pharma
Women see more adverse events with chemotherapy and newer cancer treatments, study finds: “Overall, women were 34% more likely than men to experience severe adverse effects in response to their cancer treatments, a figure that increased to 49% for women receiving immunotherapies, according to a recent study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO). The study was based on 30 years of data from the SWOG Cancer Research Network, a global cancer research community that designs and conducts publicly funded clinical trials.
Part of the problem, experts say, is that sex differences are not taken into account in the development of cancer treatments.”
How pharma economics hold back antibiotic development: The article is a really good explanation of the problem stated in the headline. For example, since antibiotics are administered for short courses (days to weeks) and need to be reasonably priced, profitability is not as high as for other pharmaceuticals.
Association of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist vs Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitor Use With Mortality Among Patients With Type 2 Diabetes and Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease: “This cohort study comprising 27 279 participants with type 2 diabetes and advanced-stage chronic kidney disease or end-stage kidney disease revealed that the use of GLP-1 receptor agonists was associated with lower all-cause mortality and lower sepsis- and infection-related mortality than was use of DPP-4 inhibitors.”
This study could change the frequency of medications used to treat diabetes.
Moderna aims to move mRNA vaccines against 15 infectious diseases into clinic by 2025: “Moderna announced that it plans to advance mRNA vaccines targeting 15 infectious diseases, including HIV, malaria and tuberculosis, into clinical studies by 2025. The company added that it will also make its mRNA technology available to researchers working on new vaccines for emerging and neglected infectious diseases through a programme called mRNA Access.”
Teva launches first Revlimid generic in US: “Teva on Monday introduced its generic version of Bristol Myers Squibb's Revlimid (lenalidomide) in the US, making it the first generic of the cancer treatment available in the country. The drug is indicated for patients with multiple myeloma in combination with the dexamethasone, and is also approved for certain myelodysplastic syndromes, as well as mantle cell lymphoma following specific prior treatment.”
Mallinckrodt Agrees to Pay $260 Million to Settle Lawsuits Alleging Underpayments of Medicaid Drug Rebates and Payment of Illegal Kickbacks: “Pharmaceutical company Mallinckrodt ARD LLC (formerly known as Mallinckrodt ARD Inc. and previously Questcor Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Questcor)) (collectively Mallinckrodt), has agreed to pay $260 million to resolve allegations that Mallinckrodt violated the False Claims Act by knowingly: 1. underpaying Medicaid rebates due for its drug H.P. Acthar Gel (Acthar); and 2. using a foundation as a conduit to pay illegal co-pay subsidies in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute for Acthar. In 2019 and 2020, respectively, the government filed separate complaints detailing these allegations. The settlement, which is based on Mallinckrodt’s financial condition, required final approval of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, which approved the settlement on March 2.”
About healthcare IT
Senate passes bill to mandate reporting of cyberattacks: “The Senate on Tuesday passed a package of cybersecurity bills that would require operators of critical infrastructure [including hospitals] as well as federal civilian agencies to report cyberattacks on their networks to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency…
The House has yet to pass a similar bill after some lawmakers unsuccessfully attempted to attach a cyber-themed measure to last year’s defense policy bill.”
Google Announces Intent to Acquire Mandiant: “Google LLC today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Mandiant, Inc., a leader in dynamic cyber defense and response, for $23.00 per share, in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $5.4 billion, inclusive of Mandiant’s net cash. Upon the close of the acquisition, Mandiant will join Google Cloud.”
About healthcare personnel
Physician Practices With Robust Capabilities Spend Less On Medicare Beneficiaries Than More Limited Practices: “Using data from the 2017 National Survey of Healthcare Organizations and Systems linked to 2017 Medicare fee-for-service claims data from attributed beneficiaries, we examined the association of practice-level capabilities with process measures of quality, utilization, and spending…
physician practice locations with “robust” capabilities had lower total spending compared to locations with “mixed” or “limited” capabilities. Quality and utilization, however, did not differ by practice-level capabilities. Physician practice locations with robust capabilities spend less on Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries but deliver quality of care that is comparable to the quality delivered in locations with low or mixed capabilities. Reforms beyond those targeting practice capabilities, including multipayer alignment and payment reform, may be needed to support larger performance advantages for practices with robust capabilities.”
About health technology
AltPep’s Alzheimer’s Disease Blood Test Designated a Breakthrough Device: “The FDA has designated Seattle, Wash.-based AltPep’s SOBA-AD diagnostic for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) a Breakthrough Device.
Existing FDA-cleared diagnostic tests for AD look for amyloid-beta plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brains of patients, while the SOBA-AD blood test in plasma aims to detect the early molecular triggers of the disease before plaque formation.”