About Covid-19
Advisers to the FDA back Novavax COVID vaccine “An FDA summary found the Novavax COVID vaccine had 90% efficacy in protecting people against mild, moderate and severe disease. The main study that the agency used to evaluate the Novavax vaccine's efficacy included about 30,000 patients in the U.S and Mexico. But data collection ended in late September 2021, months before omicron was detected in the U.S.
The Novavax vaccine uses copies of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein produced in a factory rather than snippets of genetic code to instruct the body's cells to make the protein that prompts an immune response. Both approaches have proved succesful against COVID-19.”
China offers Covid vaccine insurance to win over jab sceptics Fascinating idea: “Dozens of cities across the country have begun offering people aged 60 and older free insurance that pays out up to Rmb500,000 ($75,000) if they fall ill — or worse — because of Covid-19 vaccines. The packages also promise payouts to families if it can be proven that a loved one’s death was related to receiving a jab. In Beijing alone, about 60,000 seniors have signed up for the coverage since April.”
AB-2098 Physicians and surgeons: unprofessional conduct.(2021-2022) A Bill passed by the California legislature: “This bill would designate the dissemination or promotion of misinformation or disinformation related to the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, or “COVID-19,” as unprofessional conduct. The bill would require the board to consider specified factors prior to bringing a disciplinary action against a physician and surgeon.”
About health insurance
Study: 87% of Medicare Advantage plans could lose one or more stars in 2023 ratings “More than 80% of Medicare Advantage plans are in danger of losing at least one star in one or more of their ratings for 2023, potentially imperiling millions in quality bonuses for plans, a new analysis finds…
The analysis from Press Ganey, which can conduct experience surveys from plan members, is based on preliminary 2022 data from 446 MA plans. It showed that 48% of MA plans are at risk of losing a star on the measure of getting needed prescription drugs, while 44% are at risk of losing one due to customer service and for care coordination…
Due to a final rule released in 2020, there are several CAHPS measures that have a greater emphasis on star ratings for 2023.
Some of the measures that were weighted a two in 2022 will be a four next year, including:
Customer service
Getting needed prescription drugs
Rating of drug plan
Care coordination
Rating of healthcare quality”
About hospitals and healthcare systems
The top 10 nonprofit health systems by 2021 operating revenue FYI
HCA Healthcare Hit With More Price Inflation Allegations “The city of Brevard, North Carolina sued HCA Healthcare for allegedly inflating healthcare costs after it acquired Mission Health.
Nashville, Tennessee-based hospital giant HCA controls more than an 85% of the acute care market in the Asheville, North Carolina area and at least 70% of that market in the surrounding region, city officials claim in a complaint filed Friday in a North Carolina federal court. That leverage allegedly allowed HCA to force insurers and employers into anticompetitive contracts that included all-or-nothing provisions that required them to include all of their facilities in the health plan networks and steered patients away from competitors.”
About pharma
California aims to slash insulin prices and challenge Big Pharma. Can it succeed? “[Governor] Newsom is asking state lawmakers to pump $100 million into an ambitious initiative to launch California’s generic drug label, CalRx, and begin producing insulin in the next few years, said Alex Stack, a Newsom spokesperson. The state is also working to identify other generic drugs it could bring to market, targeting those that are expensive or in short supply.”
About the public’s health
Menthol-flavored cigarettes may lead to increased smoking among teens, study finds “Researchers found that teen consumption of menthol cigarettes was associated with nearly three additional days of smoking over a 30-day period, a 38 percent higher risk of becoming a frequent smoker and an 8 percent higher nicotine dependency.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in April proposed a ban on menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars and the agency is taking public comments on the matter through July 5 before making a final decision.”
About healthcare IT
Teladoc lawsuit claims company 'misled' investors “Teladoc is facing a lawsuit alleging the company misled investors regarding its business, operations and future prospects that will result in "significant losses and damages" for stakeholders.
The lawsuit, filed June 6 on the behalf of parties that purchased Teladoc shares between October and April, accuses the company, along with CEO Jason Gorevic and CFO Mala Murthy, of downplaying competition in the mental health and chronic care business sectors, along with issuing "unrealistic" financial expectations for 2022.”
About healthcare personnel
Healthcare access looms as doctors' top concern, followed by substance abuse, racial disparities and gun control “A strong majority, 85%, cited healthcare access as their most important concern, followed by substance/opioid abuse (66%), racial disparities (54%), gun control (53%) and climate change (51%), according to a new Medscape survey.
Nearly all the doctors surveyed say they support gun background checks, and a majority are in favor of abortion access with some restrictions by trimester.”
About health technology
GE's contrast dye plant nears 100% capacity “Production of an X-ray imaging dye at a Shanghai plant will resume at normal speed this week after COVID-19-related shutdowns halted supply in May.
As hospitals postpone operations and ration the dye used for about 50 million annual CT scans and other imaging procedures, GE Healthcare expects the global supply of iodinated contrast media to progressively recover in the coming weeks, according to a June 2 press release from the company.”