About Covid-19
COVID DATA TRACKER WEEKLY REVIEW “As of September 7, 2022, the current 7-day moving average of daily new cases (70,488) decreased 18.8% compared with the previous 7-day moving average (86,853). A total of 94,888,931 COVID-19 cases have been reported in the United States as of September 7, 2022.”
Antiviral agents found to be effective against Omicron BA.2.75 “Researchers say multiple COVID-19 drugs that have been approved in Japan show efficacy against the Omicron BA.2.75 subvariant.
They say the antiviral agents remdesivir, molnupiravir and nirmatrelvir may be effective against BA.2.75 [however],…The virus-neutralizing antibodies casirivimab-imdevimab and sotrovimab were found to be significantly less effective against the variant.
But the researchers do say that tixagevimab-cilgavimab, approved last month, did show neutralizing activity.”
A single-administration therapeutic interfering particle reduces SARS-CoV-2 viral shedding and pathogenesis in hamsters “Recently, we reported the discovery of a single-administration antiviral therapeutic interfering particle (TIP) against SARS-CoV-2 that prevents severe disease in hamsters and exhibits a high genetic barrier to the evolution of resistance. Here, we report that TIP intervention also reduces SARS-CoV-2 transmission between hamsters.”
About health insurance/insurers
Blue Cross $2.7B antitrust settlement appealed by Home Depot, others “Three employers have appealed a $2.67 billion antitrust settlement with the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, potentially altering the terms of the landmark federal agreement and extending the timeline of the 10-year case.
Retailer Home Depot filed its appeal Thursday while design consultancy Topographic and benefits providers Employee Services Inc. appealed the settlement the day before, according to filings submitted to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama.
None of the companies’ legal briefs explain why they are appealing Judge David Proctor’s decision to approve the deal last month. Home Depot, Topographic, Employee Services and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association didn't immediately responded to interview requests.”
HCSC teams with Teladoc to roll out virtual primary care next year “HCSC, the country's largest customer-owned health insurer, will begin offering the virtual care service to some midsize and large employer groups in Illinois and Texas starting Jan. 1, 2023.
The virtual primary care model is designed to help employers with employees scattered across diverse geographies get timely and convenient access to a trusted online care team—all while managing healthcare outcomes and costs, executives said.”
About pharma
Providers spent $44B on 340B drugs in 2021 “The 30-year-old program that allows hospitals to buy drugs directly from manufacturers to avoid inflated prices, 340B, cost providers $43.9 billion in 2021, according to HHS' Health Resources and Services Administration.
Most of that spending — more than $34 billion — was from disproportionate share hospitals. Health center programs bought more than $2 billion worth of 340B drugs, children's hospitals about $1.3 billion and critical access hospitals nearly $621 million.”
Effects of Real-time Prescription Benefit Recommendations on Patient Out-of-Pocket Costs “Question Do real-time prescription benefit (RTPB) recommendations for clinically appropriate, lower-cost alternatives at the point of prescribing reduce patient medication out-of-pocket costs?
Findings This cluster randomized clinical trial found that RTPB recommendations led to a 11% reduction in patient out-of-pocket costs for ordered medications. Among high-cost drug classes, the intervention led to a 40% reduction in out-of-pocket costs; however, RTPB recommendations were made for only a small proportion of orders.”
About health technology
President Biden Announces Intent to Appoint Dr. Renee Wegrzyn as Inaugural Director of Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) The headline is the story.
GE Healthcare to spin off in January “GE Healthcare is set to spin off as a standalone public company in the first week of January.”