About Covid-19
Association of nirmatrelvir for acute SARS-CoV-2 infection with subsequent Long COVID symptoms in an observational cohort study “Within an online observational cohort, treatment with nirmatrelvir [Paxlovid] among vaccinated, nonhospitalized individuals during first known SARS-CoV-2 infection was not associated with a lower prevalence of patient-reported Long COVID symptoms >90 days after infection. Treatment was not associated with fewer Long COVID symptoms or severe symptoms, although these endpoints were limited by rarity of these outcomes. Rebound symptoms or test positivity after nirmatrelvir treatment were not associated with Long COVID symptoms.”
Vaccine Effectiveness Against Long COVID in Children “This large retrospective study shows a moderate protective effect of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination against long COVID. The effect is stronger in adolescents, who have higher risk of long COVID, and wanes over time.”
About health insurance/insurers
Copay coupons for some drugs must count toward deductibles, after Biden court move “Insurers will have to count drug copay coupons toward deductibles and patient spending caps in most cases, after a Biden move in federal court on Tuesday.
Drug companies use copay coupons to help patients cover the cost of their drugs.”
Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance Premium Cost Growth and Its Association With Earnings Inequality Among US Families “Findings In this economic evaluation of US families receiving employer-sponsored health insurance, the mean cumulative lost earnings from 1988 to 2019 associated with growth in health insurance premiums was $125 340 per family (in 2019 dollars) or nearly 5% of total earnings over the 32-year period. In all 32 years of the study, health care premiums as a percentage of compensation were significantly higher for non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic families than for non-Hispanic White families.
Meaning This study suggests that increasing health insurance premium costs are likely associated with decreased earnings and increased income inequality, including by race and ethnicity, among US families receiving employer-sponsored health insurance and are meaningfully associated with wage stagnation.”
CMS finalizes prior authorization rule expected to save $15B “CMS has finalized a rule to streamline the prior authorization process and improve the electronic exchange of health information that it estimates will save $15 billion over 10 years.
The requirements generally apply to Medicare Advantage organizations, state Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program agencies, Medicaid managed care plans, CHIP-managed care entities and qualified health plan insurers on the federally facilitated exchanges…
Beginning primarily in 2026, certain payers will be required to include a specific reason when denying requests, publicly report certain prior authorization metrics and send decisions within 72 hours for urgent requests and seven calendar days for standard requests.
The rule also requires affected payers to implement a Health Level 7 Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources standard application programming interface to support electronic prior authorization.”
About hospitals and healthcare systems
Acute Hospital Care at Home in the United States: The Early National Experience “Early national experience in providing AHCaH shows that a diverse group of medically complex patients received care with low rates of mortality (0.5% during hospitalization and 3.2% at 30 days), escalation (6.2%), skilled-nursing facility use (2.6%), and readmission (15.6%). Among the patients receiving AHCaH were those with dual eligibility, a disability, or dementia, with similar outcomes for socially vulnerable patients.”
About pharma
US FDA approves Vertex/CRISPR gene therapy for an inherited blood disorder “The U.S. health regulator has approved Vertex Pharmaceuticals and CRISPR Therapeutics' gene therapy to treat [transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia] in patients 12 years and older,…
The decision earns the therapy, branded as Casgevy, the second U.S. approval after it was greenlighted in December for sickle cell disease, another inherited blood disorder. “
About healthcare personnel
Henry Ford files lawsuit over work visa rejections The reason this action is important is that the U.S. has a shortage of key healthcare personnel. This hospital is choosing to fight back for these two Canadian radiology techs.
About health technology
FDA clears handheld, AI-powered optical probe to evaluate lesions for skin cancer “The FDA has cleared its first artificial intelligence-powered device that checks out suspicious moles, bumps or lesions for the signs of skin cancer, with a handheld probe developed by DermaSensor.
Designed for use by primary care providers, the noninvasive optical spectroscopy system is capable of helping to identify the three most common skin cancers at the point of care, including melanoma, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.
The FDA said its de novo clearance aims the automated device toward people ages 40 and up. While not a screening tool or a complete diagnostic by itself, the DermaSensor can be used by physicians to help decide whether to refer a patient to a trained dermatologist: After scanning, the point-and-click AI system immediately delivers results stating either ‘investigate further’ or ‘monitor.’”
About healthcare finance
General Catalyst's new health system company to acquire Summa Health “Venture capital firm General Catalyst is making good on its October promise to purchase a health system with about eight months left to spare.
In a Wednesday morning blog post and press release, General Catalyst announced that Health Assurance Transformation Corp. (HATCo) — its recently launched company focused on the health system space — has signed a non-binding letter of intent to acquire Akron, Ohio-based Summa Health…
Summa Health is among Ohio’s largest integrated healthcare delivery systems. It spans two acute care hospital campuses, 15 community medical centers, a rehab hospital, a health insurance arm, multi-specialty group practice and a research and medical education program. It employs more than 8,000 people…”