Page 139 - Mployee Wellness Programs News Today

A recent court decision could lead to women losing access to free mammogram screenings, a new Urban Institute report showed. Without insurance, mammograms can cost up to $560 in out-of-pocket expenses.

Carbon went out of Anthem Blue Cross’ network March 17 after not coming to an agreement on reimbursement. The company took the dispute public in an April 29 blog post declaring the rate Anthem pays its providers as not a livable wage. These kinds of disputes between payers and providers happen frequently, though they're usually not as public, one expert said.

Employers are looking for more honesty from their potential health vendor partners. This was the topic of conversation during a Wednesday panel among benefit leaders at the Midwest Business Group on Health conference in Chicago.

Swedish Orphan Biovitrum is acquiring CTI Biopharma in a $1.7 billion deal centered on the biotech’s commercialized drug for the blood cancer myelofibrosis. Sobi says the drug, Vonjo, complements one of its own assets approved for a different blood disorder.

Although conversations around other LGBTQ+ issues are prevalent in mainstream culture, more work needs to be done on understanding our screening, treatment, and survivorship.

The antibody drug, nirsevimab, is designed with a long half-life intended to protect infants from respiratory syncytial virus infection through the entire season. The drug, co-developed by AstraZeneca and Sanofi, is under FDA review.

To truly solve provider shortages—and get providers practicing sooner—health systems and plans need to automate licensing, enrollment, and credentialing, so they can scale their provider networks and meet increasing patient demand.

Employers should be looking at obesity as a chronic condition and focus on weight management solutions over weight loss solutions, said Parin Chikani, medical account director for managed markets at Novo Nordisk. He made these comments Tuesday at the Midwest Business Group on Health conference in Chicago.

Ending access and outcomes disparities in HCT and cell therapy will require a collaborative effort, from clinicians, associations and non-profit organizations in the hematology/oncology, HCT and cell therapy communities to policy makers and payers

Rexulti, a drug for schizophrenia and depression, now has an additional approval for treating agitation in Alzheimer’s disease patients. The FDA decision makes the Otsuka Pharmaceutical and Lundbeck product the first drug approved for this indication.