GLG News by Economic Experts on Managed Care

BD GeneOhm's recent CE Mark for its molecular diagnostic test for the rapid diagnosis of Clostridium difficile infection will likely intensify the competition between BD and Cepheid.  Both companies market tests for the $1 billion dollar Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)&...

A new test form AspenBio could revolutionalize the diagnosis of appendicitis.  Over 6 million patients present to Emergency Departments each year with abdominal pain, resulting in approximately 700,000 appendectomies.  Over $5 billion is spent each year in the US on CT scans, the currently...

The House of Representatives repealed the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) authority to conduct a competitive bidding demonstration program for laboratory services.  Senate action is now required.

Dangers of over-medication.  Lack of long term studies.  lack of personal and parental responsibility

To enhance health care efficiency, MDs should not have to purchase and stock expensive biotech drugs in their office.  Drugs should be charged to the health plan or PBM and the drugs should arrive at the MDs office labeled for the particular patient

Pricing constraints in the US such as Best Price legislation preclude innovative outcomes based solutions from being adopted.  CMS should provide waivers to Best Price to enable payers and drug innovators to engage in risk based contracts

This article is important in that it confirms a commonly used method in clinical dermatology practice. Namely that of using Protopic for longer term maintenance to prevent flares, and to act as a topical steroid sparing agent. This has been done since the introduction of Protopic, and among dermatologists...

This article is important because it describes a growing concern that is not well known to the investment community or the public. Due to increased pressure from the generic companies, the FDA, and the public many companies are finding new uses for older medications. This is very true in dermatology...

Somehow, healthcare, energy, education....in fact nearly every major issue today has turned into a contentious "them vs. us". It would always be preferable that reasonable men attempt to reach a reasonable conclusion, but government bodies today (eg., politicians and key administrators) are...

CMS (and several large insurers) refusing to pay for "Never Events" will further challenge cash strapped hospitals, and poses increased pressure to increase prices as hospitals attempt to cost-shift to the commercial carriers.  Not paying for alleged hospital mistakes will garner stronger administrative...