Articles related to All Specialties

In a three-page letter, Kathryn A. Coleman, director of the agency’s Medicare Drug and Health Plan Contract Administration Group, stated that CMS is immediately stepping up its examination of marketing materials, which are required to be submitted in accordance with its legal “File and Use” authority for Medicare Advantage and Part D drug plans, and “may exercise its authority to prohibit” their use. As of right now, Medicare Advantage marketing materials are allowed to go live five days after being submitted, as long as the company submitting them “certifies the material complies with all applicable standards.” Starting January 1, 2023, however, no television advertisements will be eligible for submission under its “File and Use” authority, meaning that the advertisements will not air until CMS approves them.

All eligible Medicare beneficiaries who received treatment at Mayo facilities in Arizona and Florida over the previous three years were sent letters this past fall urging them to sign up for original Medicare and a supplement. When asked about the purpose of the letters, Kevin Punsky, the Mayo communications manager, said that they are meant to act as “a courtesy reminder” at the start of the annual Medicare re-enrollment window, which started on October 15.

The way that physician burnout is currently framed contributes to misconceptions about and stigma surrounding depression and discourages us from fully utilizing the resources available to prevent and treat depression.

Dr. Steven Schlozman, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, conducted research on the impact of horror films and found that those who enjoy them are the most terrified. It must be particularly difficult to turn away from a truly terrifying doctor on TV if fear is something that people naturally find to be a little exhilarating. Thankfully, these scary clinicians beloved by fans are fictional and entertaining to watch — of course, with your eyes covered.

In an effort to reduce the load on overburdened healthcare staff around the world, WHO has unveiled version 2 of its AI “chatbot.” Originally designed to combat COVID disinformation, the system now covers COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, and can give advice on mental health, tips to de-stress, guidance on how to eat healthily and be more active, and how to quit tobacco and e-cigarettes. The chatbot can currently converse in English, with Arabic, French, Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, and Russian to follow.

In 2023, patents for the two blockbusters Humira and Stelara will expire. The patents for Aranesp, Rituxan, Simponi, and others will expire in 2024, and in 2025, six more blockbuster drugs will experience patent expiration, opening the field to a rush of biosimilars. That could create an environment of significantly reduced drug prices.