Articles related to HEALTHCARE ACCESS

The United States is currently experiencing a shortage of Adderall, a medication used to treat attention deficit disorder (ADD)/attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. The FDA, in frequent communication with manufacturers, has not provided a clear timeline for when the shortage will be resolved. The shortage is attributed to various factors. The demand for Adderall has increased significantly, with a 10% rise in prescriptions filled in 2021 compared to the previous year. The US Drug Enforcement Agency’s efforts to combat prescription drug misuse have also played a role in limiting production. Furthermore, the pandemic led to the emergence of telemedicine startups, making it easier for individuals to obtain Adderall prescriptions, sometimes inaccurately. While waiting for the supply to be restored, healthcare professionals can consider alternative therapies such as dexmethylphenidate, methylphenidate, and dextroamphetamine.

Single-tablet regimen (STR) coverage under qualified health plans (QHPs) varies widely across the US. Although bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (BIC/FTC/TAF) coverage has grown over time, many QHPs in priority jurisdictions for the Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) have coinsurance requirements. Delay in QHP coverage and benefit design may hinder access to new antiretroviral treatment (ART) regimens.

The Organ Transplant and Procurement Network (OTPN) is set to undergo modernization and improvement after being criticized for lack of transparency, long waits, mishandling of organs, and the number of people who die on the waitlist each year. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has launched the OTPN modernization project, which will focus on accountability. The current system is outdated and has been responsible for 70 deaths between 2010 and 2020, according to a 2022 senate report. The HRSA plans to take steps, such as creating a new dashboard, to provide transparency and better serve patients and their families. Additional modernization will focus on overhauling the operations of the OTPN system to ensure higher compliance and a greater focus on patient safety. Organ transplants and the OTPN disproportionately affect the Black community in the US. About 30% of the ONTP waitlist is Black Americans, and about 90% are waiting for kidney transplants. The HRSA’s plan hopes to address the inequality by improving accountability, transparency, and systems of organ retrieval and matching. The changes will benefit patients, and physicians might be able to see more of their patients receive the life-saving transplants they need.

For the first time, Uber Health users, including healthcare providers and health plans, will be able to manage prescription delivery from any pharmacy in their service area via the same platform they use to coordinate patient transportation. This launch allows providers to offer a comprehensive suite of care solutions that extend beyond the four walls of a clinic and is intended to improve patient experiences and health outcomes.

The event will be held on Tuesday, April 11th, 2023 from 5:00pm – 9:00pm at The Hermitage Hotel in Nashville, TN, in the Grand Ballroom. Tennessee Oncology’s Stephen Schleicher, MD, and Larry Bilbrey will be your hosts for this one-night event, which will provide commentary on how cancer care has become more complicated over the last 15 years and how data is disrupting delivery today and in the future, from the private sector to tech companies.

To assist retail pharmacies in filling the care gap left by physician shortages and transitioning to an effective, patient-centric clinical services business model, real-time communication and seamless data sharing among pharmacists, diagnostic providers, physicians, and patients are required. Linking the care team in a way that allows for not only efficient care delivery but also efficient provider billing with full interoperability will be critical to pharmacies’ long-term success as clinical service providers.