Arthritis drug Actemra in short supply as demand for use in COVID ramps up
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 18, 2021
Demand for Actemra IV has skyrocketed due to the latest wave of COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations, drugmaker Genentech says. In the past two weeks alone, orders for the drug shot up to 400% of pre-COVID...
Feds ramp up nursing home sanctions for poor care performance
By
Alicia Lasek
Oct 24, 2022
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will more aggressively enforce accountability in its Special Focus Facilities (SFF) Program, the Biden Administration said Friday.
Ambien alternative? FDA approves insomnia drug that improves sleep in seniors
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 01, 2020
New insomnia medication lemborexant compared favorably to an extended release form of Ambien in a late-stage clinical trial.
Clinical briefs for Wednesday, March 9
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 09, 2022
AHCA requests sit-down with Biden and top officials on nursing home reform plans … CDC director says COVID-19 will ‘probably’ become seasonal … Despite FDA efforts, fewer than 20% of drugs have...
AMDA releases COVID-19 vaccine medical exemption request forms, guidance
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 18, 2022
Now that the Supreme Court has ruled in favor of a federal COVID-19 vaccine mandate, a leading industry advocate is offering guidance and templates to assist long-term care medical directors in handling...
Clinical briefs for Tuesday, March 21
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 20, 2023
LeadingAge: MA program failures jeopardize health of nearly 30 million older adults … Behavioral health is crucial ingredient in new Michigan home care program … Patients prefer to see test results...
Clinical briefs for Thursday, July 8
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 08, 2021
New CMS Medicare chief was health system exec, former HHS health reform director … More falls may occur in SNFs after admitting residents with existing cognitive decline: study … New health benefits...
Ouch! Half of gout patients with regular flares don’t take allopurinol, study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 06, 2019
Urate-lowering drugs are known to be an effective therapy for gout. Yet only half of patients who suffered regular flares reported taking allopurinol, a study says.
Xofluza antiviral now approved for flu prevention
By
Alicia Lasek
Nov 25, 2020
The Food and Drug Administration has expanded the use of the antiviral drug Xofluza (baloxavir marboxil) for use in preventing influenza after exposure to an ill person.
Gastric reflux meds boost odds of winter stomach distress
By
Alicia Lasek
Dec 02, 2019
Older adults who use proton pump inhibitors continuously have heightened odds of contracting an acute form of stomach virus that peaks in winter.