Practice Transformation
Approximately one-third (34%) of U.S. children and adolescents take dietary supplements, according to research published in the Oct. 30 issue of the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The most frequently used products were multivitamin-mineral products, which were used by 23.8% of children and adolescents. The researchers note that supplement use might mitigate nutrient shortfalls, but it may lead to intake above recommended upper limits for some nutrients. They also point out that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that pediatric providers ask about dietary supplement use. (MMWR; HealthDay)
Practices may soon need to probe more deeply about non-prescription drug use. Last week, at least four states legalized marijuana for adults, including New Jersey and Arizona. And Oregon became the first state to decriminalize the possession of small quantities of street drugs such as cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine; it also legalized the therapeutic use of psychedelic mushrooms. (PBS)
Evidence & Innovation
Mayo researchers conducted genetic testing in more than 3,000 patients who were diagnosed with cancer. One in eight had an inherited cancer-related gene mutation, according to the research, published this month in in JAMA Oncology. This mutation would not have been detected in half of these patients using a standard guideline-based approach. “More than half of the patients who developed cancer due to inherited mutations were being missed,” study author Niloy Jewel Samadder, MD, said in a prepared statement. Uncovering these hidden inherited genetic mutations could lead to opportunities for cancer management in families and life-saving targeted cancer therapies. (JAMA Oncology; Science Daily)
People who received the flu vaccine in the year before testing positive for COVID-19 are nearly 2.5 times less likely to be hospitalized with a severe form of the disease than those who were not vaccinated, an analysis published in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine found. Why the vaccination might benefit COVID-19 patients remains unclear. One theory: It could prevent progression to severe forms by “priming” the immune system against any virus. In addition, those vaccinated against the flu within a year of being diagnosed with COVID-19 were more than three times less likely to be admitted to an intensive care unit because of the new coronavirus, according to researchers at the University of Florida. (announcement; UPI)
Policy Solutions
The administration has again delayed implementation of an information blocking and interoperability rule because of COVID-19. It was to have taken effect Nov. 2. The new deadline is April 5, 2021. The reprieve follows lobbying by physician and health care organizations to give practices inundated by the pandemic more time to prepare, AAFP reports, noting that the final rule was issued right before the COVID-19 outbreak was declared a pandemic. (AAFP News)
Most private health plans will be required to cover an approved coronavirus vaccine and its administration with no cost-sharing, according to an interim final CMS rule. In addition, Medicare will also cover any vaccine at no cost to beneficiaries, while Medicaid will reimburse vaccination with no cost- sharing for most plan members. The federal government will reimburse providers administering the vaccine to people without insurance; they are prohibited from charging consumers if they receive the vaccine from the government. The rule will remain in place for the duration of the public health emergency declaration. (BioPharma Dive; CMS)
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In Case You Missed It!
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Register Now! Member Feedback Needed: Medication Management Reform: 4 Key Drivers
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HC21 8th Annual Pharma U: Using Clinical Pharmacists for Better Care and Better Costs in Complex Patients
Thursday, November 12, 2020 10 – 11 AM EST
Employers demand high value care–the right drug, right patient, right time, right cost. Join HC21 for this online event to discuss how employers can leverage CMM to Get The Medications Right.
AmazonSmile is an easy way for 0.5% of your qualified purchases go to the GTMRx Foundation at no cost to you. And signing up is simple—go to smile.amazon.com and select “Get the Medications Right Foundation” as your charity of choice. If you prefer to directly donate instead, you can do so here.
Adding the foundation on AmazonSmile will help us continue to provide no cost educational webinars, issue briefs, weekly news briefs and promote the need for transformation of our current system of medication use through social media campaigns.
