Experts Call for PBM Transparency During Senate Hearing
Most expert witnesses at a hearing of the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday agreed that pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) — middlemen between the drug companies and insurers — drive up the prices of prescription drugs, leaving patients with higher out-of-pocket costs, and offered a range of suggestions on how to curb PBM abuses. Historically, PBMs […]
Helping Patients Get Fit — One Walk at a Time
WHEATON, Md. — There’s a bit of a damp chill in the air late on a Saturday morning in mid-March as 17 people — most of whom appear to be in their 50s or older — gather at a park in this Washington suburb. But they are not deterred. The group is participating in the […]
Opioids Most Common Substance in Young Children’s Fatal Poisonings
Opioids were the most common substance contributing to fatal poisonings among children age 5 years and younger in recent years, researchers reported. Examination of 731 poisoning-related fatalities from 2005 to 2018 in young kids reported to the National Fatality Review-Case Reporting System (NFR-CRS), showed that opioids were involved in 346 of the fatal cases (47.3%). […]
Opinion | How to Make Meaningful Moves Toward Health Equity in Cancer Care
“Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in healthcare is the most shocking and inhumane.” — Martin Luther King, Jr. In 2023, marginalized communities continue to face disparities and barriers to accessible care. Among women diagnosed with breast cancer, Black women are still approximately 40% more likely to die, and research suggests that the LGBTQ+ […]
The Most Common Norovirus Symptoms Doctors Are Seeing Right Now
Catherine Falls Commercial via Getty Images Stomach issues and headaches can be some of the most common symptoms of norovirus. In regions across the U.S., cases of norovirus are rising. Among many people, it is casually known as a “stomach bug” or “stomach flu” — and it’s a sickness that no one wants to get. […]
SPAN Study Finds a Winner for Treating Stroke in Rodents
DALLAS — Uric acid was shown to be the most successful neuroprotectant among rodents in a study from the Stroke Preclinical Assessment Network (SPAN), a nationwide trial platform that applies clinical research practices to preclinical studies in hopes of better informing human studies. Of the six interventions studied in the randomized rodent trial, uric acid […]
Is Pain Treated Effectively With Antidepressants?
While some antidepressant drugs were effective for certain pain conditions, most were either ineffective or evidence was inconclusive, a review found. Evidence of efficacy of antidepressants for pain emerged in 11 of 42 comparisons included in an overview of systematic reviews, reported Giovanni Ferreira, PhD, of the University of Sydney, and colleagues. In four of […]
Probiotic Proves Its Might for Staph Decolonization
A Bacillus subtilis probiotic demonstrated the ability to wipe out most Staphylococcus aureus colonization without altering the gut microbiome, a placebo-controlled phase II study conducted in Thailand showed. Of 115 healthy individuals with natural S. aureus colonization, 30 days of the probiotic led to a 96.8% reduction in S. aureus in stool (P<0.0001) and a […]
23 Tiny Ways To Improve Your Mental Health In 2023
With a new year often comes a renewed focus on health. For most people, that usually means diet and exercise. However, your mental health should be a big (if not the biggest) part of any wellness journey. If you’re looking to improve your well-being in 2023, make a resolution to prioritize your mind. We spoke […]
Tis the Season to Get Flu Shots – Wyoming Department of Health
Tis the Season to Get Flu Shots October 26, 2022 While the two most recent flu seasons involved very low activity levels, a Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) official says this influenza season may be different and flu shots can help protect Wyoming residents from serious illness. “We know flu shots are safe and continue […]