Analysis Finds Florida Medicaid Is Not Getting Adequate Drug Rebates
The report, by the Milliman consulting firm, recommends that Florida alter its contracts with pharmacy benefit managers so more of the discounts negotiated by those PBMs goes to the state's Medicaid managed care plans. Also in the news, Google launches a new research app and some patients in deep pain seek a new study of a controversial pain killer, Vioxx.
Stat:
Florida Finds PBMs Are Benefiting From A Lucrative Profit Center
As states struggle to control the cost of prescription medicines, a new report found pharmacy benefit managers pocketed more than $89 million collected on behalf of the Florida Medicaid program — and the consultants who ran the analysis recommended state officials rework the arrangements. (Silverman, 12/9)
And an announcement about a research tool --
Stat:
Google Launches Health Studies App, Marking A New Type Of Apple Rivalry
Google made a major move into health research on Wednesday, unveiling a new smartphone app that lets Android users participate in medical studies remotely. The app, called Google Health Studies, could enable the tech giant to better position itself against competitor Apple, which has rolled out several remote research efforts since launching its first virtual health study in 2017. (Brodwin, 12/9)
In pharmaceutical news —
Stat:
Hemophilia Patients Pin Their Hopes On The Revival Of Vioxx
After surviving hemophilia, hepatitis C, and HIV, Joseph Burke considers himself a walking miracle. But the medical odyssey that saved his life has also ravaged his joints, and now each day begins in pain, whether from his ankles, knees, shoulders, or all of the above. ... He wants a treatment that can soothe his pain without the anxiety of keeping an addictive drug in his home. And he’s pinning his hopes on a decades-old pill more famous for class action lawsuits than medical miracles: Vioxx. (Garde, 12/9)
NPR:
Progress Toward A Safer Psychedelic Drug To Treat Depression And Addiction
A chemically tweaked version of the psychedelic drug ibogaine appears to relieve depression and addiction symptoms without producing hallucinations or other dangerous side effects. The results of a study in rodents suggest it may be possible to make psychedelic drugs safe enough to become mainstream treatments for psychiatric disorders, the authors report Wednesday in the journal Nature. (Hamilton, 12/9)
