Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Drug Safety Warnings Only Lead To Small Prescribing Drops: Study
Stat: Regulatory Warnings About Drugs Are Tied To Modest Drops In Prescribing
Drug safety advisories issued by regulators regularly led to reduced prescribing by physicians by an average of nearly 6%, lowering the potential for patients to encounter potentially harmful or fatal reactions, a new study finds. After examining two dozen advisories issued in Canada, Denmark, the U.S., and the U.K. between 2009 and 2015, researchers found that on average, prescribing for the drugs — mainly used in primary care — declined by 5.8%. These advisories did not include specific dosage information. For the four advisories with dosage advice, the average decline was 1.9%, which was not statistically significant or considered conclusive, given the small number. (Silverman, 2/23)
Stat: Despite Lack Of Progress On Health Equity, These Leaders Forged Ahead
When Quinn Capers IV took over as associate dean of admissions at the Ohio State University College of Medicine in 2009, just 13% of the entering class came from racial and ethnic groups underrepresented in medicine. A Black cardiologist, he thought the school could do better. Capers launched a series of changes, starting with testing the 140 members of the admissions committee (like the faculty, largely white) for implicit racial or gender biases that might make them judge some applicants more harshly. The study found up to 70% of the committee held such biases, and its members — who read applications, decide whom to interview, and choose which candidates to admit — then underwent training to mitigate those biases. (McFarling, 2/24)
Columbus Dispatch: Ohio Board Closes Most Complaints It Reopened After Strauss Scandal
The State Medical Board of Ohio will not take any action in a majority of sexual misconduct complaints against physicians and other licensed medical professionals it reopened last year in the wake of the Dr. Richard Strauss scandal at Ohio State University. The board has nearly finished a review of complaints it reopened last March following recommendations from expert reviewers and a Strauss working group convened by Gov. Mike DeWine. As of Feb. 18, the medical board decided to take no further action with 72 of the initial 91 complaints reopened, meaning nearly 80% were closed again, according to a memorandum created in response to The Dispatch asking the board for an update. (Filby, 2/23)
In news relating to hospitals —
Courier Journal: Goodwill, Norton Healthcare To Bring Hospital To Louisville West End
Opportunity is coming to the West End, Louisville leaders announced Wednesday, in the form of a $100 million investment from two major local employers and the first hospital to be built west of Ninth Street in more than 150 years. The “opportunity campus,” as it was called by speakers at a press conference announcing the move, will include a new $30 million headquarters for Goodwill Industries of Kentucky as well as a $70 million hospital from Norton Healthcare. Other local social service organizations will have a space at the 20-acre complex at Broadway and 28th Street, officials said, including Big Brothers Big Sisters and KentuckianaWorks. (Aulbach and Tobin, 2/23)
Billings Gazette: Report Details Deficiencies Tied To 4 Deaths At Montana State Hospital
Kathy Toavs, a dementia patient at the Montana State Hospital, fell 13 times in less than two months before the last fall claimed her life. The series of preventable incidents was noted by federal inspectors this month. The inspection, conducted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, identified four patient deaths attributable to the hospital's noncompliance with federal rules. (Larson, 2/23)
And in developments in finance connected to health care —
Axios: Owens & Minor Capitalizes From Pandemic's Glove Shortage
A critical shortage of medical gloves during the pandemic last year led to large price hikes from the makers of those gloves — costs that everyone ultimately will absorb. Medical equipment supplier Owens & Minor reported $660 million of extra revenue in 2021, and expects an additional $235 million this year, based solely on passing along higher costs of purchasing gloves. (Herman, 2/24)
Bloomberg: Philip Morris Eyes Smaller Deals Amid Push Into Wellness Field
Philip Morris International Inc. may make smaller deals to help build a multibillion-dollar health and wellness business by 2030 as global cigarette demand weakens. The company will invest as much as $200 million annually over the next three years to develop a pipeline of health and wellness products, Chief Executive Officer Jacek Olczak said Wednesday in an online presentation at the Consumer Analyst Group of New York conference. (Gretler, 2/23)
Axios: FemTec Health's Awesome Woman Comes To Market
New York-based startup FemTec Health has unveiled its first company brand, a health and wellness offering called Awesome Woman, founder Kimon Angelides tells Axios exclusively. Awesome Woman is a subscription-based digital pharmacy and telehealth platform that is reflective of growing investor interest in women-focused digital health. The thrust of the company's appeal may lie in using home tests to recommend and sell health products, industry observers say. (Brodwin, 2/23)
