Healthcare Roundup: Alzheimer Drug Therapy, Healthcare Reform, Telehealth & More

FDA Approval of Alzheimer’s Drug Sparks Controversy:

Last week the FDA granted conditional approval of the first new treatment for Alzheimer’s disease in almost twenty years. Although the decision may have come as welcome news to the millions of Americans suffering from the disease and their families, it also sparked plenty of controversy.

Unlike other Alzheimer’s drugs that treat symptoms of the disease, the new drug, called Aduhelm, targets clumps of toxic proteins called beta-amyloid that some believe causes dementia. Breaking with decades of precedent, the FDA granted the drug conditional approval based on its ability to remove those plaques. The drug’s manufacturer, Biogen, will have to conduct a large clinical trial proving that eliminating the plaques has cognitive benefits for Alzheimer’s patients in order to continue marketing the drug.

The approval came in spite of strong objections from a panel of independent experts convened by the FDA who voted nearly unanimously that Biogen’s clinical data failed to provide sufficient evidence that the drug would significantly benefit patients. Two members of that advisory panel resigned over the FDA’s decision.

“I’m quite surprised. The most compelling argument for approval was the unmet need but that cannot, or should not, trump regulatory standards,” said Johns Hopkins epidemiologist and advisory panel member Caleb Alexander. “It’s hard to find any scientist who thinks the data are persuasive. Unmet need is an important contextual factor but it’s not an evidentiary threshold.”

Biogen stands to make billions from the drug, with the list price for a year’s worth of treatment expected to run about $56,000. (STAT, KAISER HEALTH NEWS)

CO Passes Major Healthcare Reform Bill:

Colorado lawmakers passed sweeping legislation aimed at driving down healthcare costs in the state. The bill (HB 1232) was approved without Republican support in either chamber of the state’s General Assembly and despite a handful of Democratic defections over concerns about the measure’s effectiveness and potential impact on the healthcare industry.

The version of the bill now eligible for Gov. Jared Polis’ (D) signature is considerably different from the one that was initially introduced. The original version would have required the healthcare industry to reduce costs by 20 percent in order to avoid the implementation of a public health insurance plan. The version ultimately approved by lawmakers would require private insurers to provide a state-regulated plan that cuts costs by 15 percent.

The plan is similar to one recently launched in Washington, which has actually ended up raising healthcare costs instead of lowering them. But Colorado Democrats say they’ve made tweaks to the approach taken by Washington that they believe will allow them to avoid the Evergreen State’s problems.

The legislation was a top priority for Gov. Polis, and he is expected to sign it into law. (COLORADO SUN)

NV Becomes Second State to Offer Public Option:

Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) signed legislation (SB 420) making his state the second - after Washington - to offer a public health insurance option. The new law mandates that companies participating in the state’s Medicaid program offer lower-cost, mid-tier insurance plans on the state’s online healthcare marketplace. (LAS VEGAS REVIEW JOURNAL)

Biden Administration Narrows COVID Safety Rules to Healthcare Sector:

The Biden administration decided to limit its emergency COVID-19 workplace safety rules, under review since April, to healthcare workers, who research indicates tend to be most at risk, according to Labor Secretary Marty Walsh. The rules had been expected to apply to all workplaces and require workers to wear face masks while on the job. (POLITICO)

WA Using Program to Reduce Vaccine Waste:

Washington launched a program on May 14 that streamlined the process for transferring unused doses of COVID-19 vaccines between different providers to reduce waste. Over 16,000 providers have enrolled in the program, called Vaccine Marketplace.

MO Finally Adopts Medication Tracking Database:

Missouri became the last state to adopt a prescription drug monitoring database allowing the identification of opioid misuse, with Gov. Mike Parson’s (R) approval of SB 63. Missouri had been the only state without such a program for years due to privacy concerns mainly among Republican lawmakers. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Amazon Attracts Customers for Telehealth Service:

Multiple companies have signed up for Amazon’s telehealth service, known as Amazon Care. The company announced in March that it would be opening up the service - launched as a pilot program for employees at its Seattle headquarters in 2019 - to other companies later this year. (CNBC)

Amazon Offers $1-Per-Month Prescriptions:

Amazon said it is now offering six-month, $6 prescriptions for select medications, including diabetes and blood-pressure drugs. The company launched an online pharmacy in November, putting it in direct competition with drug retailers like CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart. (INSURANCE JOURNAL)

-- Compiled by KOREY CLARK