AARP news from FierceHealthcare

A list of the top "out-of-town" hospitals was recently compiled by the AARP in what is meant to serve as a guide for patients who travel for care. The list, which is featured in the May/June issue of... Read more...

A group of 21 stakeholders from across the healthcare industry has come together to see to it that the problem of the U.S. nursing shortage doesn't get dropped from the national discussion of U.S.... Read more...

The AARP prides itself on being an adamant watchdog for consumers' rights, especially on healthcare--but sometimes gods have feet of clay. The billion-dollar elderly advocacy group is now accused of... Read more...

Biotech drugs, treating conditions like cancer and rheumatoid arthritis, are already mind-bogglingly expensive, with some hitting $100,000 per year. As if that wasn't enough, now research suggests... Read more...

It's somewhat ironic that a Governor as well known for his commitment to physical fitness as he is for being an aging action adventure hero has proposed deep budget cuts that could leave more than... Read more...

For years, the biotechnology industry has fought hard against legislative changes that would allow the FDA to approve generic versions of biotech medications. On the opposite side of the ring are a... Read more...

Over the last few months, several New York health plans have agreed to follow the Attorney... Read more...

Hearings began this week on an effort, sponsored by at least six pharma data-mining firms, designed to overturn a new Maine law which lets prescribers opt out of having their prescribing information... Read more...

Momentum seems to be building for a New York state bill which would require drug makers to report when they give doctors gifts valued at over $75. This week, a wide range of physician and consumer groups expressed support for the measure, including the AARP, National Physicians Alliance, Center for Medical Consumers and Consumer Reports publisher Consumers Union. The bill targets the $7 billion per year pharmas spend in physician gifts, which includes everything from meals, trips and …

... Read more...

Managed care executives are understandably stressed by the cost of biologic drug treatments which, in extreme cases, can run as much as $100,000 per year. To address the problem, many plans are asking patients to pay larger percentages of the medications' cost. With some patients already spending hundreds of dollars a month, some are cutting back, and others can't afford to raise doses when necessary, physicians say. Other doctors have complained that health plans are using less-direct …

... Read more...