This message was sent to ##Email##
To advertise in this publication please click here
|
|
|
|
As 2020 comes to a close, NAMCP would like to wish its members, partners and other industry professionals a safe and happy holiday season. As we reflect on the past year for the industry, we would like to provide the readers of the newsbrief a look at the most accessed articles from the year. Our regular publication will resume Wednesday, Jan. 6.
|
This is the best time of day to exercise, backed by science
CNET
From April 22: Finding time to exercise is really a challenge for many people. Exercise is important, but everyone also has lives with jobs, families, significant others, friends, household duties, errands and, you know, the need for rest and sleep.
Where does exercise fit in, then? Is it better to wake up at the crack of dawn (or earlier) to squeeze in a sweat session, or should you push yourself to extend your long day another 30 to 60 minutes?
|
|
A guide to sleeping positions and how they impact health
Scoop Empire
From April 15: Sleeping positions are probably the last thing that comes to mind when thinking about how to sleep better, but as it turns out, they're a significant component of the quality of sleep you get. Not only do the best sleeping positions for you impact your health, but poor ones can also actually cause unintentional strain and result in sleep deprivation, which results in turn in a myriad of other health issues.
|
|
Experts explain what happens to your body when you work out in a mask
Bustle
From Aug. 12: After months of doing Zoom pilates in your living room (and trying to keep your cat out of the camera), there's nothing like that first outdoor run, even if it is a jillion degrees out. If you're getting back into the swing of exercise again, you may be wondering how your fancy new mask is affecting your body as you work out.
|
|
4 vitamin and mineral deficiencies that can mess with your sleep
Bustle
From July 29: Sleep is crucial for your physical and mental health, but many factors, both internal and external, can impact how well you sleep at night. For one? Vitamins. You probably didn't know that vitamin and mineral deficiencies can be linked to insomnia, but the relationship between vitamins and sleep is complicated.
|
|
6 benefits of physical activity that happen well after you've finished sweating
Well+Good
From May 27: If you ask a hundred people why they work out, there would no doubt be far-ranging answers, including mental health, physical strength and the fact that some days the sweat just feels really dang good. Once people discover the way they enjoy moving, it becomes easier to stay focused and work up a daily sweat. However, if you're someone who is new to working out, know that the benefits of physical activity extend far past the gym.
|
|
9 healthy foods that lift your mood
Healthline
From Feb. 12: When you’re feeling down, it can be tempting to turn to food to lift your spirits. However, the sugary, high calorie treats that many people resort to have negative consequences of their own.
Recently, research on the relationship between nutrition and mental health has been emerging. Certain foods have been shown to improve overall brain health and certain types of mood disorders.
|
|
Trying to build muscle? Here are 6 types of proteins to eat — and 3 to avoid
Livestrong
From Sept. 30: Protein is the all-star nutrient your body needs to build muscle.
While many folks are drawn to supplements and protein powder to kickstart muscle growth, there are a number of powerhouse foods that will do just the trick — and also boast the benefit of other nutrients helpful in health and gaining muscle.
|
|
Does turmeric help you lose weight?
Healthline
From April 1: Turmeric is popular in Asian cuisine and has been a part of traditional Indian medicine for thousands of years. Most of turmeric’s health properties can be attributed to curcumin, a compound that has strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Recent studies indicate that turmeric may play a role in weight loss.
|
|
3 tools to help limit or stop your anxiety
By Simma Lieberman
From Jan. 15: I know how debilitating anxiety can be. I've experienced the discomfort of anxiety at different times in my life. Even now, I've found myself feeling anxious about the future, making the right decisions about business and where I want to live. After getting help for extreme anxiety years ago, and learning how common it was, I decided I wanted to help other people. I got trained as a stress management consultant and began working with leaders in organizations to manage their stress and anxieties and support their employees. To this day, I continue to use the techniques I learned and have taught others. I'm sharing three of them with you.
|
|
Which foods boost collagen production?
Medical News Today
From June 3: A structural protein contains tightly-packed molecules that provide structure to various tissues in the body. Examples of such tissues include skin, bone, tendons and ligaments.
As a person ages, their body produces less collagen. This can lead to issues such as wrinkles, sagging skin and stiff joints.
Some foods contain proteins and nutrients that the body needs to produce collagen.
|
|
.NAMCP UPDATES
| | | | | |
| Biodesix, Inc., a leading data-driven diagnostic solutions company with a focus in lung disease, today announced publication of an analysis of the company’s Nodify XL2® lung nodule test. The test supports clinical decision-making for suspicious nodules by more accurately identifying patients with a very low risk of malignancy and shifting those patients into surveillance, thereby minimizing invasive procedures on those with benign nodules. Please click here to view the full press release.
|
| LivaNova PLC, a market-leading medical technology and innovation company, today announced the publication of a new study in the International Journal of Bipolar Disorders that showed adding Vagus Nerve Stimulation Therapy (VNS Therapy®) to treatment as usual (TAU) significantly improves outcomes in patients with treatment-resistant bipolar depression (TRBD). The study examined patients from a five-year prospective registry and found 63% of TRBD patients treated with adjunctive VNS Therapy in addition to TAU had a significant reduction in depressive symptoms, as measured by a 50% or greater reduction in the Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), compared with 39% of patients in the TAU alone group. Click here to view the entire press release. Click here to view the entire press release.
|
| Additionally, LivaNova PLC announced a publication in Contemporary Clinical Trials, which details the design for “A Prospective, Multi-center, Randomized Controlled Blinded Trial Demonstrating the Safety and Effectiveness of VNS Therapy® System as Adjunctive Therapy Versus a No Stimulation Control in Subjects With Treatment-Resistant Depression” or the RECOVER clinical study. RECOVER is currently under way as part of a Coverage with Evidence Development framework of the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) National Coverage Determination process. Click here to view the entire press release.
|
| In late 2018, the National Association of Managed Care Physicians (NAMCP) decided to create the Value Based Care Council (VBCC). The VBCC mission supports empowering medical directors with information and resources to assist them in making value based decisions that support achieving the Triple AIM of improved outcomes and the patient experience while reducing overall costs. The goal is to improve the integration of cost, quality, and access in the clinical decision making process so as to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of extracting value from the associated spend in order to optimize outcomes.
Pursuant to the above, and in response to an unmet need in the marketplace, the VBCC developed a short form in order to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency with which value propositions can be shared between industry and the medical leadership of various payers throughout the country. This same short form provides a concise and consistent manner with which value propositions can be shared and provides the ability to align expectations prior to actually conducting conversations or having a meeting regarding a product or service.
The Product Value Proposition Customer Engagement Short Form can be found on the NAMCP website (www.namcp.org) in the Value Based Care Council subsection of the Councils tab, under tools and resources. Please contact Will Williams at wwilliams@namcp.org with questions or for additional information.
|
| Jazz Pharmaceuticals is excited to announce the approval of ZEPZELCA™ (lurbinectedin) for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic small cell lung cancer (SCLC) with disease progression on or after platinum-based chemotherapy. ZEPZELCA is a second-line therapy that has been studied in both platinum-sensitive and -resistant SCLC patients. Please click here for more information.
|
| Takeda Pharmaceuticals is part of, "The Fight Is In Us", an initiative to maximize the individual and societal benefit of COVID-19 plasma. The campaign will focus on recruiting COVID-19 survivors to donate their plasma at licensed blood and plasma donor centers.- If you’ve recovered from #COVID19, your immune system has antibodies that could be used as a treatment. See if you can help others by donating plasma www.TheFightIsInUs.org. #TheFightIsInUS
- The antibodies that helped you or someone you know fight off COVID-19 may be able to help others. Visit www.TheFightIsInUs.org to see if you qualify to donate plasma. #TheFightIsInUs
You are a survivor, now you could be a hero. Plasma from recovered #COVID19 patients could play a key role in creating a potential therapy for coronavirus. Learn how you can donate at www.TheFightIsInUs.org #TheFightIsInUs
|
| Biodesix, Inc., a leading diagnostic company in lung disease, recently announced a partnership with Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: BIO and BIOb) to bring a COVID-19 Droplet Digital PCR (ddPCR) test to the FDA for an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) approval to support the escalating need for testing in the U.S. Two studies published this month, ahead of peer review, reported that ddPCR testing showed superior sensitivity and precision for clinical detection of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) compared to existing test methods that are performed using qPCR. Biodesix currently has a focus on lung disease and offers other diagnostic testing for lung cancer utilizing the ddPCR platform.Click here for more information.
|
| "Modeling Cost-Effectiveness of On-Demand Treatment for Hereditary Angioedema Attack" was recently published in the Journal of Managed Care Pharmacy's February 2020 issue. Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare disease that causes painful and potentially fatal episodes of swelling (attacks). HAE attacks can be unpredictable and the need to treat sudden attacks promptly and effectively is critical to minimize risk of hospitalization, morbidity, and mortality. A cost-effectiveness model was evaluated that considers evaluation of on-demand medications, healthcare utilization and patient well-being. For access to the publication, please click here.
|
| Biodesix, Inc. announced initiation of the next phase of their biomarker development program with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany and Pfizer Inc. The companies have completed initial discovery and development of a new proteomic test that identifies likely responders to the anti-PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitor (BAVENCIO®) (avelumab). Development efforts will now focus on transferring the test into Biodesix's CLIA lab in Boulder, CO for clinical phase test validation. The new test was developed through retrospective analysis of the circulating proteome of cancer patients treated with the investigational drug candidate, utilizing the proprietary Biodesix Diagnostic Cortex™ artificial intelligence (AI) platform. Click here to read the full press release.
|
| The NAMCP Medical Directors Institute recently held the first meeting of its Executive Leadership Council (ELC) at the recent Fall Managed Care Forum. The NAMCP Medical Directors Institute decided in late 2018 to create the Value Based Care Council (VBCC) with a mission to empower medical directors with information and resources to assist them in making value based decisions that support achieving the Triple AIM of improved outcomes and the patient experience while reducing overall costs. Click here to view an overview of the genesis, formation, and work of NAMCP's Value Based Care Council. Please click here to view the press release.
|
| LivaNova PLC (NASDAQ:LIVN), a market-leading medical technology and innovation company, today announced the first patient enrolled in "A Prospective, Multi-center, Randomized Controlled Blinded Trial Demonstrating the Safety and Effectiveness of VNS Therapy® System as Adjunctive Therapy Versus a No Stimulation Control in Subjects With Treatment-Resistant Depression" (RECOVER). The study will evaluate Vagus Nerve Stimulation Therapy (VNS Therapy) for Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD) in accordance with the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) National Coverage Determination as part of its Coverage with Evidence Development Program. The first patient was enrolled by Dr. Azfar Malik in St. Louis. Click here to read the full press release.
|
| Biodesix, Inc. this week highlighted findings from multiple studies demonstrating the significance and clinical utility of its VeriStrat® blood-based proteomic test as a predictive biomarker for patient survival outcomes and as a diagnostic tool to improve the clinical management of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This information is vital to implementing optimal treatment strategies for patients and supports disease state monitoring. To date, VeriStrat testing has helped more than 50,000 patients in determining the best treatment for their lung cancer. Click here to see the full press release. | |
|
|
|
7701 Las Colinas Ridge, Ste. 800, Irving, TX 75063
|
