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An official publication of the ACR and the ARP serving rheumatologists and rheumatology professionals

U.S. Justice Department Has Concerns about Aetna-Humana Deal

Caroline Humer & Diane Bartz  |  

(Reuters)—The U.S. Department of Justice has significant concerns about Aetna Inc.’s proposed acquisition of health insurer Humana Inc., a source familiar with the situation said on Thursday, and shares of Humana fell more than 11%. Aetna’s purchase of Humana would combine two of the largest providers of Medicare Advantage plans for elderly people, and investors…

FDA Staff Says Amgen Biosimilar ‘Highly Similar’ to AbbVie’s Humira

Reuters Staff  |  

(Reuters)—Amgen Inc’s biosimilar form of AbbVie Inc.’s adalimumab (Humira) arthritis drug, the world’s top-selling medicine, is similarly potent and safe as the original product, according to a preliminary review by staff members of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The assessment precedes an all-day meeting on Tuesday of an independent panel of medical advisers…

Medicare Advantage Grows, but Provider Choice Is Limited

Mark Miller  |  

CHICAGO (Reuters)—Medicare enrollees are moving in greater numbers than ever to the program’s managed care option as a way to save money. But the tradeoff is much less ability to use their preferred doctors and hospitals. Seniors can choose between traditional fee-for-service Medicare—which is accepted by most healthcare providers—or a Medicare Advantage plan. The latter…

White House Proposes Measures to Speed Genomic Test Development

Toni Clarke  |  

WASHINGTON (Reuters)—The White House announced on Wednesday measures aimed at advancing President Barack Obama’s precision medicine initiative, including plans to speed the development of tests used to identify genetic mutations and guide medical treatment. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it planned to issue a proposal to create performance standards to guide development of…

U.S. Republicans Reject Democratic Funding Proposals for Opioids

Reuters Staff  |  

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republican lawmakers in U.S. Congress on Wednesday rejected two Democratic amendments to provide nearly $1 billion in funding for bipartisan legislation intended to combat America’s opioid epidemic, aides said. The rejection, which came during a meeting of U.S. House of Representatives and Senate negotiators on the measure, could undermine Democratic support for…

U.S. Judge Cuts $500 Million Verdict over Johnson & Johnson Hip Implants

Jessica Dye  |  

NEW YORK (Reuters)—A U.S. judge has slashed a $500 million verdict against Johnson and Johnson and its DePuy unit over allegedly defective metal-on-metal Pinnacle hip implants to approximately $151 million. On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Ed Kinkeade in the Northern District of Texas says he was compelled to reduce the verdict under a Texas state…

The ACR Opposes Part B Payment Demo & Other Highlights from the AMA HOD Meeting

Gary Bryant  |  

On June 15, the ACR and partnering physician specialist groups passed an American Medical Association (AMA) resolution opposing the proposed Medicare Part B drug payment demonstration during the AMA House of Delegates (HOD) meeting held June 11–15 in Chicago. Part B Payment Demo Resolution The resolution, which the ACR supported with the American Society of…

ACR Publishes National Research Agenda for 2016–2020

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Defining new therapeutic targets and developing new therapies are among the goals of the 2016–2020 ACR National Research Agenda. So, too, is understanding early disease states, defining triggers of autoimmunity and examining disparities in access to medication and treatment.1 Charting a Course Every five years, the Committee on Research (COR) is tasked with helping chart the…