Category Archives: Medscape

‘Nonsensical’ Limits on Supportive Drugs Complicate Cancer Care

November 13, 2024 A young woman with breast cancer was experiencing such intense hot flashes from her triplet chemotherapy regimen, AC-T, that she begged to stop treatment. Her oncologist, Ramy Sedhom, MD, suggested she take oxybutynin, an inexpensive drug for overactive … Continue reading

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Anthem Reverses Course on Anesthesia Time Limits

December 6, 2024 The nation’s second-largest health insurer, Anthem, has rescinded a controversial policy to pay for anesthesia only up to a certain time limit that sparked outrage among anesthesiology professionals and state officials. The company announced November 1 it would deny claims for … Continue reading

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Psychologists and Psychotropic Prescribing: An Old Debate Heats Up

December 13, 2024 Earlier this year, Utah became the seventh state to allow psychologists with the proper training to prescribe psychotropic medications, giving supporters reason to hope that more states might support expanding this scope of practice. However, the American … Continue reading

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Should the FDA Reconsider Antidepressant Boxed Warnings?

December 23, 2024 For almost two decades, antidepressants have carried boxed warnings linking the medications to an increased risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors in young people. Paradoxically, and for almost as long, evidence suggests these warnings may have led … Continue reading

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Cancer Moonshot Effort Unveils Dozens of Initiatives to Speed Research

WASHINGTON, DC — US federal officials have unveiled a dozen new initiatives designed to accelerate cancer research, speed new therapies to patients, foster data sharing, and simplify participation in clinical trials, all part of the formal liftoff of the Cancer … Continue reading

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Califf Breezes Through Nomination Hearing for FDA Chief

WASHINGTON — Most members of a Senate committee had few reservations yesterday about Robert Califf’s qualifications to be the next commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). “You come here today with impressive qualifications,” said Senate Health, Education, … Continue reading

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Supreme Court Dubious on Right to Sue Over Low Medicaid Fees

Washington, DC — Several US Supreme Court justices expressed skepticism that physicians have the right to sue if they believe states have set Medicaid rates too low. The Justices were responding to oral arguments held today in Armstrong v Exceptional … Continue reading

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