Although the COVID-19 outbreak has shifted the focus and approach of advocacy efforts, ACR staff and the Government Affairs Committee continue to work on behalf of rheumatology providers and patients.
ACR Continues to Advocate Against Payer Mandates on Specialty Pharmacy Acquisition of In-Office Treatments
Despite efforts by the ACR and other organizations, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee has indicated that it will move forward with implementation of its specialty pharmacy acquisition mandate on July 1, 2020.
Influential Lancet Article on HCQ Retracted
NEW YORK, June 4 (Reuters)—Three of the authors of an influential article that found hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) increased the risk of death in COVID-19 patients retracted the study, citing concerns about the quality of the data behind it. The anti-malarial drug has been controversial in part due to support from U.S. President Donald Trump, as well…
2 Pediatric Indications Sought for Golimumab
The FDA is reviewing supplemental Biologics License Applications for golimumab to treat polyarticular JIA and juvenile PsA…
Longer Rituximab Therapy Boosts Remission in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Long-term rituximab use lowers the chance of relapse of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) associated vasculitis (AAV), compared with standard maintenance therapy, according to a report from the MAINRITSAN3 randomized trial. “Physicians should consider AAV to be a long-lasting, chronic disease which requires maintenance therapy,” says Dr. Pierre Charles of Cochin Hospital, Paris…
In the Lungs: Asthma & COPD May Be Early, Independent Risk Factors for RA
Recent research found women with COPD and asthma—even those who have never smoked—are at a higher risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis…
Hydroxychloroquine Combination Risky for Cancer Patients with COVID-19
CHICAGO (Reuters)—Cancer patients with COVID-19 who were treated with a drug combination promoted by U.S. President Donald Trump to counter the coronavirus were three times more likely to die within 30 days than those who got either drug alone, U.S. researchers reported on May 28. The preliminary results suggest doctors may want to refrain from…
U.S. Insurers Often Limit Biosimilar Coverage
(Reuters Health)—U.S. commercial health plans only covered biosimilar treatments as preferred products in 14% of coverage decisions last year, according to an analysis of publicly available data on coverage decisions.1 Researchers examined records from the Tufts Medical Center Specialty Drug Evidence and Coverage (SPEC) database, which has information on coverage decisions made by 17 of…
Long-Term Biologic Use May Not Raise Melanoma Risk
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Patients treated with biologic therapy for rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and psoriasis don’t appear to be at increased risk of melanoma, according to the results of a systematic review and meta-analysis. However, because the study found trends toward increased melanoma rates with long-term therapy, “a clinically meaningful increase in risk cannot…
Are ANAs More Prevalent in the U.S. Now Than in the Past?
According to a new study, the prevalence of anti-nuclear antibodies (ANAs), the most common biomarker of autoimmunity in the U.S., has increased considerably in recent years among adolescents aged 12–19 years, in both sexes (especially in men), older adults (age ≥50 years) and non-Hispanic whites…
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