Posts Tagged ‘drug’
Internal medicine residency training for unhealthy alcohol and other drug use: recommendations for curriculum design
Background:
Unhealthy substance use is the spectrum from use that risks harm, to use associated with problems, to the diagnosable conditions of substance abuse and dependence, often referred to as substance abuse disorders. Despite the prevalence and impact of unhealthy substance use, medical education in this area remains lacking, not providing physicians with the necessary expertise to effectively address one of the most common and costly health conditions. Medical educators have begun to address the need for physician training in unhealthy substance use, and formal curricula have been developed and evaluated, though broad integration into busy residency curricula remains a challenge.DiscussionWe review the development of unhealthy substance use related competencies, and describe a curriculum in unhealthy substance use that integrates these competencies into internal medicine resident physician training. We outline strategies to facilitate adoption of such curricula by the residency programs. This paper provides an outline for the actual implementation of the curriculum within the structure of a training program, with examples using common teaching venues. We describe and link the content to the core competencies mandated by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, the formal accrediting body for residency training programs in the United States. Specific topics are recommended, with suggestions on how to integrate such teaching into existing internal medicine residency training program curricula.SummaryGiven the burden of disease and effective interventions available that can be delivered by internal medicine physicians, teaching about unhealthy substance use must be incorporated into internal medicine residency training, and can be done within existing teaching venues.
Medicare Ends Contract With Fox Insurance Company Drug Plan
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today terminated its contract with Fox Insurance Company. After an onsite review of the plan and its services, CMS determined that the plan’s significant deficiencies – not meeting Medicare’s requirements to provide enrollees with prescription drugs according to recognized standards of care – jeopardized the health and safety of Fox enrollees…
Does Medicare ‘Doughnut Hole’ Spur Increase In Foreign Drug Imports?
Medill Reports: “Unless federal legislation closes the Medicare coverage gap colloquially known as the ‘doughnut hole,’ seniors may opt for online drug imports to alleviate steep prescription costs. … ‘As seniors start falling into the doughnut hole, they are going online to find deals on prescription drugs, whether they’re based in the U.S…
Agency For Healthcare Research And Quality News And Numbers: High Cholesterol, Diabetes Lead Drug Spending For The Elderly
Purchases of cholesterol and diabetes prescription drugs by elderly Medicare beneficiaries reached nearly $19 billion in 2007 – about one-fourth of the approximately $82 billion spent for medications for the elderly, according to the latest AHRQ News and Numbers…
Non-drug techniques reduce pain in hospitalized patients
Non-traditional therapies relieve pain among a wide range of hospitalized patients as much as 50 percent, according to a first-of-a-kind study. The study shows that an inpatient integrative medicine program can have a significant impact on pain in an environment where pain management continues to be a major challenge, and traditional medications can have negative consequences.
Migraine With Aura: Magnetic Stimulation Is A Promising Non-Drug Treatment Option
An article published Online First and in the April edition of The Lancet Neurology reports that a new hand-held device that delivers a magnetic pulse to the back of the head could be a promising non-invasive, non-drug treatment option for patients with migraine. This device offers efficient pain relief for up to 48 hours after treatment in some patients with migraine with aura…
Statement By Medicare Rights Center President Joe Baker On Release Of Preliminary 2011 Payment Rates For Private Medicare Health And Drug Plans
The good news in today’s announcement is that, unlike in past years, the coverage gap in the Medicare drug benefit-the so-called doughnut hole when consumers must pay full price for their medicine-is not expected to grow in 2011. For technical reasons related to how the drug benefit parameters are calculated, the coverage gap will actually shrink by $10…
Statement By Medicare Rights Center President Joe Baker On Reduced State “Clawback” Payments For Medicare Drug Coverage
We welcome yesterday’s announcement by the Obama Administration that states will see a $4.3 billion reduction in state “clawback” payments to the federal government for assuming responsibility for drug coverage for people with Medicare and Medicaid through the Part D drug benefit…
Alkermes Announces Positive Results For Phase 1 Study Of New Drug Candidate For Treatment Of Opioid-Induced Constipation
Alkermes, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALKS) announced positive topline data from a phase 1 clinical study of ALKS 37, an orally active, peripherally-restricted opioid antagonist with potential to block the effects of opioid agonists on gastrointestinal motility, commonly referred to as opioid-induced constipation (OIC)…
Ohio Changes Medicaid Drug Program, N.C. Weighs Cuts In Medicaid Personal Care Services
The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that Ohio’s seven Medicaid managed care plans this month will make changes in the prescription drug plans that cover about 1.5 million people, although many of those beneficiaries will not face increased costs. The changes are expected to save the state about $243 million…
Rx Drug Compare
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By N2H