2021 Vaccine Equity
January 16, 2021
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Filed under: Drugs and Pharma | Tagged: corona, covid, vaccines | Leave a comment »
2021 Vaccine Equity
January 16, 2021
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Filed under: Drugs and Pharma | Tagged: corona, covid, vaccines | Leave a comment »
A Rapid Rise in COVID-19 Cases?
By CDC.gov
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Filed under: "Doctors Only", Drugs and Pharma, Health Insurance | Tagged: corona variants, Covid-19 | Leave a comment »
ESTIMATED ANNUAL MORBIDITY IN THE USA
By staff reporters
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Filed under: Drugs and Pharma | Tagged: corona, Covid-19, pandemic | 1 Comment »
Comparison with Commonalities
By Staff reporters
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Filed under: Drugs and Pharma | Tagged: BioNet, corona vaccine, corona virus, Moderna | 1 Comment »
Defense versus Offense
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Filed under: Drugs and Pharma, Health Economics, iMBA, Inc. | Tagged: corona pandemic | 1 Comment »
WHAT’S IN IT – AND WHY?
By Un-Biased Science
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Filed under: Drugs and Pharma | Tagged: Covid vaccine, UnBiased Science | 2 Comments »
COVID-19 [NIHCM]
By staff reporters
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Filed under: Drugs and Pharma, Glossary Terms, Health Economics, Health Insurance | Tagged: corona disparity, covid racism | 1 Comment »
Hypercytokinemia and Covid-19
By staff reporters
A cytokine storm, also called hypercytokinemia, is a physiological reaction in humans and other animals in which the innate immune system causes an uncontrolled and excessive release of pro-inflammatory signaling molecules called cytokines.
Normally, cytokines are part of the body’s immune response to infection, but their sudden release in large quantities can cause multisystem organ failure and death.
Cytokine storms can be caused by a number of infectious and non-infectious etiologies, especially viral respiratory infections such as H5N1 influenza, SARS-CoV-1, and SARS-CoV-2. Other causative agents include the Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, and group A streptococcus, and non-infectious conditions such as graft-versus-host disease.
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Filed under: Drugs and Pharma, LifeStyle | Tagged: Cytokine Storm, hypercytokinemia, roid rage, steroids | 1 Comment »
UPDATE
By staff reporters
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Filed under: Drugs and Pharma | Tagged: 23 Potential COVID-19 Drugs, corona, corona test accuracy, pandemic | 1 Comment »
Filed under: Drugs and Pharma | Tagged: CMS, Drugs, HHS, Prescription Drug Payment Model | Leave a comment »
By Anonymous
Good Rx makes money by perpetuating the, artificially set, high sticker prices of medications and receiving a portion of Pharmacy Benefits Manager [PBM] fee.
How it Works
GoodRx taps into PBM network for their “discounts” off of sticker price (e.g. Express Scripts, Optum Rx, Navitus … etc)
Consumer pays the newly “discounted” drug price.
Pharmacy pays PBM fee.
PBM pays GoodRx portion of the fee.
Good Rx adjusted EBITDA in 2019: $160 Million
Good Rx 2020 revenue is up 48% first half of 2020 – $257M
IPO: https://mobile-reuters-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKBN24Y0N6
Opinion:
This is not market value.
This is another hand in the cookie jar keeping healthcare prices artificially high.
The consumer is the one ultimately harmed.
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Filed under: Drugs and Pharma, Health Economics | Tagged: Good Rx, PBM, Pharmacy Benefits Managers | 2 Comments »
Courtesy: www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org
On June 19, 2020 the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule regarding Medicaid Drug Rebate Program (MDRP) regulations, with the aim of lowering drug prices, increasing patient access, and encouraging innovation in the insurance and pharmaceutical industries.
This proposal is consistent with the Trump Administration’s Blueprint to Lower Drug Prices (Blueprint) released in May 2018, in which the administration highlighted its goal to “avoid excessive pricing by relying more on value-based pricing by expanding outcome-based payments in Medicare and Medicaid” and to “speed access to and lower the cost of new drugs by clarifying policies for sharing information between insurers and drug makers.”
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The proposed rule seeks to accomplish the Blueprint’s goals by reducing regulatory barriers that have previously prevented commercial plans and states from entering into value-based purchasing (VBP) arrangements with drug manufacturers.
Colleagues from Health Capital Consultants, LLC; explain.
ESSAY: DRUGS
Assessment: Your thoughts and comments are appreciated.
BUSINESS, FINANCE, INVESTING AND INSURANCE TEXTS FOR DOCTORS:
THANK YOU
***
Filed under: Drugs and Pharma, Experts Invited | Tagged: CMS, Drugs, Health Capital Consultants LLC, Value Based Purchasing for Drugs | Leave a comment »
Spending Outpaces Inpatient Hospital Spending
CIRCA: 2018-2019
By Staff Reporters
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Filed under: Drugs and Pharma | Tagged: Non-Acute Pharmaceutical Spending, Pharmaceutical Spending | Leave a comment »
About Four-Twenty Day
[By Anonymous DEA Agent]
Today is … 420, 4:20, or 4/20 (pronounced four-twenty).
And, it refers to consumption of cannabis and, by extension, a way to identify oneself with cannabis subculture. Observances based on the number include the time (4:20 p.m.) as well as the date (April 20).
Again … that’s today as this ME-P was published @ 4:20 p.m., EST!
PHOTOS:
© iMBA Inc. All rights reserved.
Assessment
Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/420_(cannabis_culture)
UPDATE 2019: Carl’s Jr. will become the first major fast-food chain to debut a cannabis-infused burger:
Conclusion
Your thoughts and comments on this ME-P are appreciated. Feel free to review our top-left column, and top-right sidebar materials, links, URLs and related websites, too. Then, subscribe to the ME-P. It is fast, free and secure.
Speaker: If you need a moderator or speaker for an upcoming event, Dr. David E. Marcinko; MBA – Publisher-in-Chief of the Medical Executive-Post – is available for seminar or speaking engagements. Contact: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com
OUR OTHER PRINT BOOKS AND RELATED INFORMATION SOURCES:
Filed under: Breaking News, Drugs and Pharma, Glossary Terms, Health Law & Policy | Tagged: cannabis, DEA, ganga, marijuana, mary jane, medicinal marijuana, pot, pot farm, The 4/20 Cannabis Culture, weed | 13 Comments »
COVID-19 Drugs
[By staff reporters]
Drugs being studied in clinical trials. 30+ drug candidates in preclinical research phase.
There is HOPE!
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Disclaimer – For informational purposes only; should not be considered medical advice; consult a healthcare professional. Drugs shown are not yet approved for use to treat COVID-19 but are being investigated for use in clinical trials.
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Corona Virus Economics
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THANK YOU
Filed under: "Doctors Only", Drugs and Pharma | Tagged: 23 Potential COVID-19 Drugs, corona virus | 1 Comment »
CIRCA: 2019 Vertical Business Relationships
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Conclusion: Your thoughts are appreciated.
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Filed under: Drugs and Pharma | Tagged: Drugs, health insurers, PBMs, Specialty Pharmacies | Leave a comment »
ONE SIGN SAYS IT ALL
[By staff reporters]
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Filed under: Drugs and Pharma | Tagged: drug prices, narcan | Leave a comment »
The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications.
MORE: https://takebackday.dea.gov/
Conclusion
Your thoughts and comments on this ME-P are appreciated. Feel free to review our top-left column, and top-right sidebar materials, links, URLs and related websites, too. Then, subscribe to the ME-P. It is fast, free and secure.
Link: http://feeds.feedburner.com/HealthcareFinancialsthePostForcxos
Speaker: If you need a moderator or speaker for an upcoming event, Dr. David E. Marcinko; MBA – Publisher-in-Chief of the Medical Executive-Post – is available for seminar or speaking engagements. Contact: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com
***
Filed under: Drugs and Pharma | Tagged: "Illegal" Drugs, DEA, National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, Rx | Leave a comment »
FY: 2015 – 2018
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Conclusion
Your thoughts and comments on this ME-P are appreciated. Feel free to review our top-left column, and top-right sidebar materials, links, URLs and related websites, too. Then, subscribe to the ME-P. It is fast, free and secure.
Link: http://feeds.feedburner.com/HealthcareFinancialsthePostForcxos
Speaker: If you need a moderator or speaker for an upcoming event, Dr. David E. Marcinko; MBA – Publisher-in-Chief of the Medical Executive-Post – is available for seminar or speaking engagements. Contact: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com
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Filed under: Drugs and Pharma | Tagged: opioid, opioid costs | 2 Comments »
A BLACK MARKET PODCAST VIEW OF THE OPIOID CRISIS
Courtesy: www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner,org
Opioid Overdose Crisis
Every day, more than 130 people in the United States die after overdosing on opioids.1 The misuse of and addiction to opioids—including prescription pain relievers, heroin, and synthetic opioids such as fentanyl used to help relieve severe ongoing pain —is a serious national crisis that affects public health as well as social and economic welfare.
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The Podcast
And so, I was fascinated with this podcast because I often encountered narcotic seeking patients while in city center and urban practice. It was recorded by my neighbor and Austrian economist Peter Raymond over at “The Free Man Beyond the Wall” website.
Colleague Dr. Mark Thornton recently gave this talk at the Mises Institute Supporters Summit on the opioid crisis that is plaguing the US. Dr. Thornton lays out a short history of this tragic epidemic that is taking lives every day. He addresses how doctors prescribe these drugs, how government regulates them and explains what happens when people are forced into the “black market” to sustain their addiction.
PODCAST: http://freemanbeyondthewall.libsyn.com/episode-169-the-opioid-crisis
MORE: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2019/08/22/the-opioid-crisis-rising-2000-2017/
MORE: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2019/02/06/about-the-opioid-crisis/
Your thoughts are appreciated.
BUSINESS, FINANCE AND ECONOMICS TEXTBOOKS FOR DOCTORS:
THANK YOU
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Filed under: Drugs and Pharma, Ethics, Experts Invited, Videos | Tagged: Dr. Mark Thornton, Free Man Beyond the Wall, Mises Institute Supporters Summit, Peter Raymond | Leave a comment »
More About Meth Mouth and Teeth [MMT]
By Anonymous DEA Agent
Meth Mouth Teeth is severe tooth decay and tooth loss, as well as tooth fracture, acid erosion, and other oral problems, potentially symptomatic of extended use of the drug methamphetamine. The condition is thought to be caused by a combination of side effects of the drug and lifestyle factors, which may be present in long-term users.
However, the legitimacy of meth mouth as a unique condition has been questioned because of the similar effects of some other drugs on teeth. Images of diseased mouths are often used in anti-drug campaigns.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: I do not know if this is a legitimate picture or not. But, I do suggest that we all “Just Say No to Drugs”. And; as a dental school drop out, I have an affinity for all pro-dentite colleagues.
Conclusion
Your thoughts and comments on this ME-P are appreciated. Feel free to review our top-left column, and top-right sidebar materials, links, URLs and related websites, too. Then, subscribe to the ME-P. It is fast, free and secure.
Link: http://feeds.feedburner.com/HealthcareFinancialsthePostForcxos
Speaker: If you need a moderator or speaker for an upcoming event, Dr. David E. Marcinko; MBA – Publisher-in-Chief of the Medical Executive-Post – is available for seminar or speaking engagements. Contact: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com
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Filed under: Drugs and Pharma | Tagged: cavity, DDS, dentist, meth mouth, methamphetamine, teeth | Leave a comment »
More Age Groups Affected
[By NIHCM]
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Filed under: Drugs and Pharma | Tagged: OPIOID CRISIS? | 1 Comment »
Vitaliy Katsenelson, CFA
Student of Life
These pharnacy stocks are good businesses. In general they have solid balance sheets, above-average returns on capital, and they generate a lot of cash, which is used to pay dividends and buy back stock.
But, these defensive features have not mattered much lately, as we are entering the 10th year of uninterrupted economic expansion.
Accordingly, these companies are significantly undervalued. How under valued? Let’s answer that question by examining two stocks in our portfolio in closer detail.
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Filed under: Drugs and Pharma, Investing | Tagged: By Vitaliy Katsenelson CFA, Drug-Distribution Stocks, Drugs, PBMs, Pharmacy Stocks | Leave a comment »
In the Modern Value-Based-Care Environment
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Filed under: Drugs and Pharma, LifeStyle | Tagged: Cost of Medication Non-Adherence | Leave a comment »
Dope Fiends
By Anonymous DEA Agent
DOPE FIEND: A habitual user of a narcotic; slang term.
NOD: To lower and/or raise one’s head slightly and briefly, especially in greeting, assent, or understanding, or to give someone a signal.
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Single Nod
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Group Nod
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Street Nod
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MORE: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2012/06/01/video-of-the-new-drug-krokodil-aka-crocodile/
Assessment:
An anonymous DEA agent sent us these pictures. The videas are all over YouTube. So, just say “NO” and don’t do drugs.
NOTE: The nod is not to be confused with TD. Tardive dyskinesia is a disorder that results in involuntary, repetitive body movements. This may include grimacing, sticking out the tongue, or smacking the lips. Additionally there may be rapid jerking movements or slow writhing movements. In about 20% of people, decreased functioning results. Tardive dyskinesia occurs in some people as a result of long-term use of neuroleptic medications. These medications are usually used for mental illness, etc.
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Filed under: Drugs and Pharma | Tagged: Baltimore nod; drug nod; dope fiend nod | Leave a comment »
Seclected Facts: 2015-2016
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Filed under: Drugs and Pharma | Tagged: Drugs, Prescription Drug Costs, Prescription Drug Uses | Leave a comment »
Unfair -OR- Not?
[By staff reporters]
PBMs, like Prime Theraputics, Optum, CVS/Caremark, Walgreens/prime Mail and Express Scripts, Bring no value but huge expense to pharmaceutical medication prices.
The Trump administration and Congress must repeal the GPO and PBM safe harbor that allows them to extort pharmaceutical manufacturers to the tune of $200 billion a year.
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Assessment:
Your thoughts are appreciated.
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Filed under: Drugs and Pharma, Health Economics, Health Insurance | Tagged: PBMs, Pharmacy Benefits Managers | 1 Comment »
FY: 2009 – 2017
By www. MCOL.com
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Filed under: Drugs and Pharma, Health Economics | Tagged: Drugs, Level 5 Drugs | Leave a comment »
For 2017
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BUSINESS, ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR & FINANCE FOR DOCTORS:
THANK YOU
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Filed under: Drugs and Pharma | Tagged: OPIOID CRISIS? | 2 Comments »
FY 2015 – 2017
By MCOL.com
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Assessment
Your thoughts are appreciated.
RESOURCES:
“Insurance & Risk Management Strategies for Doctors” https://tinyurl.com/ydx9kd93
“Fiduciary Financial Planning for Physicians” https://tinyurl.com/y7f5pnox
“Business of Medical Practice 2.0” https://tinyurl.com/yb3x6wr8
***
Filed under: Drugs and Pharma | Tagged: Big Pharma and Drugs, Prescription Drug Prices, Prescription Drug Spending for Commercial Plans | Leave a comment »
And, Drug Distributors
[By Vitaliy Katsenelson CFA]
I don’t know anyone personally who has been affected by the opioid epidemic in the US. And I truly hope I never will. I don’t know if I would be able to maintain objectivity in my analysis of drug distributors and their involvement in this epidemic if I had experienced getting a call at night informing me that my loved one had died from a drug overdose. Drug overdoses killed 70,237 Americans in 2017. Of these deaths, 47,600 (67.8%) involved opioids and 17,000 involved prescription opioids (24% of total overdose deaths). Legally prescribed opioids are killing 47 of us every day.
How did we get here?
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse: “In the late 1990s, pharmaceutical companies reassured the medical community that patients would not become addicted to prescription opioid pain relievers, and healthcare providers began to prescribe them at greater rates. This subsequently led to widespread diversion and misuse of these medications before it became clear that these medications could indeed be highly addictive.”
Today pharma distributors are used as scapegoats for the opioid epidemic – not because they are guilty but because they have money and they are “drug distributors.” They are dragged through the same mud as the tobacco companies and British Petroleum (after it spilled millions of gallons of oil in the Gulf of Mexico). Despite negative headlines, we own drug distributors.
Here is why:
Conclusion
Your thoughts and comments on this ME-P are appreciated. Feel free to review our top-left column, and top-right sidebar materials, links, URLs and related websites, too. Then, subscribe to the ME-P. It is fast, free and secure.
Speaker: If you need a moderator or speaker for an upcoming event, Dr. David E. Marcinko; MBA – Publisher-in-Chief of the Medical Executive-Post – is available for seminar or speaking engagements.
Book Marcinko: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/dr-david-marcinkos-bookings/
Subscribe: MEDICAL EXECUTIVE POST for curated news, essays, opinions and analysis from the public health, economics, finance, marketing, IT, business and policy management ecosystem.
DOCTORS:
“Insurance & Risk Management Strategies for Doctors” https://tinyurl.com/ydx9kd93
“Fiduciary Financial Planning for Physicians” https://tinyurl.com/y7f5pnox
“Business of Medical Practice 2.0” https://tinyurl.com/yb3x6wr8
HOSPITALS:
“Financial Management Strategies for Hospitals” https://tinyurl.com/yagu567d
“Operational Strategies for Clinics and Hospitals” https://tinyurl.com/y9avbrq5
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Filed under: Drugs and Pharma | Tagged: abused drugs, Amerisource Bergen, DEA, Drugs, McKesson Health Solutions, OPIOID CRISIS?, Vitaliy Katsenelson CFA | 2 Comments »
Dr. Anonymous
[via staff reporters]
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MORE:
CALIFORNIA LAUNCHES INVESTIGATION FOLLOWING STUNNING ADMISSION BY AETNA MEDICAL DIRECTOR
Is Aetna Sucking Up after their Last Big Fiasco?
Assessment: Any thoughts?
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Filed under: Drugs and Pharma, Health Insurance | Tagged: Medicare drug coverage | Leave a comment »
Pharmacy Benefits Management [PBM]
[By staff reporters]
DEFINITION:
In the United States, a pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) is a third-party administrator (TPA) of prescription drug programs for commercial health plans, self-insured employer plans, Medicare Part D plans, the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), and state government employee plans. As of 2018 they have become industrial behemoths in the US health sector.
According to the American Pharmacists Association, “PBMs are primarily responsible for developing and maintaining the formulary, contracting with pharmacies, negotiating discounts and rebates with drug manufacturers, and processing and paying prescription drug claims.
For the most part, they work with self-insured companies and government programs striving to maintain or reduce the pharmacy expenditures of the plan while concurrently trying to improve health care outcomes”.
DICTIONARY
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Assessment
Your thoughts are appreciated.
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HOSPITALS:
“Financial Management Strategies for Hospitals” https://tinyurl.com/yagu567d
“Operational Strategies for Clinics and Hospitals” https://tinyurl.com/y9avbrq5
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Filed under: Drugs and Pharma | Tagged: PBMs | 5 Comments »
Courtesy: www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org
The Theory of Conditional Probability
In probability theory and statistics, Bayes’ theorem (alternatively Thomas Bayes’ law or Bayes’ rule, also written as Bayes’s theorem) describes the probability of an event, based on prior knowledge of conditions that might be related to the event.
Examples:
For example, if cancer is related to age, then, using Bayes’ theorem, a person’s age can be used to more accurately assess the probability that they have cancer, compared to the assessment of the probability of cancer made without knowledge of the person’s age.
As another example, imagine there is a drug test that is 98% accurate, meaning 98% of the time it shows a true positive result for someone using the drug and 98% of the time it shows a true negative result for nonusers of the drug. Next, assume 0.5% of people use the drug. If a person selected at random tests positive for the drug, the following calculation can be made to see whether the probability the person is actually a user of the drug.
(0.98 x 0.005) / [(0.98 x 0.005) + ((1 – 0.98) x (1 – 0.005))] = 0.0049 / (0.0049 + 0.0199) = 19.76%
Bayes’ theorem shows that even if a person tested positive in this scenario, it is actually much more likely the person is not a user of the drug.
Assessment
In finance, Bayes’ theorem can be used to rate the risk of lending money to potential borrowers.
MORE: https://www.coursera.org/lecture/combinatorics/bayes-theorem-sqAyt
Conclusion
Your thoughts and comments on this ME-P are appreciated. Feel free to review our top-left column, and top-right sidebar materials, links, URLs and related websites, too. Then, subscribe to the ME-P. It is fast, free and secure.
Speaker: If you need a moderator or speaker for an upcoming event, Dr. David E. Marcinko; MBA – Publisher-in-Chief of the Medical Executive-Post – is available for seminar or speaking engagements.
Book Marcinko: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/dr-david-marcinkos-bookings/
Subscribe: MEDICAL EXECUTIVE POST for curated news, essays, opinions and analysis from the public health, economics, finance, marketing, IT, business and policy management ecosystem.
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Filed under: Drugs and Pharma, Health Economics, Investing | Tagged: Bayes' Theorem, Thomas Bayes | 1 Comment »
Investors Have Misdiagnosed Amazon’s Push Into The Pharmacy Business |
By Vitaliy Katsenelson CFA
*** Companies everywhere, in every business, are paranoid about Amazon.com. This sort of paranoia is healthy for the long-term well-being of our investment portfolio, as it is creating interesting buying opportunities. A case in point: My firm spent a lot of time thinking about pharmacies when we were analyzing investments in McKesson and other drug distributors. We struggled with a question: How will the retail pharmaceutical industry look in the future? Or more precisely, how will Amazon’s entrance into the retail pharmacy business change this industry? Our inability to answer this question kept us away from retail pharmacies. Then we had a small but important insight that shifted our thinking on Walgreens Boots Alliance. The preponderance of drugs in the U.S. is consumed by an older population, whose habits change slowly or not at all. Accordingly, it’s likely that Amazon’s online pharmacy will not significantly impact the existing drug industry. Here’s why: Americans currently spend $450 billion a year on drugs. Walmart is the fourth-largest pharmacy in the U.S., with sales of $21 billion, or 4.6% of the company’s total sales. Let’s say that over the next five years Amazon gets to Walmart’s sales level of $21 billion. If the U.S. pharmaceutical industry grows 2% a year over that time, total drug sales will have increased by $45 billion, or the equivalent of two Walmarts (we are ignoring compounding here), to $495 billion. Walgreens, with its pharmacy selling about $70 billion a year, would barely notice Amazon’s presence. I’ve made this point before, but it is important to repeat: 10 years ago Amazon was not taken too seriously. Giants like Google, now Alphabet, and Microsoft ignored Amazon’s entry into cloud hosting, thinking “What does a bookseller know about the cloud?” They have regretted it ever since. Nowadays everyone is taking Amazon too seriously, bestowing CEO Jeff Bezos with walk-on-water-like superpowers. Boardrooms today are filled to overflowing with chatter about Amazon. There‘s admittedly a lot Corporate America can learn from Bezos (for instance, about ignoring short-term results), but Bezos is not superhuman and Amazon cannot bend the laws of economic gravity. Walgreens’ U.S. business, which is about 75% of its total sales, is impressive. A single stand-alone store produces revenues of about $10 million a year — $7 million in the pharmacy and $3 million in front-end sales (milk, candy bars, T-shirts, etc.) A single store fills about 121,000 scripts a year (up from 97,000 four years ago). Walgreens has one of the highest sales-per-square-foot numbers in the retail industry, at around $1,000 per-square-foot (compared to Walmart’s $450, Kroger’s $550, and Target’s $300). (Note that Tesco’s U.K. stores have sales per square foot of $1,100 — this is why we like the U.K. grocery business more than ones in the US). Walgreens also has an underutilized asset: the front end of the store. Think about it: The pharmacy takes up 20% of the floor space but generates 70% of revenue. In other words 80% of the store (the front end) brings in only 30% of revenue. Walgreens is experimenting with different ways to optimize this underutilized asset — it’s opening medical clinics and bringing LabCorp into its stores, for instance. In 2018 Walgreens bought 1,900 stores from Rite Aid, bringing its total U.S. store count up to around 10,000. Store-count growth days are behind Walgreens, but the scripts-per-store-growth will continue, since baby boomers are not getting any younger. Accordingly, total sales growth will continue at a level of at least 2%-3% a year. When retailers mature and cannot open new stores, their free cash flows explode. Which begs the question, what will Walgreens do with its cash? Already Walgreens is taking a quite different approach than its largest counterpart, CVS Health Corp. CVS owns one of the largest pharmacy benefit management (PBM) companies (a business that has a lot of political risk, as it’s ridden with conflicts of interest), and CVS is doubling down on complexity and buying Aetna , a health insurance company. CVS is trying to become an integrated healthcare provider. We don’t know if CVS will be successful in this endeavor, but the historical odds of success with acquisitions of this complexity clearly do not favor CVS. Walgreens is run by Stefano Pessina, who owns 13% of the company; and thus 13 cents of every dollar spent is his. Walgreens has therefore been deleveraging its business, buying back stock, and paying a dividend. Walgreens is expected to earn $6 a share in 2018. My estimate is that earnings, helped by the Rite Aid acquisition, same-store sales growth, and share buybacks (WBA repurchased 8% of its shares in 2018 and has an authorization to buy another 13%), will exceed $8 per share in 2021. *** *** Assessment If Walgreens shares trade at 13 times its $8 earnings per share in three years, then the upside from here is about 70%; if it trades at 15 times then it’s a double (Walmart trades currently at 18 times estimated 2018 earnings, while Target is at 15 times). We bought Walgreens at a little over 10 times estimated 2018 earnings in July 2018. Walgreens is a better business than Target and at least as good a business as Walmart. At this valuation, heads we win, tails we win — the only question is by how much. |
Conclusion
Your thoughts and comments on this ME-P are appreciated. Feel free to review our top-left column, and top-right sidebar materials, links, URLs and related websites, too. Then, subscribe to the ME-P. It is fast, free and secure.
Speaker: If you need a moderator or speaker for an upcoming event, Dr. David E. Marcinko; MBA – Publisher-in-Chief of the Medical Executive-Post – is available for seminar or speaking engagements.
Book Marcinko: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/dr-david-marcinkos-bookings/
Subscribe: MEDICAL EXECUTIVE POST for curated news, essays, opinions and analysis from the public health, economics, finance, marketing, IT, business and policy management ecosystem.
MORE FOR DOCTORS AND NURES:
“Insurance & Risk Management Strategies for Doctors” https://tinyurl.com/ydx9kd93
“Financial Management Strategies for Hospitals” https://tinyurl.com/yagu567d
“Operational Strategies for Clinics and Hospitals” https://tinyurl.com/y9avbrq5
***
Filed under: Drugs and Pharma, Investing | Tagged: Amazon’s Push Into The Pharmacy Business, Vitaliy Katsenelson CFA | Leave a comment »
***
Conclusion
Your thoughts and comments on this ME-P are appreciated. Feel free to review our top-left column, and top-right sidebar materials, links, URLs and related websites, too. Then, subscribe to the ME-P. It is fast, free and secure.
Speaker: If you need a moderator or speaker for an upcoming event, Dr. David E. Marcinko; MBA – Publisher-in-Chief of the Medical Executive-Post – is available for seminar or speaking engagements.
Book Marcinko: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/dr-david-marcinkos-bookings/
Subscribe: MEDICAL EXECUTIVE POST for curated news, essays, opinions and analysis from the public health, economics, finance, marketing, IT, business and policy management ecosystem.
MORE FOR DOCTORS AND NURES:
“Insurance & Risk Management Strategies for Doctors” https://tinyurl.com/ydx9kd93
“Financial Management Strategies for Hospitals” https://tinyurl.com/yagu567d
“Operational Strategies for Clinics and Hospitals” https://tinyurl.com/y9avbrq5
***
Filed under: Drugs and Pharma | Tagged: Top 15 pharmaceutical products | Leave a comment »
And … Rebates in 2016
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Conclusion
Your thoughts and comments on this ME-P are appreciated. Feel free to review our top-left column, and top-right sidebar materials, links, URLs and related websites, too. Then, subscribe to the ME-P. It is fast, free and secure.
Speaker: If you need a moderator or speaker for an upcoming event, Dr. David E. Marcinko; MBA – Publisher-in-Chief of the Medical Executive-Post – is available for seminar or speaking engagements.
Book Marcinko: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/dr-david-marcinkos-bookings/
Subscribe: MEDICAL EXECUTIVE POST for curated news, essays, opinions and analysis from the public health, economics, finance, marketing, IT, business and policy management ecosystem.
DOCTORS:
“Insurance & Risk Management Strategies for Doctors” https://tinyurl.com/ydx9kd93
“Fiduciary Financial Planning for Physicians” https://tinyurl.com/y7f5pnox
“Business of Medical Practice 2.0” https://tinyurl.com/yb3x6wr8
HOSPITALS:
“Financial Management Strategies for Hospitals” https://tinyurl.com/yagu567d
“Operational Strategies for Clinics and Hospitals” https://tinyurl.com/y9avbrq5
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Filed under: Drugs and Pharma | Tagged: mcol.com, Medicare Part D | 2 Comments »
The Sixty [60] – Forty [40] – Percent Ratio
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Conclusion
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DOCTORS:
“Insurance & Risk Management Strategies for Doctors” https://tinyurl.com/ydx9kd93
“Fiduciary Financial Planning for Physicians” https://tinyurl.com/y7f5pnox
“Business of Medical Practice 2.0” https://tinyurl.com/yb3x6wr8
HOSPITALS:
“Financial Management Strategies for Hospitals” https://tinyurl.com/yagu567d
“Operational Strategies for Clinics and Hospitals” https://tinyurl.com/y9avbrq5
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Filed under: Drugs and Pharma | Tagged: mcol.com, Un-Necessary Antibiotic Prescribing | 1 Comment »
Data and Analytics Can Make an Impact
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Conclusion
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Speaker: If you need a moderator or speaker for an upcoming event, Dr. David E. Marcinko; MBA – Publisher-in-Chief of the Medical Executive-Post – is available for seminar or speaking engagements.
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Filed under: Drugs and Pharma | Tagged: Medication Non-Adherence | Leave a comment »
Rx Drug Take-Back Day
By Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA
Today, Saturday April 28th, is National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. Sponsored by the DEA semi-annually, this is an opportunity to eradicate “rainy day” (when only 2 of the 30 pills were actually taken for a medical condition) dangerous Rx drugs that have been the source of many people’s introduction or continuation of addiction to opioids (Rx and illicit).
Beyond the need to take these unused drugs out of circulation, they might not even still be appropriate weeks/months/years later for the person for whom they were originally prescribed. Nothing good comes from leaving dangerous Rx drugs unlocked and available for abuse.
While the DEA is advertising it, local communities are the ones that are actually making it happen. It is scheduled from 10-2pm local time on Saturday. I’ve already received an e-mail from my community leaders about their location. Go to www.DEATakeBack.com to identify a collection site closest to you (or your friends or family members).
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Conclusion
Your thoughts and comments on this ME-P are appreciated. Feel free to review our top-left column, and top-right sidebar materials, links, URLs and related websites, too. Then, subscribe to the ME-P. It is fast, free and secure.
Speaker: If you need a moderator or speaker for an upcoming event, Dr. David E. Marcinko; MBA – Publisher-in-Chief of the Medical Executive-Post – is available for seminar or speaking engagements. https://medicalexecutivepost.com/dr-david-marcinkos-bookings/
Contact: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com
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Filed under: Drugs and Pharma, Ethics | Tagged: National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day | 1 Comment »
Pioneer and Humanitarian
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Conclusion
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Speaker: If you need a moderator or speaker for an upcoming event, Dr. David E. Marcinko; MBA – Publisher-in-Chief of the Medical Executive-Post – is available for seminar or speaking engagements. https://medicalexecutivepost.com/dr-david-marcinkos-bookings/
Contact: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com
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Filed under: Drugs and Pharma, Ethics | Tagged: Jonas Salk | 1 Comment »
In the USA
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Conclusion
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Speaker: If you need a moderator or speaker for an upcoming event, Dr. David E. Marcinko; MBA – Publisher-in-Chief of the Medical Executive-Post – is available for seminar or speaking engagements. https://medicalexecutivepost.com/dr-david-marcinkos-bookings/
Contact: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com
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Filed under: Drugs and Pharma | Tagged: Drugs, Most Prescribed Drugs | 3 Comments »
An Audio Webinar
By NIHCM
Transforming Health Care Through Evidence and Collaboration
An estimated 2.1 million Americans have an opioid use disorder, according to the latest national data. Opioid overdose takes the lives of 4.6 Americans every hour. With a crisis of this magnitude, it is easy to lose sight of the fact that effective, life-saving treatments are out there. Medication-assisted therapy and the opioid-reversing drug naloxone, for example, are two highly effective interventions for addiction and overdose, but access barriers persist.
In this part of our opioid webinar series, we explored ways to expand the use of evidence-based treatment, including:
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Filed under: Drugs and Pharma, Videos | Tagged: NIHCM Foundation, OPIOID CRISIS? | 3 Comments »
Understanding the Supply-Chain Management [SCM]
By Business Inside
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Conclusion
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Speaker: If you need a moderator or speaker for an upcoming event, Dr. David E. Marcinko; MBA – Publisher-in-Chief of the Medical Executive-Post – is available for seminar or speaking engagements. https://medicalexecutivepost.com/dr-david-marcinkos-bookings/
Contact: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com
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Filed under: Drugs and Pharma, Ethics | Tagged: Business Inside, PBMs, Who pays for your medication? | 2 Comments »
Five Years Trends
Conclusion
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Speaker: If you need a moderator or speaker for an upcoming event, Dr. David E. Marcinko; MBA – Publisher-in-Chief of the Medical Executive-Post – is available for seminar or speaking engagements. https://medicalexecutivepost.com/dr-david-marcinkos-bookings/
Contact: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com
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Filed under: Breaking News, Drugs and Pharma | Tagged: Survival Trends for GI Cancers | Leave a comment »
FY 2017
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Conclusion
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Speaker: If you need a moderator or speaker for an upcoming event, Dr. David E. Marcinko; MBA – Publisher-in-Chief of the Medical Executive-Post – is available for seminar or speaking engagements.
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Filed under: Drugs and Pharma | Tagged: Prescription Drug Spending for Commercial Plans, www.MCOL.com | 1 Comment »
2016 – 2017
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Conclusion
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Speaker: If you need a moderator or speaker for an upcoming event, Dr. David E. Marcinko; MBA – Publisher-in-Chief of the Medical Executive-Post – is available for seminar or speaking engagements. https://medicalexecutivepost.com/dr-david-marcinkos-bookings/
Contact: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com
Subscribe: MEDICAL EXECUTIVE POST for curated news, essays, opinions and analysis from the public health, economics, finance, marketing, I.T, business and policy management ecosystem.
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Filed under: Drugs and Pharma | Tagged: Drug Overdose Deaths, drug overdoses | Leave a comment »
What it is – How it works
By wikipedia
David Edward Marcinko
http://www.HealthDictionarySeries.org
Medication therapy management (MTM) is medical care provided by pharmacists whose aim is to optimize drug therapy and improve therapeutic outcomes for patients.
Eleven national pharmacy organizations adopted this definition in 2004. Medication therapy management includes a broad range of professional activities, including but not limited to performing patient assessment and/or a comprehensive medication review, formulating a medication treatment plan, monitoring efficacy and safety of medication therapy, enhancing medication adherence through patient empowerment and education, and documenting and communicating MTM services to prescribers in order to maintain comprehensive patient care.
Core Elements
Medication therapy management includes five core components: a medication therapy review (MTR), personal medication record (PMR), medication-related action plan (MAP), intervention and/or referral, and documentation and follow-up. A MTR is a systematic process of collecting patient and medication-related information which occurs during the pharmacist-patient encounter.
In addition, the MTR assists in the identification and prioritization of medication-related problems. During the MTM encounter, the pharmacist develops a PMR for use by the patient. The PMR includes all prescription and nonprescription products and requires updating as necessary. After assessing and identifying medication-related problems, the pharmacist develops a patient-specific MAP. The MAP is a list of self-management actions necessary to achieve the patient’s specific health goals.
Moreover, the patient and pharmacist utilize the MAP to record actions and track progress towards health goals. During the MTM session, the pharmacist identifies medication-related problem(s) and determines appropriate intervention(s) for resolution. Often, the pharmacist collaborates with other health care professionals to resolve the identified problem(s). Following the patient encounter and/or intervention, the pharmacist must document his/her encounter and determine appropriate patient follow-up.
Pharmaceutical care defined
Hepler and Strand define pharmaceutical care as the provision of drug therapy in order to achieve definite outcomes that improve a patient’s quality of life. Outcomes include cure of a disease, elimination or reduction of a patient’s symptoms, arresting or slowing of a disease process, and preventing a disease or symptom. The process includes pharmacist collaboration with other health care professionals in designing, implementing, and monitoring a therapeutic plan for a patient. Pharmaceutical care focuses on the pharmacist’s role in achieving therapeutic goals to improve the patient’s quality of life.
MMA of 2003 – Part D
The Medicare Modernization Act of 2003, requires Medicare Part D prescription drug plans to include medication therapy management services delivered by a qualified healthcare professional, including pharmacists, beginning in 2006. MTM services target beneficiaries who have multiple chronic conditions (such as diabetes, asthma, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and congestive heart failure), take multiple medications, or are likely to incur annual costs above a predetermined level.
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Assessment
Medication therapy management is a unique niche for the pharmacy profession, allowing pharmacists to apply their extensive medication knowledge as medication experts with the intent of improving patient outcomes.
Conclusion
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Speaker: If you need a moderator or speaker for an upcoming event, Dr. David E. Marcinko; MBA – Publisher-in-Chief of the Medical Executive-Post – is available for seminar or speaking engagements.
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Filed under: Drugs and Pharma | Tagged: Medicare Modernization Act of 2003, Medicare Part D, Medication Therapy Management, medication therapy review, MMA, MTM, personal medication record | 9 Comments »