Thursday, June 9, 2022: Providers

Two U.S. representatives introduced a bipartisan bill to establish legal penalties for assaulting or intimidating hospital employees. The Safety from Violence for Healthcare Employees (SAVE) Act includes protections for “individuals who may be mentally incapacitated...

Wednesday, June 8, 2022: Health IT

A group of former Blue Cross Blue Shield executives have started an $107 million investment fund focused on supporting health tech startups directed by women and entrepreneurs of color. Seae Ventures secured the funding from more than 30 investors. Approximately half...

Wednesday, June 8, 2022: Life Sciences

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that it will investigate the business practices of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and how they influence drug prices and the pharmacy business. The FTC unanimously voted Tuesday to require the six biggest PBMs — CVS...

Wednesday, June 8, 2022: Life Sciences

New research published in JAMA found that nearly half of all drugs launched in the last two years initially cost above $150,000 a year. From 2008 to 2021, launch prices for new drugs increased by 20 percent per year. In 2020-2021 alone, prices rose 11 percent per year...

Wednesday, June 8, 2022: Life Sciences

The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) vaccine advisory panel voted to authorize Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine for use in adults. The panel voted 21-0, with one abstention. Novavax’s two-dose vaccine was about 90 percent effective at preventing mild, moderate, and...