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Latest Erbitux Data On Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Presented At WCGIC Underline Benefits In Patients With KRAS Wild-Type Tumors
Latest Erbitux® (cetuximab) data presented today at the World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer (WCGIC) reinforce the value of the targeted therapy in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients with KRAS wild-type (wt) tumors. Results from the CRYSTALa and CELIMb trials have provided further evidence that KRAS mutation status is the current accepted standard predictive biomarker for Erbitux efficacy in patients with mCRC. In addition, new data have shown that the rash associated with Erbitux therapy can be effectively treated with a cream containing vitamin K.
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Canadians Watch U.S. Reform Effort Closely
American health care reform has become a "hot topic north of the border," the Washington Times reports. "If Mr. Obama succeeds, the U.S. could draw even more Canadian doctors and nurses to the U.S., exacerbating a shortage of medical professionals, said Dr. Brian Day, a Canadian health care critic and former head of the Canadian Medical Association. If Mr. Obama fails, perhaps Canada could open its system to "medical tourism" from the U.S., Dr. Day said." Under the Canadian system, everyone is insured and has "access to basic health care without ever seeing a doctor or hospital bill." But 70% of Canadians also have "some form of supplemental health insurance," in part because of long wait times for tests and treatments under the government plan. For Canadian citizens who become ill in the U.S., it is often cheaper to "ride on a private Lear jet back to Canada" than to be treated in a U.S. hospital.
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Washington State Drops Budget Provision That Would Have Cut Medicaid Pharmacy Payments
Washington state lawmakers this week eliminated a budgetary proposal that would have reduced Medicaid payment rates to pharmacies to the lowest levels in the country, the AP/Spokane Spokesman-Review reports. The provision would have reduced the payment rate from 86% to 80% of the average wholesale price of branded drugs. It had been approved by the state House and Gov. Chris Gregoire (D) and was intended to address the state"s $9.3 billion shortfall for the current fiscal year.The state"s Department of Social and Health Services moved to make the rate change on April 1, but pharmacy operators and a person living with HIV/AIDS brought a suit in federal court in Tacoma, Wash., and a judge blocked the change. According to the judge"s order, the plaintiffs likely could prove that their best interests had not been sufficiently considered and that the proposal would diminish the quality of Medicaid care in the state. Walgreen had stated that if the rate change occurred, 44 of its 111 stores in the state would no longer be able to fill Medicaid prescriptions. Other pharmacies made similar arguments. The state prepared an argument on behalf of the rate cut, but later decided against it.Along with eliminating the payment reduction, state legislators added a provision that a DSHS analysis is required before rates can be lowered in the next budget, as well as one placing a 2% cap on any future rate cuts. DSHS spokesperson Jim Stevenson said the agency had not started to analyze what would be required to get a rate cut approved, but added, "I think we"re at a stage where we"re going to have to do it soon if we want to get ready for July 1," the start of fiscal year 2010 (AP/Spokane Spokesman-Review, 5/13).
Nutrition

Utopia Honors Michelle Harris With Its Fifth Annual "Caregiver Of The Year" Award

Utopia Home Care, Inc. has announced that Michelle Harris will be its 2009 Caregiver of the Year. At the company"s annual corporate breakfast meeting this morning, Utopia Home Care, Inc. President and CEO Manuel F. Martinez and Executive Vice President Manuel G. Martinez presented Ms. Harris with a commemorative plaque and a check for $1,000. The presentation was made before approximately 125 staff members representing Utopia offices in New York, Connecticut, Florida, South Carolina and Pennsylvania. Ms. Harris currently works with hospice patients in the palliative care unit at a nursing home in Brooklyn. "It takes a special person to work with terminally ill patients. Michelle is a peaceful and kind person," said Pat McNair, Nursing Supervisor of the Hospice Program. Twenty years ago, Ms. Harris suffered a terrible personal tragedy when her mother, sister, aunt and three-year-old daughter were murdered by her brother. Anguished by the loss of her loved ones, Ms. Harris looked for a way to ease her pain. She reached out to her community and found that, in helping others, she could help herself. In 1999, Ms. Harris enrolled in a training course and become a certified home health aide. She joined Utopia Home Care in 2007. Although she has been working for Utopia for only two years, Ms. Harris has had a very positive impact on the company, the people she cares for and their families. "Michelle has an infectious nurturing spirit that comforts the patients and family members alike. She listens to her patients with empathy and speaks with a tender heart, always mindful of preserving their dignity." Ms. McNair said. Ms. Harris is the fifth recipient of the "Caregiver of the Year" award, and, like the winners before her, she understands how precious life is and how quickly it can be taken away due to illness. "She takes satisfaction in helping comfort those suffering and dying, as well as their loved ones, at a very critical time," Ms. NcNair said. Utopia Home Care


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