Health

Helping to Keep Americans Healthy During COVID-19

(NewsUSA) – Our collective will and intellects are being called upon to manage COVID-19, save lives, and restore our economy. During this public health emergency, it is crucial that every sector of our health care system step up to the challenge. And America’s pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) have a key role to play.PBMs manage prescription drug plans for hundreds of millions of Americans with health insurance. We connect physicians, pharmacies, and payors to work together to serve patients. We also work with the rest of the drug supply chain to look ahead to mitigate shortages and maintain access to medications. As patients evaluate their prescription drug needs, PBMs are providing clinical care services and encouraging patients to consult government guidance and, as needed, their health care providers. During the coronavirus public health emergency, PBMs are promoting the following principles for patient access to needed medications:* PBMs, other drug supply chain stakeholders and federal, state, and local government partners should work together to sustain access to care for patients and prevent drug shortages.* PBMs recommend that multiple approaches be made available that ensure patients have access to their prescription drugs now and in the days ahead, by balancing convenient, reliable access – such as home delivery and additional supply on hand – with the potential for drug shortages.* PBMs recommend guidance from federal, state, and local government agencies that balance patients’ need to stay at home, the clinical appropriateness of supply for any given drug, and the need to prevent future drug shortages. While the coronavirus itself is a new public health challenge, PBMs have substantial experience helping to mitigate prescription drug access concerns during natural disasters, including floods, wildfires, hurricanes, and tornadoes. We have learned from previous regional and global health care events, such as Zika, Ebola, and the H1N1 virus. For example, working in collaboration with the rest of the pharmaceutical supply chain, PBMs are monitoring the drug supply to detect potential shortages and spikes in prescribing that might be related to the coronavirus, and reporting them to government agencies. If there are shortages, PBMs will work to facilitate access for as many patients as possible from the existing supply. In addition, some patients, particularly those with chronic conditions, will find home delivery well suited to help them maintain social distancing. People with diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure may be at higher risk of complications from COVID-19. PBMs’ state-of-the-art mail-service pharmacies can provide these patients with medications that are delivered right to their doorstep, and PBM pharmacists are available by phone 24/7 to answer questions and provide guidance and support.PBMs are helping in other ways as well. Whether patients are seen via telehealth services or in-person, real-time benefit tools allow physicians and other prescribers to immediately view covered medications and the patient’s cost-sharing, as well as send a prescription to the patient’s pharmacy of choice, including chain drugstores, independent pharmacies, and mail-service pharmacies. PBMs’ real-time benefit tools can help prescribers choose the most cost-effective medication and reduce out-of-pocket spending. Should some drugs be in short supply, real-time benefit tools can help prescribers and pharmacists quickly determine the right therapeutic alternative for each patient. Our health care system – and the entire nation – is being challenged in ways that seemed unimaginable just weeks ago. PBMs are deploying every available tool to help patients. We are proud of our role in this effort and remain vigilant in taking steps to help Americans stay healthy.

Company Steps Up to Keep Health Care Workers Healthy

(NewsUSA) – As the ongoing spread of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) reshapes American lives by the day, and sometimes by the hour, the health and stability of the nation’s essential workforce, namely our health care workers and first responders, remains paramount. To keep themselves and their patients safe, these workers, who may have potentially been exposed to this deadly virus, may have to stay home until they are tested, losing valuable time on a now critical job. Here’s where organizations such as xymbio are stepping up to the challenge. xymbio, an infectious disease testing company, has offered the use of its high-speed testing program to help run tests on health care personnel and first responders to keep them healthy and return them to their demanding roles as soon as possible. The Las Vegas-based company, uses industry-leading technologies from ThermoFisher and operates under the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) guidance issued by the Federal Drug Administration and highest diagnostic standards.xymbio is readying to process COVID-19 tests for hospitals and health care systems, and the company can provide both on-site testing and at-home testing kits for employees who believe they may have been exposed to the virus. In addition, individual physicians can request test kits and testing for patients using forms available online on the xymbio website. The company has been waiting on a response from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute of Health (NIH), and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for the necessary funding to accelerate its capabilities to acquire test kits so that it can rapidly scale testing capacity."xymbio has developed state of the art qPCR technology using ThermoFisher reagents to detect coronavirus protein n,s,e antigens. Their test is highly specific, accurate and scalable. They are now only limited by government funding to expand capacity from 500 tests per day to thousands of tests per day. Time is of the essence. They have the fix. They need the support to expand their operations now!" Dr. Larry Emdur, Chief Medical Officer of Alvarado Hospital in California."We are in a war against a dangerous virus, and with federal assistance, we are prepared to ramp up our testing capacity over the next 35 days to 20,000 tests a day, or 120,000 tests a week, with immediate plans to expand operations to Las Vegas and Atlanta, which would more than quadruple our testing capacity," according to Dr. Heath Wills, CEO and Chief Medical Officers of xymbio."We are ready to undertake the rapid action on behalf of many more citizens, and await prompt action on our proposal to the NIH, HHS, CDC, FEMA or the White House Task Force on Coronavirus testing during this national crisis," Wills emphasizes.xymbio has also been working with the Swab for Life campaign of the Give Life Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness of blood donation."We chose to partner with xymbio because of its extremely accurate COVID-19 testing capabilities that we believe will accelerate help to Americans during this national healthcare crisis," says Bart S. Fisher, chairman of the Foundation. For more information about xymbio and their efforts to work with individual health care providers, hospitals, and the government, visit xymbio.com.

Keep Your New Year’s Resolution With These Weight Loss Tips

(NewsUSA) – Did you make a resolution to lose weight and get healthy in 2020? This may be the most common New Year’s resolution, but it’s also one of the most difficult to keep.In fact, according to U.S. News, 80 percent of people give up on their New Year’s Resolution by mid-February. There’s no one reason to explain why this happens, but we do know that it’s difficult to change our behavior over long periods of time. If you made a promise to yourself to improve your health and lose weight, don’t give up now. Start by making small, achievable changes to your routine. Here are five tips to help you stay on track:* Try activities that don’t revolve around eating or drinking. Almost all family gatherings seem designed to gather us around the snack table. But there are plenty of other activities you can do together that will get you moving and making memories. Think of events that will emphasize connection and fun rather than snacking and drinking. Brainstorm with friends and family to find a new activity to try – bowling, hiking, pottery – the options are endless.* Offer to host. If you really want to take control, play host! Invite friends and family over to your place, where you can prepare everything so there are no surprises. Or if you’re meeting at a friend’s house, offer to bring a dish, and make something healthy that you know you’ll enjoy. When it’s time to eat, you can pile a big portion of this item on your plate and fill in the rest with other offerings that look good to you.* Don’t dance around your cravings. If you’re really craving a slice of pizza, order one and have a portion-controlled size."When you avoid your cravings, you can end up overeating by trying to satisfy them with other foods," says Courtney McCormick, corporate dietitian at Nutrisystem. Instead, identify what it is that you’re craving, order something that will satisfy, and take the time to truly savor and enjoy it.* Don’t turn a cheat meal into a cheat day. Many dieters trip up at one meal, get discouraged, and go overboard for the rest of the day because it’s already "ruined."The term is "cheat meal," not "cheat day." If you have a meal that you think could set you back, remember that it’s only one meal. Don’t beat yourself up and don’t give up."It’s always a good thing to learn from your missteps," says Marie Osmond, entertainer, author, host of The Talk, and Nutrisystem ambassador. "Maybe the first time you crave chocolate, you’re going to grab a candy bar. Next time, you’ll have a smaller piece of dark chocolate or make yourself a Nutrisystem chocolate shake!" Cut yourself some slack, remember how much you enjoyed the "cheat," and then get back on track – little decisions that you make, starting right away, will lead you closer to success.* Stay hydrated. You’ve heard this one before, but that’s because it works: if you do indulge in alcohol, alternating each drink with a glass of water will help slow your consumption so you don’t get too tipsy – which can lower your inhibitions to other foods and portions you’re trying to avoid. In fact, the alcohol may make greasy foods and sweets seem more appealing. Water will also keep you hydrated, which can make you feel less "snacky," since our bodies sometimes mistake thirst for hunger.For more info and tips on how to get healthy and stay on track all year long, visit leaf.nutrisystem.com.

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