CMS Launches Medicare GLP-1 Bridge
Eligible Medicare beneficiaries may now get certain GLP-1 medications for $50 per month through the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge, a new Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) initiative designed to expand access to innovative treatments and test the impacts of increased access to GLP-1 drugs for weight management on the Medicare program. Through the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge, eligible individuals enrolled in Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage can obtain certain GLP-1 medications to lose weight or maintain weight reduction at a predictable and affordable cost of $50 per month. The initiative will remain available through Dec. 31, 2027. Click here to view the CMS press release.
IDPH: Building Healthier Communities for Men
The Illinois Dept. of Public Health (IDPH) and the University of Illinois are seeking information about men’s health across Illinois. All feedback will be used to identify health needs, barriers to care, and ways to improve programs and services for men and families throughout Illinois. Input can be shared via a short survey or through a listening session. All input will be kept confidential. Click here for the survey link. The project webpage provides additional information on initiative and related listening sessions.
Apply Now for AHA’s 2027 Quest for Quality Prize
The American Hospital Association (AHA) is accepting applications through Aug. 18 for the 2027 Quest for Quality Prize, which recognizes hospitals and health systems that provide safe patient- and family-centered care, work with community partners to improve population health, and lead innovation in enhancing quality and health outcomes. Awards will be presented to one winner and up to two finalists at the 2027 AHA Leadership Summit, July 18-20, in San Diego. Click here for more information.
Warning: HIV Medicines Being Sold on Online Pharmacy-to-Pharmacy Platforms
AIDS Drug Assistance Program Advocacy and the Partnership for Safe Medicines are recommending pharmacies not purchase discounted HIV medications through online pharmacy-to-pharmacy marketplaces, warning, “Patients living with HIV/AIDS are potentially being put at risk.” The organizations say the products may qualify as suspect under Food and Drug Administration guidelines and the Drug Supply Chain Security Act, and said any HIV medicines purchased from these platforms should be considered a suspect product, requiring quarantine and verification before dispensed to patients.
Virtual Nurse Discharges Lead to 72% Reduction in Readmissions
Compared to traditional, in-person discharges, patients who received virtual nurse charges realized a 72% relative reduction in readmission, according to a recent study published in npj Digital Medicine. The study compared 4,662 adult patients discharged from inpatient units during the 12 months before and after virtual nurse implementation. Study authors found patients discharged through virtual nursing had a 30-day emergency department readmission rate of 3.7% compared to 13.3% among patients who received traditional discharge care. The study also found virtual nurses were linked to lower readmission risk and absolute risk difference in both urban and rural hospitals.
Illinois Respiratory Disease Surveillance Data
The Infectious Respiratory Disease Surveillance Dashboard from the Illinois Dept. of Public Health (IDPH) provides the latest data on hospital visits, seasonal trends, lab test positivity and demographic data. IDPH also tracks COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus information through the Illinois Wastewater Surveillance System dashboard.
Briefly Noted
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has
identified a Class I recall of North American Rescue first aid kits containing TRUE METRIX Blood Glucose Monitoring Systems by Trividia, which have also been recalled. FDA said the Trividia recall is due to an issue with an E-5 error code. Trividia has reported 114 serious injuries and one death associated with its recall. The FDA notice said that North American Rescue has not reported any serious injuries or deaths associated with its issue as of March 27.
Leading the News
New Illinois laws take effect Wednesday including gas tax freeze and changes for driving tests and tuition
Chicago Tribune
More than a dozen new laws take effect in Illinois on Wednesday, touching everything from transportation and education to prisons and liquor licenses. Chief among them is the state’s new $55.9 billion spending plan, which covers the budget year running through June 30, 2027. While the new budget won’t raise the state’s sales or income tax rates, it relies on a series of new taxes and tweaks to be balanced, including a six-month pause on an inflation-based increase of a per-gallon gasoline tax that would otherwise jump by 1.3 cents, to 49.6 cents, on Wednesday.
HRSA opens applications for $140M in rural healthcare funding: 4 things to know
Becker’s Hospital Review
The Health Resources and Services Administration has opened applications for nearly $140 million in new grant funding aimed at expanding healthcare access and strengthening rural health systems.
Chicago, Cook County minimum wage increases take effect Wednesday
ABC 7
Wednesday is the start of July and with that comes new laws that go into effect. One of those is an increase in minimum wage.
