Implementation of a medication delivery service for ambulatory oncology infusion patients.

Objective: Patients receiving infusions for the treatment of cancer are commonly prescribed supportive care medications which are filled through retail pharmacies. The initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic created hurdles for patients to receive supportive care medications due to concerns related to exposure risk. Meds-to-Chemo Chairs (M2CC) was created allowing an onsite retail pharmacy to dispense and hand-deliver supportive care prescriptions to patients in the infusion suite.

The Financial Effect of Medicare Coverage Design and Safety Net Options for Cancer Care.

Background: National spending on specialty medications accounted for approximately $193 billion in 2016. The coverage design for Medicare Parts B and D has shifted medication costs to patients, which may prohibit patients from starting or maintaining therapy due to affordability. As a result, patients have enrolled in safety net financial options, such as patient assistance and foundation programs.

Risk Factors for Targeted Fungal and Mycobacterial Infections in Patients Taking Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors.

Objective: To identify predictors of the receipt of medical care, including the receipt of pre-drug screening, for diagnostically targeted fungal or mycobacterial infections among patients prescribed a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi).

Methods: We conducted a case-control study using deidentified patient health claims information from a data set representing a commercially insured US population of 15 million patients annually from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2009. Descriptive statistics as well as a 2-sample t-test, chi-square test of association, Fisher's exact test, and multivariate logistic regression were used for data analysis.

Strategies for the management of rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, systemic inflammatory autoimmune disease that, untreated, can lead to permanent joint damage, decrease in quality of life, and disability. Health care professionals play a vital role in caring for patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The therapeutic possibilities in the management of rheumatoid arthritis have changed, with newer biologic therapies that target the inflammatory cascade seen in rheumatoid arthritis.