3 minute read
Health News and Notes
from REP March 22
Blood test helps predict who may benefit from lung cancer screening
A blood test, combined with a risk model based on an individual’s history, more accurately determines who is likely to benefit from lung cancer screening than the current U.S. recommendation, according to a study published today in the Journal of Clinical Oncology led by researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
A personalized lung cancer risk assessment, combining a blood test based on a four-marker protein panel developed at MD Anderson and an independent model (PLCOm2012) that accounts for smoking history, was more sensitive and specific than the 2021 and 2013 U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) criteria. The study included participants from the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial with at least a 10 pack-year smoking
history. If implemented, the blood test plus model would have identified 9.2% more lung cancer cases for screening and reduced referral to screening among non-cases by 13.7% compared to the 2021 USPSTF criteria.
“We recognize that a small percentage of people who are eligible for lung cancer screening through an annual low-dose CT scan are actually getting screening. Moreover, CT screening is not readily available in most countries. So, our goal, for many years, has been to develop a simple blood test that can be used first to determine need for screening and make screening for lung cancer that much more effective,” said Sam Hanash, M.D., Ph.D., professor of Clinical Cancer Prevention and leader of the McCombs Institute for the Early Detection and Treatment of Cancer. “Our study shows for the first time that a blood test could be useful to determine who may benefit from lung cancer screening.”
Private insurers must cover cost of at-home COVID-19 tests
Private insurers will have to cover up to eight rapid over-the-counter (OTC) COVID-19 tests per month per individual covered. Consumers with private insurance will be able to obtain the tests without any cost sharing like deductibles, coinsurance or copayments. Insurers are encouraged to set up partnerships with retailers and pharmacies so individuals covered can get free OTC tests directly without paying anything upfront or having to submit a claim for reimbursement. Reporting by The Wall Street Journal.
Heart health-monitoring toilet seat lands funding
According to mobiehealthnews, Casana, a startup building a heart health-monitoring toilet seat, landed $30 million in Series B funding. Morningside led the round with participation from Matrix Partners, General Catalyst and Outsiders Fund. This news comes roughly a year after the company announced its $14 million Series A funding round. The company developed the Heart Seat, a toilet seat that is able to capture health metrics over time. The seat is designed to measure a person’s blood oxygen level, blood pressure and heart rate. This data is sent to a care team’s dashboard, along with overall trends about a patient’s health over time.
Mavs owner opens online pharmacy
Billionaire and Dallas Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban recently opened an online pharmacy that offers generic prescription drugs to consumers. As a registered pharmaceutical wholesaler, Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company (MCCPDC) can “bypass middlemen and outrageous markups,” the company said in a release. The pharmacy’s prices reflect actual manufacturer prices plus a flat 15% margin and pharmacist fee, according to a release. Patients will also enjoy reliable prescription fulfillment and delivery through Truepill’s nationwide pharmacy footprint, the release said. “We will do whatever it takes to get affordable pharmaceuticals to patients,” said Alex Oshmyansky, CEO of Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug. “The markup on potentially lifesaving drugs that people depend on is a problem that can’t be ignored. It is imperative that we take action and help expand access to these medications for those who need them most.”
