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Richard Franki is the associate editor who writes and creates graphs. He started with the company in 1987, when it was known as the International Medical News Group. In his years as a journalist, Richard has worked for Cap Cities/ABC, Disney, Harcourt, Elsevier, Quadrant, Frontline, and Internet Brands. In the 1990s, he was a contributor to the ill-fated Indications column, predecessor of Livin' on the MDedge.
Rituxan led Medicare part B drug spending in 2014
In 2014, Medicare part B drug spending was led by the $1.5 billion cost of Rituxan (rituximab), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services reported.
That made Rituxan – approved to treat non-Hodgkin lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, granulomatosis with polyangiitis, and microscopic polyangiitis – one of six drugs to exceed $1 billion in spending by Medicare part B for the year. Second and third on the list were the macular degeneration/macular edema/diabetic retinopathy drugs Lucentis (ranibizumab) at $1.33 billion and Eylea (aflibercept) at $1.3 billion, according to the Medicare drug spending dashboard.
The other three members of the part B $1-billion club were Neulasta (pegfilgrastim), which prevents chemotherapy-induced neutropenia, at $1.174 billion; the rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis/Crohn’s disease/ulcerative colitis/ankylosing spondylitis/psoriasis drug Remicade (infliximab) at $1.173 billion; and the chemotherapy drug Avastin (bevacizumab) at $1.06 billion, the CMS said.
Average cost per unit varied widely among the six drugs: Neulasta was $3,200 per unit, followed by Eylea ($960), Rituxan ($690), Lucentis ($390), Remicade ($71), and Avastin ($65).
Part B drug costs in 2014 totaled $21.5 billion for 606 different drug products, with 60% of that total cost going to the 21 drugs with spending over $250 million each, the CMS noted.
In 2014, Medicare part B drug spending was led by the $1.5 billion cost of Rituxan (rituximab), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services reported.
That made Rituxan – approved to treat non-Hodgkin lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, granulomatosis with polyangiitis, and microscopic polyangiitis – one of six drugs to exceed $1 billion in spending by Medicare part B for the year. Second and third on the list were the macular degeneration/macular edema/diabetic retinopathy drugs Lucentis (ranibizumab) at $1.33 billion and Eylea (aflibercept) at $1.3 billion, according to the Medicare drug spending dashboard.
The other three members of the part B $1-billion club were Neulasta (pegfilgrastim), which prevents chemotherapy-induced neutropenia, at $1.174 billion; the rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis/Crohn’s disease/ulcerative colitis/ankylosing spondylitis/psoriasis drug Remicade (infliximab) at $1.173 billion; and the chemotherapy drug Avastin (bevacizumab) at $1.06 billion, the CMS said.
Average cost per unit varied widely among the six drugs: Neulasta was $3,200 per unit, followed by Eylea ($960), Rituxan ($690), Lucentis ($390), Remicade ($71), and Avastin ($65).
Part B drug costs in 2014 totaled $21.5 billion for 606 different drug products, with 60% of that total cost going to the 21 drugs with spending over $250 million each, the CMS noted.
In 2014, Medicare part B drug spending was led by the $1.5 billion cost of Rituxan (rituximab), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services reported.
That made Rituxan – approved to treat non-Hodgkin lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, granulomatosis with polyangiitis, and microscopic polyangiitis – one of six drugs to exceed $1 billion in spending by Medicare part B for the year. Second and third on the list were the macular degeneration/macular edema/diabetic retinopathy drugs Lucentis (ranibizumab) at $1.33 billion and Eylea (aflibercept) at $1.3 billion, according to the Medicare drug spending dashboard.
The other three members of the part B $1-billion club were Neulasta (pegfilgrastim), which prevents chemotherapy-induced neutropenia, at $1.174 billion; the rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis/Crohn’s disease/ulcerative colitis/ankylosing spondylitis/psoriasis drug Remicade (infliximab) at $1.173 billion; and the chemotherapy drug Avastin (bevacizumab) at $1.06 billion, the CMS said.
Average cost per unit varied widely among the six drugs: Neulasta was $3,200 per unit, followed by Eylea ($960), Rituxan ($690), Lucentis ($390), Remicade ($71), and Avastin ($65).
Part B drug costs in 2014 totaled $21.5 billion for 606 different drug products, with 60% of that total cost going to the 21 drugs with spending over $250 million each, the CMS noted.
U.S. flu activity continues slow increase
The proportion of U.S. outpatient visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) crept up from 2.1% to 2.2% for the week ending Jan. 23 – week 15 of the 2015-2016 flu season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.
That increase put the proportion of visits involving ILI back above the national baseline level of 2.1% for the first time since the week ending Jan. 2, when it reached a season-high 2.8%, the CDC said.
Puerto Rico was the nation’s influenza hotspot at level 8 on the CDC’s 1-10 scale of ILI activity, but the states with the most activity were Connecticut, Maryland, and South Carolina, which were categorized in the “moderate” range at level 6. Connecticut was up from level 2 the week before; the other two states were unchanged.
There were five states in the “low” range: Arizona, New Jersey, and Oklahoma at level 5 and Illinois and Virginia at level 4. Arizona (down from level 7) and Oklahoma (up from level 3) were the biggest movers in this group from the previous week. There were 12 states at level 3 and four states at level 2, putting the total at 24 states at level 2 or higher, according to data from the CDC’s Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network.
There were no pediatric deaths reported in week 15, keeping the total for the season at seven, the CDC said, which is well below the number of deaths reported by week 15 in each of the last three flu seasons.
The ILI hospitalization rate for the season so far is 2.1 per 100,000 population, with 575 laboratory-confirmed, influenza-associated hospitalizations reported between Oct. 1, 2015, and Jan. 23, 2016. The highest hospitalization rates are among adults aged 65 years and older (7.0 per 100,000 population) and children aged 0-4 years (3.4 per 100,000), the CDC reported.
The proportion of U.S. outpatient visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) crept up from 2.1% to 2.2% for the week ending Jan. 23 – week 15 of the 2015-2016 flu season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.
That increase put the proportion of visits involving ILI back above the national baseline level of 2.1% for the first time since the week ending Jan. 2, when it reached a season-high 2.8%, the CDC said.
Puerto Rico was the nation’s influenza hotspot at level 8 on the CDC’s 1-10 scale of ILI activity, but the states with the most activity were Connecticut, Maryland, and South Carolina, which were categorized in the “moderate” range at level 6. Connecticut was up from level 2 the week before; the other two states were unchanged.
There were five states in the “low” range: Arizona, New Jersey, and Oklahoma at level 5 and Illinois and Virginia at level 4. Arizona (down from level 7) and Oklahoma (up from level 3) were the biggest movers in this group from the previous week. There were 12 states at level 3 and four states at level 2, putting the total at 24 states at level 2 or higher, according to data from the CDC’s Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network.
There were no pediatric deaths reported in week 15, keeping the total for the season at seven, the CDC said, which is well below the number of deaths reported by week 15 in each of the last three flu seasons.
The ILI hospitalization rate for the season so far is 2.1 per 100,000 population, with 575 laboratory-confirmed, influenza-associated hospitalizations reported between Oct. 1, 2015, and Jan. 23, 2016. The highest hospitalization rates are among adults aged 65 years and older (7.0 per 100,000 population) and children aged 0-4 years (3.4 per 100,000), the CDC reported.
The proportion of U.S. outpatient visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) crept up from 2.1% to 2.2% for the week ending Jan. 23 – week 15 of the 2015-2016 flu season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.
That increase put the proportion of visits involving ILI back above the national baseline level of 2.1% for the first time since the week ending Jan. 2, when it reached a season-high 2.8%, the CDC said.
Puerto Rico was the nation’s influenza hotspot at level 8 on the CDC’s 1-10 scale of ILI activity, but the states with the most activity were Connecticut, Maryland, and South Carolina, which were categorized in the “moderate” range at level 6. Connecticut was up from level 2 the week before; the other two states were unchanged.
There were five states in the “low” range: Arizona, New Jersey, and Oklahoma at level 5 and Illinois and Virginia at level 4. Arizona (down from level 7) and Oklahoma (up from level 3) were the biggest movers in this group from the previous week. There were 12 states at level 3 and four states at level 2, putting the total at 24 states at level 2 or higher, according to data from the CDC’s Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network.
There were no pediatric deaths reported in week 15, keeping the total for the season at seven, the CDC said, which is well below the number of deaths reported by week 15 in each of the last three flu seasons.
The ILI hospitalization rate for the season so far is 2.1 per 100,000 population, with 575 laboratory-confirmed, influenza-associated hospitalizations reported between Oct. 1, 2015, and Jan. 23, 2016. The highest hospitalization rates are among adults aged 65 years and older (7.0 per 100,000 population) and children aged 0-4 years (3.4 per 100,000), the CDC reported.
Abortion Coverage Unavailable in 31 State Marketplaces
Half of all states currently ban health plans on their ACA marketplaces from providing abortion coverage, while six states allow such coverage but have no plans that offer it, according to an analysis from the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Of the 25 states that prohibit abortion coverage, 11 allow exceptions similar to the Hyde Amendment, which allows for federal funds to be used only for abortions of pregnancies resulting from rape or incest or those that endanger the woman’s life. Another 12 states have exceptions that are more narrow than the Hyde Amendment, and two states, Louisiana and Tennessee, do not have any exceptions, Kaiser reported.
Along with the six states that allow abortion coverage on their marketplaces but have no health plans that offer it, there are 17 states that have at least one plan that makes abortion coverage available and two states, Hawaii and Vermont, where all of the marketplace plans include it, according to Kaiser.
Half of all states currently ban health plans on their ACA marketplaces from providing abortion coverage, while six states allow such coverage but have no plans that offer it, according to an analysis from the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Of the 25 states that prohibit abortion coverage, 11 allow exceptions similar to the Hyde Amendment, which allows for federal funds to be used only for abortions of pregnancies resulting from rape or incest or those that endanger the woman’s life. Another 12 states have exceptions that are more narrow than the Hyde Amendment, and two states, Louisiana and Tennessee, do not have any exceptions, Kaiser reported.
Along with the six states that allow abortion coverage on their marketplaces but have no health plans that offer it, there are 17 states that have at least one plan that makes abortion coverage available and two states, Hawaii and Vermont, where all of the marketplace plans include it, according to Kaiser.
Half of all states currently ban health plans on their ACA marketplaces from providing abortion coverage, while six states allow such coverage but have no plans that offer it, according to an analysis from the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Of the 25 states that prohibit abortion coverage, 11 allow exceptions similar to the Hyde Amendment, which allows for federal funds to be used only for abortions of pregnancies resulting from rape or incest or those that endanger the woman’s life. Another 12 states have exceptions that are more narrow than the Hyde Amendment, and two states, Louisiana and Tennessee, do not have any exceptions, Kaiser reported.
Along with the six states that allow abortion coverage on their marketplaces but have no health plans that offer it, there are 17 states that have at least one plan that makes abortion coverage available and two states, Hawaii and Vermont, where all of the marketplace plans include it, according to Kaiser.
Abortion coverage unavailable in 31 state marketplaces
Half of all states currently ban health plans on their ACA marketplaces from providing abortion coverage, while six states allow such coverage but have no plans that offer it, according to an analysis from the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Of the 25 states that prohibit abortion coverage, 11 allow exceptions similar to the Hyde Amendment, which allows for federal funds to be used only for abortions of pregnancies resulting from rape or incest or those that endanger the woman’s life. Another 12 states have exceptions that are more narrow than the Hyde Amendment, and two states, Louisiana and Tennessee, do not have any exceptions, Kaiser reported.
Along with the six states that allow abortion coverage on their marketplaces but have no health plans that offer it, there are 17 states that have at least one plan that makes abortion coverage available and two states, Hawaii and Vermont, where all of the marketplace plans include it, according to Kaiser.
Half of all states currently ban health plans on their ACA marketplaces from providing abortion coverage, while six states allow such coverage but have no plans that offer it, according to an analysis from the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Of the 25 states that prohibit abortion coverage, 11 allow exceptions similar to the Hyde Amendment, which allows for federal funds to be used only for abortions of pregnancies resulting from rape or incest or those that endanger the woman’s life. Another 12 states have exceptions that are more narrow than the Hyde Amendment, and two states, Louisiana and Tennessee, do not have any exceptions, Kaiser reported.
Along with the six states that allow abortion coverage on their marketplaces but have no health plans that offer it, there are 17 states that have at least one plan that makes abortion coverage available and two states, Hawaii and Vermont, where all of the marketplace plans include it, according to Kaiser.
Half of all states currently ban health plans on their ACA marketplaces from providing abortion coverage, while six states allow such coverage but have no plans that offer it, according to an analysis from the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Of the 25 states that prohibit abortion coverage, 11 allow exceptions similar to the Hyde Amendment, which allows for federal funds to be used only for abortions of pregnancies resulting from rape or incest or those that endanger the woman’s life. Another 12 states have exceptions that are more narrow than the Hyde Amendment, and two states, Louisiana and Tennessee, do not have any exceptions, Kaiser reported.
Along with the six states that allow abortion coverage on their marketplaces but have no health plans that offer it, there are 17 states that have at least one plan that makes abortion coverage available and two states, Hawaii and Vermont, where all of the marketplace plans include it, according to Kaiser.
Majority of State Exchanges Exclude Bariatric Coverage
The majority of state exchanges are not covering bariatric surgery for 2015-2016, but one state is set to make the switch to limited coverage in 2017, according to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.
There are currently 28 states with benchmark plans on their insurance exchanges that exclude coverage of bariatric surgery, but Colorado will add coverage for bariatric surgery when it replaces the state’s current essential health benefits benchmark for 2017, the ASMBS reported.
Among the states not covering bariatric surgery are Texas, Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Those that do have coverage on their state exchanges include California, New York, and Illinois, the ASMBS noted. Four states – California, New Mexico, Massachusetts, and Michigan – and the District of Columbia have benchmark plans that cover weight-loss programs.
The ASMBS said that “state health exchange plans continue to utilize blanket exclusions for weight loss programs or any obesity management services [even though] such blanket exclusions for these services are contradictory to ACA-mandated coverage for [U.S. Preventive Services Task Force] recommended preventive services.”
Meanwhile, the society added, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services “continues to sidestep its oversight authority in favor of letting states work out these issues – instructing advocates to contact state insurance commissioners for any kind of recourse.”
The majority of state exchanges are not covering bariatric surgery for 2015-2016, but one state is set to make the switch to limited coverage in 2017, according to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.
There are currently 28 states with benchmark plans on their insurance exchanges that exclude coverage of bariatric surgery, but Colorado will add coverage for bariatric surgery when it replaces the state’s current essential health benefits benchmark for 2017, the ASMBS reported.
Among the states not covering bariatric surgery are Texas, Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Those that do have coverage on their state exchanges include California, New York, and Illinois, the ASMBS noted. Four states – California, New Mexico, Massachusetts, and Michigan – and the District of Columbia have benchmark plans that cover weight-loss programs.
The ASMBS said that “state health exchange plans continue to utilize blanket exclusions for weight loss programs or any obesity management services [even though] such blanket exclusions for these services are contradictory to ACA-mandated coverage for [U.S. Preventive Services Task Force] recommended preventive services.”
Meanwhile, the society added, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services “continues to sidestep its oversight authority in favor of letting states work out these issues – instructing advocates to contact state insurance commissioners for any kind of recourse.”
The majority of state exchanges are not covering bariatric surgery for 2015-2016, but one state is set to make the switch to limited coverage in 2017, according to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.
There are currently 28 states with benchmark plans on their insurance exchanges that exclude coverage of bariatric surgery, but Colorado will add coverage for bariatric surgery when it replaces the state’s current essential health benefits benchmark for 2017, the ASMBS reported.
Among the states not covering bariatric surgery are Texas, Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Those that do have coverage on their state exchanges include California, New York, and Illinois, the ASMBS noted. Four states – California, New Mexico, Massachusetts, and Michigan – and the District of Columbia have benchmark plans that cover weight-loss programs.
The ASMBS said that “state health exchange plans continue to utilize blanket exclusions for weight loss programs or any obesity management services [even though] such blanket exclusions for these services are contradictory to ACA-mandated coverage for [U.S. Preventive Services Task Force] recommended preventive services.”
Meanwhile, the society added, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services “continues to sidestep its oversight authority in favor of letting states work out these issues – instructing advocates to contact state insurance commissioners for any kind of recourse.”
Majority of state exchanges exclude bariatric coverage
The majority of state exchanges are not covering bariatric surgery for 2015-2016, but one state is set to make the switch to limited coverage in 2017, according to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.
There are currently 28 states with benchmark plans on their insurance exchanges that exclude coverage of bariatric surgery, but Colorado will add coverage for bariatric surgery when it replaces the state’s current essential health benefits benchmark for 2017, the ASMBS reported.
Among the states not covering bariatric surgery are Texas, Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Those that do have coverage on their state exchanges include California, New York, and Illinois, the ASMBS noted. Four states – California, New Mexico, Massachusetts, and Michigan – and the District of Columbia have benchmark plans that cover weight-loss programs.
The ASMBS said that “state health exchange plans continue to utilize blanket exclusions for weight loss programs or any obesity management services [even though] such blanket exclusions for these services are contradictory to ACA-mandated coverage for [U.S. Preventive Services Task Force] recommended preventive services.”
Meanwhile, the society added, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services “continues to sidestep its oversight authority in favor of letting states work out these issues – instructing advocates to contact state insurance commissioners for any kind of recourse.”
The majority of state exchanges are not covering bariatric surgery for 2015-2016, but one state is set to make the switch to limited coverage in 2017, according to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.
There are currently 28 states with benchmark plans on their insurance exchanges that exclude coverage of bariatric surgery, but Colorado will add coverage for bariatric surgery when it replaces the state’s current essential health benefits benchmark for 2017, the ASMBS reported.
Among the states not covering bariatric surgery are Texas, Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Those that do have coverage on their state exchanges include California, New York, and Illinois, the ASMBS noted. Four states – California, New Mexico, Massachusetts, and Michigan – and the District of Columbia have benchmark plans that cover weight-loss programs.
The ASMBS said that “state health exchange plans continue to utilize blanket exclusions for weight loss programs or any obesity management services [even though] such blanket exclusions for these services are contradictory to ACA-mandated coverage for [U.S. Preventive Services Task Force] recommended preventive services.”
Meanwhile, the society added, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services “continues to sidestep its oversight authority in favor of letting states work out these issues – instructing advocates to contact state insurance commissioners for any kind of recourse.”
The majority of state exchanges are not covering bariatric surgery for 2015-2016, but one state is set to make the switch to limited coverage in 2017, according to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.
There are currently 28 states with benchmark plans on their insurance exchanges that exclude coverage of bariatric surgery, but Colorado will add coverage for bariatric surgery when it replaces the state’s current essential health benefits benchmark for 2017, the ASMBS reported.
Among the states not covering bariatric surgery are Texas, Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Those that do have coverage on their state exchanges include California, New York, and Illinois, the ASMBS noted. Four states – California, New Mexico, Massachusetts, and Michigan – and the District of Columbia have benchmark plans that cover weight-loss programs.
The ASMBS said that “state health exchange plans continue to utilize blanket exclusions for weight loss programs or any obesity management services [even though] such blanket exclusions for these services are contradictory to ACA-mandated coverage for [U.S. Preventive Services Task Force] recommended preventive services.”
Meanwhile, the society added, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services “continues to sidestep its oversight authority in favor of letting states work out these issues – instructing advocates to contact state insurance commissioners for any kind of recourse.”
U.S. flu activity picks up slightly
There were no states in the “high” range of influenza-like illness (ILI) activity during week 14 of the 2015-2016 flu season, but there were more states with elevated levels, compared with the previous week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.
Arizona had the highest activity (level 7) for the week ending Jan. 16, with Maryland and South Carolina (level 6) the only other states in the “moderate” range of ILI activity. There were 21 states at level 2 or higher, up from 18 the week before, but still below the peak of 24 that was seen 2 weeks ago. The overall proportion of outpatient visits for ILI was 2.1% for week 14, which was up from 2% for week 13 but was right at the national baseline, according to data from the CDC’s Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network.
There were no influenza-related pediatric deaths reported for week 14, so the number of total deaths remains at seven for the season, which is well below the week-14 totals for each of the previous three seasons. There have been 494 laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated hospitalizations reported in the 13 states of the CDC’s Influenza Hospitalization Surveillance Network through week 14, for an overall hospitalization rate of 1.8/100,000 population, the CDC said.
Among all hospitalizations, 65.4% were associated with influenza A, 28.7% with influenza B, 3.2% with influenza A and B coinfection, and 2.6% had no virus type information, the CDC report noted.
There were no states in the “high” range of influenza-like illness (ILI) activity during week 14 of the 2015-2016 flu season, but there were more states with elevated levels, compared with the previous week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.
Arizona had the highest activity (level 7) for the week ending Jan. 16, with Maryland and South Carolina (level 6) the only other states in the “moderate” range of ILI activity. There were 21 states at level 2 or higher, up from 18 the week before, but still below the peak of 24 that was seen 2 weeks ago. The overall proportion of outpatient visits for ILI was 2.1% for week 14, which was up from 2% for week 13 but was right at the national baseline, according to data from the CDC’s Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network.
There were no influenza-related pediatric deaths reported for week 14, so the number of total deaths remains at seven for the season, which is well below the week-14 totals for each of the previous three seasons. There have been 494 laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated hospitalizations reported in the 13 states of the CDC’s Influenza Hospitalization Surveillance Network through week 14, for an overall hospitalization rate of 1.8/100,000 population, the CDC said.
Among all hospitalizations, 65.4% were associated with influenza A, 28.7% with influenza B, 3.2% with influenza A and B coinfection, and 2.6% had no virus type information, the CDC report noted.
There were no states in the “high” range of influenza-like illness (ILI) activity during week 14 of the 2015-2016 flu season, but there were more states with elevated levels, compared with the previous week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.
Arizona had the highest activity (level 7) for the week ending Jan. 16, with Maryland and South Carolina (level 6) the only other states in the “moderate” range of ILI activity. There were 21 states at level 2 or higher, up from 18 the week before, but still below the peak of 24 that was seen 2 weeks ago. The overall proportion of outpatient visits for ILI was 2.1% for week 14, which was up from 2% for week 13 but was right at the national baseline, according to data from the CDC’s Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network.
There were no influenza-related pediatric deaths reported for week 14, so the number of total deaths remains at seven for the season, which is well below the week-14 totals for each of the previous three seasons. There have been 494 laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated hospitalizations reported in the 13 states of the CDC’s Influenza Hospitalization Surveillance Network through week 14, for an overall hospitalization rate of 1.8/100,000 population, the CDC said.
Among all hospitalizations, 65.4% were associated with influenza A, 28.7% with influenza B, 3.2% with influenza A and B coinfection, and 2.6% had no virus type information, the CDC report noted.
New year brings reduced flu activity
Influenza-like illness (ILI) activity was down during the first full week in January – a not-so-unlucky week 13 of the 2015-2016 flu season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.
South Carolina was at level 8, making it the only state in the “high” range of activity for the week ending Jan. 9. Puerto Rico was also at level 8, but there was no state in the “moderate” range and only seven states in the “low” range: Arizona and Maryland at level 5 and Connecticut, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia at level 4. There were 18 states at level 2 or higher, compared with 24 the previous week, according to data from the CDC’s Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network.
The proportion of outpatient visits for ILI was 2% for week 13, which was down from 2.8% in week 12 and below the national baseline of 2.1%, the CDC said. ILI is defined as fever (temperature of 100°F [37.8°C] or greater) and cough and/or sore throat.
One ILI-related pediatric death was reported during week 13, although it actually occurred in December. So far, there have been seven pediatric deaths reported during the 2015-2016 flu season, the CDC report noted.
Since Oct. 1, 2015, there have been 423 laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated hospitalizations reported in the 13 states – including California, New York, and Ohio – of the CDC’s Influenza Hospitalization Surveillance Network, for an overall hospitalization rate of 1.5 per 100,000 population. That rate, however, is “likely to be an underestimate as influenza-related hospitalizations can be missed, either because testing is not performed, or because cases may be attributed to other causes of pneumonia or other common influenza-related complications,” the CDC said.
Influenza-like illness (ILI) activity was down during the first full week in January – a not-so-unlucky week 13 of the 2015-2016 flu season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.
South Carolina was at level 8, making it the only state in the “high” range of activity for the week ending Jan. 9. Puerto Rico was also at level 8, but there was no state in the “moderate” range and only seven states in the “low” range: Arizona and Maryland at level 5 and Connecticut, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia at level 4. There were 18 states at level 2 or higher, compared with 24 the previous week, according to data from the CDC’s Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network.
The proportion of outpatient visits for ILI was 2% for week 13, which was down from 2.8% in week 12 and below the national baseline of 2.1%, the CDC said. ILI is defined as fever (temperature of 100°F [37.8°C] or greater) and cough and/or sore throat.
One ILI-related pediatric death was reported during week 13, although it actually occurred in December. So far, there have been seven pediatric deaths reported during the 2015-2016 flu season, the CDC report noted.
Since Oct. 1, 2015, there have been 423 laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated hospitalizations reported in the 13 states – including California, New York, and Ohio – of the CDC’s Influenza Hospitalization Surveillance Network, for an overall hospitalization rate of 1.5 per 100,000 population. That rate, however, is “likely to be an underestimate as influenza-related hospitalizations can be missed, either because testing is not performed, or because cases may be attributed to other causes of pneumonia or other common influenza-related complications,” the CDC said.
Influenza-like illness (ILI) activity was down during the first full week in January – a not-so-unlucky week 13 of the 2015-2016 flu season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.
South Carolina was at level 8, making it the only state in the “high” range of activity for the week ending Jan. 9. Puerto Rico was also at level 8, but there was no state in the “moderate” range and only seven states in the “low” range: Arizona and Maryland at level 5 and Connecticut, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia at level 4. There were 18 states at level 2 or higher, compared with 24 the previous week, according to data from the CDC’s Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network.
The proportion of outpatient visits for ILI was 2% for week 13, which was down from 2.8% in week 12 and below the national baseline of 2.1%, the CDC said. ILI is defined as fever (temperature of 100°F [37.8°C] or greater) and cough and/or sore throat.
One ILI-related pediatric death was reported during week 13, although it actually occurred in December. So far, there have been seven pediatric deaths reported during the 2015-2016 flu season, the CDC report noted.
Since Oct. 1, 2015, there have been 423 laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated hospitalizations reported in the 13 states – including California, New York, and Ohio – of the CDC’s Influenza Hospitalization Surveillance Network, for an overall hospitalization rate of 1.5 per 100,000 population. That rate, however, is “likely to be an underestimate as influenza-related hospitalizations can be missed, either because testing is not performed, or because cases may be attributed to other causes of pneumonia or other common influenza-related complications,” the CDC said.
More children getting well-child checkups
The percentage of all children aged 10-17 years who did not receive a well-child checkup is down since 2008, but there is a considerable gap between those living in metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.
In 2014, 21% of all 10- to 17-year-olds had not had a well-child checkup in the past 12 months, compared with 31% in 2008, said Lindsey I. Black and Anjel Vahratian, Ph.D., of the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics in Hyattsville, Md. (MMWR 2016 Jan 8;64[52]:1410).
Those living in nonmetropolitan areas, however, were at a consistent disadvantage over the 6-year period, compared with their metropolitan counterparts. In 2014, 28% of the children had not had a well-child visit in the past 12 months, compared with just over 20% in metro areas, according to data from the National Health Interview Survey.
The nonmetropolitan areas did show a slightly larger relative decrease from 2008 to 2014 than the metropolitan areas – 33% vs. 31% – so the gap has closed slightly over time.
Metropolitan residences are those located within a county or group of contiguous counties containing at least one urbanized area with a population of 50,000 or more, along with surrounding counties that have strong economic ties to the urbanized area. Nonmetropolitan areas do not include a large urbanized area and are generally more rural, the investigators noted.
The percentage of all children aged 10-17 years who did not receive a well-child checkup is down since 2008, but there is a considerable gap between those living in metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.
In 2014, 21% of all 10- to 17-year-olds had not had a well-child checkup in the past 12 months, compared with 31% in 2008, said Lindsey I. Black and Anjel Vahratian, Ph.D., of the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics in Hyattsville, Md. (MMWR 2016 Jan 8;64[52]:1410).
Those living in nonmetropolitan areas, however, were at a consistent disadvantage over the 6-year period, compared with their metropolitan counterparts. In 2014, 28% of the children had not had a well-child visit in the past 12 months, compared with just over 20% in metro areas, according to data from the National Health Interview Survey.
The nonmetropolitan areas did show a slightly larger relative decrease from 2008 to 2014 than the metropolitan areas – 33% vs. 31% – so the gap has closed slightly over time.
Metropolitan residences are those located within a county or group of contiguous counties containing at least one urbanized area with a population of 50,000 or more, along with surrounding counties that have strong economic ties to the urbanized area. Nonmetropolitan areas do not include a large urbanized area and are generally more rural, the investigators noted.
The percentage of all children aged 10-17 years who did not receive a well-child checkup is down since 2008, but there is a considerable gap between those living in metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.
In 2014, 21% of all 10- to 17-year-olds had not had a well-child checkup in the past 12 months, compared with 31% in 2008, said Lindsey I. Black and Anjel Vahratian, Ph.D., of the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics in Hyattsville, Md. (MMWR 2016 Jan 8;64[52]:1410).
Those living in nonmetropolitan areas, however, were at a consistent disadvantage over the 6-year period, compared with their metropolitan counterparts. In 2014, 28% of the children had not had a well-child visit in the past 12 months, compared with just over 20% in metro areas, according to data from the National Health Interview Survey.
The nonmetropolitan areas did show a slightly larger relative decrease from 2008 to 2014 than the metropolitan areas – 33% vs. 31% – so the gap has closed slightly over time.
Metropolitan residences are those located within a county or group of contiguous counties containing at least one urbanized area with a population of 50,000 or more, along with surrounding counties that have strong economic ties to the urbanized area. Nonmetropolitan areas do not include a large urbanized area and are generally more rural, the investigators noted.
FROM MMWR
Flu activity high in New Jersey, South Carolina
Week 12 of the 2015-2016 U.S. flu season saw two states in the “high” range of the influenza-like illness (ILI) activity scale, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.
New Jersey was at level 10 on the CDC’s 1-10 scale for the week ending Jan. 2, 2016, and South Carolina was at level 9. The next-most-active state, Texas, was at level 7, putting it in the “moderate” range along with Maryland, which was at level 6, the CDC said.
States in the “low” range were Arizona, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Virginia at level 5 and California, Colorado, and Georgia at level 4. Altogether, there were 24 states at level 2 or higher, according to data from the CDC’s Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network.
Puerto Rico also moved up to level 10 for the week ending Jan. 2 and, in a case of geographic concentration, New York City was at level 6 even though New York State was still at level 1.
The proportion of outpatient visits for ILI nationally was 2.8% at the end of week 12, which is above the national baseline of 2.1%. For comparison, at this point in the 2014-2015 flu season, the proportion of visits for ILI was about 6%, and in 2013-2014 it was around 4.5%.
There were two flu-related pediatric deaths reported during the week, bringing the total to six for the 2015-2016 season. One death was associated with an influenza A (H3) virus and the other was associated with
an influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 virus. Looking again at previous years, there had been single weeks with at least six pediatric deaths by week 12 in each of the last three seasons, the CDC report showed.
Week 12 of the 2015-2016 U.S. flu season saw two states in the “high” range of the influenza-like illness (ILI) activity scale, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.
New Jersey was at level 10 on the CDC’s 1-10 scale for the week ending Jan. 2, 2016, and South Carolina was at level 9. The next-most-active state, Texas, was at level 7, putting it in the “moderate” range along with Maryland, which was at level 6, the CDC said.
States in the “low” range were Arizona, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Virginia at level 5 and California, Colorado, and Georgia at level 4. Altogether, there were 24 states at level 2 or higher, according to data from the CDC’s Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network.
Puerto Rico also moved up to level 10 for the week ending Jan. 2 and, in a case of geographic concentration, New York City was at level 6 even though New York State was still at level 1.
The proportion of outpatient visits for ILI nationally was 2.8% at the end of week 12, which is above the national baseline of 2.1%. For comparison, at this point in the 2014-2015 flu season, the proportion of visits for ILI was about 6%, and in 2013-2014 it was around 4.5%.
There were two flu-related pediatric deaths reported during the week, bringing the total to six for the 2015-2016 season. One death was associated with an influenza A (H3) virus and the other was associated with
an influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 virus. Looking again at previous years, there had been single weeks with at least six pediatric deaths by week 12 in each of the last three seasons, the CDC report showed.
Week 12 of the 2015-2016 U.S. flu season saw two states in the “high” range of the influenza-like illness (ILI) activity scale, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.
New Jersey was at level 10 on the CDC’s 1-10 scale for the week ending Jan. 2, 2016, and South Carolina was at level 9. The next-most-active state, Texas, was at level 7, putting it in the “moderate” range along with Maryland, which was at level 6, the CDC said.
States in the “low” range were Arizona, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Virginia at level 5 and California, Colorado, and Georgia at level 4. Altogether, there were 24 states at level 2 or higher, according to data from the CDC’s Outpatient Influenza-like Illness Surveillance Network.
Puerto Rico also moved up to level 10 for the week ending Jan. 2 and, in a case of geographic concentration, New York City was at level 6 even though New York State was still at level 1.
The proportion of outpatient visits for ILI nationally was 2.8% at the end of week 12, which is above the national baseline of 2.1%. For comparison, at this point in the 2014-2015 flu season, the proportion of visits for ILI was about 6%, and in 2013-2014 it was around 4.5%.
There were two flu-related pediatric deaths reported during the week, bringing the total to six for the 2015-2016 season. One death was associated with an influenza A (H3) virus and the other was associated with
an influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 virus. Looking again at previous years, there had been single weeks with at least six pediatric deaths by week 12 in each of the last three seasons, the CDC report showed.