Trending News: CVS Health, Aetna Create Benefits for Insured Patients with Coronavirus

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recently created a new part of its website, the Engagement Platform, designed to track legislation of interest to consumers, according to The American Journal of Managed Care. Each new piece of legislation receives an ADA score, noting how high of a priority the substance is to those in the diabetes community. Insulin pricing, barriers to care, and industry competition are 3 of the subject areas the scores take into account.

New research has found that use of paclitaxel drug-coated balloons (DCBs) for the treatment of coronary artery disease was not associated with increased mortality and long-term data suggest it may actually decrease mortality risk, according to HCP Live. The meta-analysis included data on more than 4000 patients from 26 randomized clinical trials. Researchers found the risk of death was not increased with the use of DCBs. Furthermore, DCBs were associated with a 27% lower risk of all-cause and 47% lower risk of cardiovascular mortality over a 3-year follow-up.

CVS Health and Aetna have partnered to create benefits for insured patients who either have or exhibit symptoms of the novel coronavirus, according to Contagion Live. Among the services for which Aetna will waive co-pays are all diagnostic testing related to coronavirus, including the test kit for patients who fall within the CDC’s testing guidelines. Additionally, for the next 90 days, Aetna will offer zero co-pay telemedicine visits for any reason and suggests using telemedicine as a first line of defense in order to limit potential exposure in physician offices.