American Rescue Plan Lowers Costs for More Than 1.5 Million Americans During Special Enrollment Period
When President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 into law in March 2021, the administration began working to make improvements in areas such as access and affordability by increasing eligibility for financial assistance. The new law lowered premiums for most people who currently had a Marketplace health plan and expanded access to financial assistance for more consumers, and data published in July 2021 showed that from February 15–June 30, 2021, more than 1.5 million Americans signed up for new health insurance coverage using the 2021 Marketplace Special Enrollment Period (SEP).
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CMS Final Rule Improves Health Equity, Access to Treatment, Hospital Readiness, and More
To achieve value-based, person-centered care, the U.S. healthcare system must promote sustainability and readiness to prepare for future public health emergencies such as the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service (CMS) said. In August 2021, CMS announced that the Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System and Long Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System final rule will take effect on October 1, 2021, in support of that work.
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AAN Designates ONS Member Betty Ferrell as Living Legend
Longtime ONS member Betty Ferrell, PhD, RN, CHPN, FAAN, FPCN, director and professor of nursing research and education at City of Hope, a cancer research and treatment center in Duarte, CA, will be recognized by the American Academy of Nursing (AAN) as a living legend at the Academy’s Living Legends Ceremony held during the Academy’s annual health policy conference on October 8, 2021. She is one of four nurse leaders being honored as a living legend this year.
It’s Okay to Put Yourself First Sometimes
Are you at—or well over—the brink of burnout? Do you feel like you give, give, give and cannot find the time to refill? Those are common feelings for nurses, whose profession is a service to humanity. Although our work is rewarding, it’s also physically, emotionally, and mentally draining. Never feel guilty or judge yourself for stepping away and taking time for yourself—it’s essential to maintain the high level of care you provide every day.
FDA Approves Ivosidenib for Advanced or Metastatic Cholangiocarcinoma
On August 25, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved ivosidenib (Tibsovo®) for adult patients with previously treated, locally advanced, or metastatic cholangiocarcinoma with an isocitrate dehydrogenase-1 (IDH1) mutation as detected by an FDA-approved test. FDA also approved the Oncomine Dx Target Test as a companion diagnostic device to aid in selecting patients with cholangiocarcinoma for treatment with ivosidenib.
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Testicular Cancer Treatment and Survival Rates Are Improving
Progression-free and overall survival rates for patients with metastatic testicular cancer have significantly grown since 1990, researchers reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
FDA Grants Full Approval for First COVID-19 Vaccine
On August 23, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, now marketed as Comirnaty, for the prevention of COVID-19 coronavirus infection in individuals aged 16 years and older. The vaccine is still under emergency use authorization (EUA) for individuals aged 12–15 years and as a third dose in certain immunocompromised individuals.
Oncology Drug Reference Sheet: Tivozanib
On March 10, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved tivozanib (Fotivda®), an oral kinase inhibitor, for adult patients with relapsed or refractory advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) following two or more prior systemic therapies.
The Case of the GVHD Double-Take
Jeff is a 60-year-old patient with myeloproliferative disease. After his care team secured a 9/10 match, he received an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation with a conditioning regimen of fludarabine and melphalan. Neutrophil engraftment occurred at day 20, and he was discharged to home shortly after engraftment. One month later, he presented to the clinic with abdominal pain and a new diffuse erythematous rash, which his care team initially treated with corticosteroids. However, his abdominal pain persisted, and Jeff was admitted to the hospital a few days later for further workup for suspected acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). A computed tomography scan of his abdomen demonstrated worsening enterocolitis because of Yersinia enterocolitica. What would you do?
American Academy of Nursing Inducts 10 ONS Members as 2021 Fellows
Nine Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) members were included among the highly distinguished nurse leaders inducted into the American Academy of Nursing’s (AAN’s) 2021 Class of Fellows. In total, 225 inductees will be recognized at the Academy’s annual conference, taking place on October 7–9, 2021, virtually and in-person in Washington, DC.