FOCUS TOPIC REIMBURSEMENT
SERVING A 24 COUNTY AREA, INCLUDING BIRMINGHAM, HUNTSVILLE, MONTGOMERY & TUSCALOOSA
AUGUST 2023 / $5
FDA Approves Groundbreaking Alzheimer’s Drug By laura Freeman
Early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease has just become more urgent. “Now that we have a therapy that can slow the progression of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) by 25 to 35 percent, we can finally do something to delay the damage,” said David Geldmacher, MD, FACP, neurologist and director of UAB’s Division of Memory Disorders and Behavioral Neurology. Clinical trials conducted at UAB gathered evidence that led to the accelerated limited approval of Lecanemab, commercially known as Leqembi, in January. Further trials confirmed the effectiveness of the drug in slowing progression
when administered to patients early in the course of the disease. That led to the Leqembi becoming the first new AD therapy to receive full FDA approval in 20 years. This approval has also opened the door to Medicare coverage of the medication, with the provisions that patients must be in the early stages of AD, and they are required to participate in a registry that will continue to track the benefits of the drug and its safety. “The drug is a protein antibody that binds to amyloid plaques and is administered as an infusion in a healthcare setting every two weeks for 18 months,” Geldmacher said. “About 26 percent of patients may benefit from over-the-counter Tyle(CONTINUED ON PAGE 4)
Mental Health Resource Shortage Creates Crisis for Emergency Departments By marti WeBB Slay
The shortage of resources for mental health patients is resulting in a problem for hospital emergency departments, which are seeing an increasing number of psychiatric patients. “It’s a daily struggle,” said Elizabeth Caine, MSHA, MBA, associate vice president and administrator for UAB’s Center for Psychiatric Medicine. “It causes a backlog for patients seeking medical care and trauma care.” By June 30, UAB had boarded psychiatric patients in the emergency de-
Jeremy Rogers, MD, FACEP
Elizabeth Caine, MSHA, MBA
partment for more than 2,600 hours per month, on average. “We are delivering
care, but it takes up space and prevents the emergency department from turning
www.birminghammedicalnews.com
the beds over and seeing other patients who come in,” Caine said. The problem of emergency department backlog isn’t unique to psychiatric patients. “Almost every emergency department in our state deals with boarding crises on a daily basis,” said Jeremy Rogers, MD, FACEP, associate medical director of the department of emergency medicine at Grandview Medical Center. “Many days, our Alabama hospitals have prolonged wait times when there are no inpatient beds available. This is not just a psychiatric care issue. It is a general situa(CONTINUED ON PAGE 4)
FOLLOW US
Check out our special offer on page 5!
SIP OASIS.COM /H IPAACH E CK L IST
(205) 623-1200