Erbitux has been approved since 2004 to treat colorectal cancer for late stage cancer after chemotherapy treatments had ended. The drug 
sends a signal to stop the growth of tumors in short. When a KRAS gene mutation is found, the tumors continue to grow so with finding this mutation it gives additional information on whether or not the patient should be on the medication or whether the treatment would not do any good.
The FDA also approved the use of the drug in combination with Folfiri chemotherapy drugs as a first line treatment for patients with metastic tumors with CRC . BD
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved the first genetic test that can help some colorectal cancer (CRC) patients and their doctors determine if the drug Erbitux (cetuximab) would be an effective treatment based on the absence of a gene mutation.
The therascreen KRAS RGQ PCR Kit can provide information about the KRAS gene mutation in patients whose CRC has spread to other parts of their body (metastasized).
Studies have found that Eribitux is not effective in those who have the mutation.
CRC is the third leading cause of cancer death in the United States. According to the American Cancer Society, there were more than 141,000 new CRC cases in 2011, and nearly 50,000 deaths resulted from CRC.
Among patients with tumors that did not have one of the seven KRAS mutations, median survival was 23.5 months for those who received Erbitux plus FOLFIRI compared with 19.5 months for those who received FOLFIRI. Among patients whose tumors had a KRAS mutation, median survival was similar between those who received Erbitux compared with those who did not.
shipped to Korea and then returned. Perhaps the FDA has another upcoming inspection? As this article points out though lawyers know a good lawsuit when they see one. Any MD who is participating in non substantiated stem cell procedures today is walking on thin ice. We do hear so many claims about stem cells and sometimes folks can’t tell the difference especially when any of their other treatments have not worked prior. 
statistically proven to prevent a DVT from occurring, in at risk patients. Traditionally, compression stockings and anti-coagulants (blood thinners) have been the gold standard in DVT prevention until today. The Venowave VW5 can be used alone or in conjunction with blood thinners and/or compression stockings. 
designed to engage the body’s natural healing abilities using both hot and cold stimuli. The interlaced hot and cold stimuli, induces a paradoxical burning sensation known as the Thermal Grill Illusion. The Thermal Grill Illusion has been known to scientists for over a century, and was developed and first studied extensively by Thunberg in 1896. In scientific research applications, the thermal grill is used to create harmless sensations of pain.” 
. But these articles—concise profiles of people and organizations, complete with lists of connected organizations, people, and events—were in fact written by computers, in a new bid by the Pentagon to build machines that can follow global news events and provide intelligence analysts with useful summaries in close to real time. 
If you read the news there have been a few incidents reported with the robot, I have not seen a lot but there are some. The device consists of a Pep monitor, a control switch and an electrode kit. The kit is a single use disposable unit. The electrode connects to the monitor. This appears to make the procedure and the robot safer. BD 
seems like this is what we are seeing out there. If we go back to the split with Express Scripts and the loss of revenue in prescriptions there, well that might shed some light on the size of the loss of revenue and maybe it’s bigger than anyone thought. 
statement, Walgreens made just short of $800 million, selling data alone, so when you add up all these acquisitions, just think of how much data for sale they might be getting access too and what additional dollars that could mean. I keep saying 
a local drug company to make a generic copy of a cancer drug made by Bayer. This opened a lot of eyes and Roche for one looked into their pricing on cancer drugs and is reducing prices on some of their drugs too. It appears the move is on to make drugs affordable. 
and his opinion of where each excels etc. Sometime he says in the next 10 years we will be able to cut the existence of malaria. He also discusses HIV and how to attack the disease and what has been done thus far and says it will be a while before we really can reduce the numbers. Bill Gates was always a science fan and with his work with the Foundation he’s been able to expand his learning. 
Like everything there are those out there that find loopholes and milk it. Aetna is probably correct on a case by case basis on some of the billing that takes place with way beyond normal customary fees but again you can’t use this as a “whole” perception when you look at all of it. I read one example here about a kidney stone fragmentation questioned to where Aetna claims $7,612 should have been the appropriate charge and they were billed $73,536 and there’s certainly enough in between those two numbers to question. 
is where we get down to some tit for tat issues. Doctors are graded in the Aetna system just like all other do and an MD maybe staying right within the suggested areas until it happens, one very sick patient who needs care outside of what the in network specialists can provide. That patient gets referred to a “specialist’s specialist” and none of those folks are on the “approved in network” lists anywhere for the most part. The patient goes and receives treatment and the big bill comes back and analytically even though it was approved, the “out of network” algorithm catches it, just looking at the amount of the bill. 
be able to purchase Individual Health insurance policies, so I am guessing they ran out of ideas and algorithms to keep this area profitable, but they will still continue to work with employer provided insurance plans. 
approved by the FDA and in case you missed it, you can 
The cost for each test is estimated to be around $12 retail for each Stik which is certainly very affordable. When you stop and think, a simple test as such could be distributed world wide and again make it simple and easy for all concerned whether it’s a clinic or an individual taking their own test. Let’s take a look at what the Stik technology could do for the Red Cross. You may or may not be aware that the FDA has inspected and fined the Red Cross here in the US for compliance failure and right now as I read recently, there’s a shortage of blood in supply. This was in January of this year and instead of a fine would it not be better to have the situation corrected? 
products, drug and alcohol testing. This is also an exciting area of development. How often have you wondered after enjoying alcohol if you are safe to drive. LifeSaver has a simple solution for that as well and it’s the same process as above, lick the Stik and wait two minutes. If one is over the legal limit of .08 a plus sign will show and if below, the minus sign will show. Just this simple test can give you a quick answer and would it be nice if restaurants, pubs, etc. made these available? 
indicates the subject is negative and a plus sign (+) positive for each of the targeted drugs and alcohol. The Drug Stik tests for DOT and FAA mandated drug screening also known as NIDA-5, which include: phencyclidine (PCP); opiate metabolites (heroin, morphine and other similar drugs); marijuana and marijuana metabolites (THC); cocaine and cocaine metabolites; amphetamines (including methamphetamine) and alcohol. Much of the development has been completed and the Drug Stik is scientifically proven to work in a lab setting. Clinical trials will be completed upon funding and a 510(k) application will immediately be submitted for FDA approval.” 
the “Blue Button” and if you are not aware as a member of the military and VA, you can get your medical records by signing up and downloading it. Below you can read the accounting of one process where a Naval Officer used it at Walter Reed. This is a perfect example of how having your medical records available not only saves time but also shows the value. The links below has additional information on how to get started. 
On top of that, Craig has a rare (only 500 to 1,000 cases known worldwide) neuromuscular disease called PLS (primary lateral sclerosis). PLS is characterized by progressive muscle weakness in voluntary muscles. There is no cure for PLS, but its symptoms are treated using a ‘cocktail’ or more than a dozen ‘off-label’ prescription medications. 
grass it appears and the latest efforts show a focus on Cannabidiol, also called CBD which has strong anti-inflammatory benefits. The plants being grown are free of the THC portion, thus there is “no high” associated with using the plants grown without this component. So I guess after all there really is medicinal use for marijuana, although there have not been any clinical trials run to get some full accurate reporting. As you can read though, the aroma of the pot plants is still there. 
new software suite to work with medical records companies to incorporate unstructured data into medical records. This has been an issue with reading the text and appropriately containing in an EHR. 
Dignity into more of a national healthcare company and they also plan to expand the number of facilities. Occupational healthcare has been a primary focus as well as some urgent care centers. Goldman Sachs was the financial advisor for the deal. US Healthworks will continue to operate as a separate subsidiary. 
as the largest independent operator of occupational medicine and urgent care centers in the United States.
will get a little bit of this, although nothing has been said so far. No more goals for territories for sales reps. That sounds realistic with where we are today so reps are not drug pushers as the blockbuster days seems to be behind us. In an earlier whistleblower case in Puerto Rico 60 minutes did a real in depth story on how manufacturing problems and politics created yet another fine last year. The link at the bottom of the post has the actual announcement from the DOJ. BD 
allowed in to get their patient records. I am guessing they were maybe not on an EMR of any sorts? Still though, come on give folks notice as the secondary entrance was not life or death. The landlord wouldn’t let them in. When you read this article it is real blame shifting here as the landlord said they could get in as long as the building department said it was ok and then the building department said the doctors could be given permission from the landlord! 
using a great deal of technology you might want to inquire about their algorithms and software and make sure you have a top notch IT department as that’s how this whole thing got out of the bag with nine stolen notebooks…did you read that right…not one but nine and the last being the worst to where it was uncovered that patient privacy rules were violated with Wall Street analysts being able to view and see real patient records. That’s the deal today if you are going to be a board member or executive, no more mister naïve guy at the helm as we have enough of those, ie. the CEO of Nasdaq and Jamie Dimon who are either that naïve or just play dumb. The folks from Accretive didn’t satisfy Congress either and it seems “playing dumb” is becoming a defense today. Actually this situation became chapter 28 of the Attack of the Killer Algorithms. 
military for a long time and recently lost the contract to United. United sued the DOD so did this have any impact? Who knows as I’m sure the costs of a full on lawsuit were in someone’s business intelligence analytics to project the time and money would estimate to come out to. 
They all do it but United is so huge with tons of subsidiaries that nobody even thinks about. I have written about many of them and you can so a search here with the words “subsidiary watch” and find a big selection of blog posts. In southern California and in other areas too United is buying up physician’s group at speeds that seem to outpace the other insurers, and big ones too. 
under the United corporate blanket they almost have a company that could handle everything from introducing a drug to the FDA all the way down to physician/hospital reimbursement. 
![EZClaim[4]](http://lh4.ggpht.com/_v3zjJigoAPE/TG1-9etl5ZI/AAAAAAAAgqg/CRMlet5Pi5k/EZClaim44.png?imgmax=800 "EZClaim[4]")
Math–This Could be a Subject for Michael Moore to Explore and Document In a Movie
Screenings Too–Killer Algorithms Part 12–Medical Billing Codes Style
Assessing Consumer Credit Scores–Attack of the Killer Algorithms Chapter 21 With Flawed Data
Duping” Society Combined With A World of Rogue Algorithms & Flawed Data Continues In Markets As Seen With Knight Capital This Week-Attack of the Killer Algorithms Chapter 36
Study Fraud With EHR Technologies, Namely Medical Records/Billing Software Used by Hospitals– HHS And SEC Continue Getting Their Non-Algorithmic Fannies Kicked–Attack of the Killer Algorithms Chapter 46
SilverScript Senior Drug Program Sanctioned by Medicare Until the Payment And Billing Algorithms are Cleaned Up-Killer Algorithms Chapter 53
