Top news stories from AMA Morning Rounds®: Week of Jan. 8, 2024

Read AMA Morning Rounds®’ most popular stories in medicine and public health from the week of  Jan. 8, 2024–Jan. 12, 2024.

The New York Times (1/10, Richtel) reports, “Prescriptions for drugs used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder surged during the coronavirus pandemic, particularly among women and patients ages 20 to 39, according to new research compiled by scholars affiliated with the” FDA. This “increase came as prescription rates held relatively steady for other key classes of behavioral health medications used to treat conditions such as depression and anxiety, according to the study.” The Times adds, “The reasons are not totally clear, the researchers found, and could include pandemic-related stress, recognition of undiagnosed cases, over-prescription and online marketing of medications.” The findings were published in JAMA Psychiatry. 

The Hill (1/10, Sforza) reports that the study found that the increase “contributed to the shortage of popular medications like Adderall.” The data indicated that “overall, stimulant prescriptions for those 20 to 39 jumped 30%, while nonstimulant ADHD prescriptions for that age group increased 81%.” 

The Washington Post (1/9, Sausser) reports that CMS “is weighing a proposed rule that could help millions” of Medicare Advantage patients by requiring “some insurers to automate their prior authorization processes, respond to expedited prior authorization requests within 72 hours and standard requests within seven calendar days, and provide more information when they issue denials.” However, the agency “closed the public comment period on the rule 10 months ago and has said nothing since then about when, or if, it will be finalized.” AMA President Jesse M. Ehrenfeld, MD, MPH, told KFF Health News on Monday that he hopes the proposed rule would “move the needle a little bit”—but cautioned that it may not be enough. “I think we’re going to have to have regulatory relief from Congress,” said Dr. Ehrenfeld. 

Editor’s note: Overused prior authorization processes cause care delays, patient harm and practice hassles. Learn how the AMA is leading the charge to fix prior authorization. 

The Hill (1/8, Sforza) reports, “The American Red Cross sounded the alarm Sunday over a severe blood shortage facing the U.S. as the number of donors dropped to the lowest levels in two decades.” The Red Cross “is urging people to sign up to donate blood and are encouraging people to do so by working with the NFL, which is offering a chance to win a trip for two people to Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas.” 

The New York Times (1/5, A1, Jewett, Stolberg, Longman) reported the FDA “has allowed Florida to import millions of dollars worth of medications from Canada at far lower prices than in the United States, overriding fierce decades-long objections from the pharmaceutical industry.” Notably, “Florida has estimated that it could save up to $150 million in its first year of the program, importing medicines that treat H.I.V., AIDS, diabetes, hepatitis C and psychiatric conditions.” Other states have applied to the FDA seeking to set up similar programs. 

CNN (1/5, Luhby) reported that Florida “must meet certain FDA requirements before drugs can be imported. It must submit additional drug-specific information for the agency’s approval, ensure that the medications have been tested and comply with FDA standards, and relabel the medications consistent with FDA rules.” Additionally, “the state must submit a quarterly report about the imported drugs, cost savings and potential safety and quality issues.” 

The AP (1/11, Aleccia) reports, “A preliminary review of side effects from popular drugs used to treat diabetes and obesity shows no link with suicidal thoughts or actions, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Thursday.” However, the agency “also said officials cannot definitively rule out that ‘a small risk may exist’ and that they’ll continue to look into reports regarding more than a dozen drugs, including Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro.” 

Reuters (1/11, Satija, Sunny) reports that health care professionals “should monitor their patients for new or worsening depression, suicidal thoughts, or any unusual changes in mood or behavior, consistent with the prescribing information for the drugs, the FDA said,” adding that the agency will “announce its final recommendations after completing its review.” 

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