S7, Ep 1- The Latest News: Drug Imports, Biosimilars, and COVID/Flu/RSV Season

The Health Advocates are back and breaking down all the latest news so far in 2024. Steven gives us a debrief on what to look for this election year. We then dive into Florida’s plan to import drugs, why you may be switched from Humira to a biosimilar, and finally the latest hospitalizations and case rates this respiratory illness season. Among the highlights in this episode: 01:28: Steven discusses the political landscape of 2024, focusing on the upcoming election, and the primaries 03:05: Our hosts discuss the FDA's approval of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' plan to import a limited set of drugs from Canada, covering the historical context, eligibility for receiving these drugs in Florida, and the specific drugs included 04:47: Zoe Rothblatt, Associate Director of Community Outreach at GHLF, explains the next steps for Florida's drug importation program and highlights potential challenges, such as drug availability and compliance with FDA standards 06:13: Steven brings up CVS Caremark's decision to replace Humira with biosimilars on their formulary benefit 06:22: Zoe talks about the impact of CVS Caremark's decision on patients using Humira, including her personal experience and advice for patients facing a switch to biosimilars 08:51: Zoe and Steven discuss the winter respiratory virus season, including the rise in flu, COVID-19, and RSV cases, the effectiveness of flu vaccines, and personal strategies for staying safe during the peak of the respiratory virus season 13:03: Our hosts cover RSV activity and vaccine uptake, discussing the latest poll results from GHLF’s Patient Support Program, reasons for not getting vaccinated, side effects, and the importance of vaccines for prevention 15:52: What our hosts learned from this episode Contact Our Hosts Steven Newmark, Director of Policy at GHLF: [email protected] Zoe Rothblatt, Associate Director, Community Outreach at GHLF: [email protected] A podcast episode produced by Ben Blanc, Associate Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF. We want to hear what you think. Send your comments in the form of an email, video, or audio clip of yourself to [email protected] Catch up on all our episodes on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.