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James McSpadden

James McSpadden is a senior policy advisor at the AARP Public Policy Institute, where his areas of expertise include prescription drug access and utilization. Read his full biography.
In 2023, for the first time ever, vaccines for the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) became available, offering protection against an infection that causes tens of thousands of hospitalizations and deaths among older adults every year. Two RSV vaccines were approved by the Food & Drug…
What prescription assistance is available to native elders—members of federally recognized tribes ages 50 and older.
Drug formularies play a large role in health care access, whether consumers know it or not. A drug formulary is a complex, multi-layered tool used to manage the safe and appropriate use of prescription drugs.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention endorsed the use of new vaccines for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for adults 60 and older who have discussed it with their health care provider. The vaccines, which will be available this fall, could save thousands of older-adult lives each year.
A recent AARP Public Policy Institute report found that influenza, pneumonia, and shingles vaccinations increased among adults ages 50 and older in 2020, though disparities continued.
For too long, insured consumers remained in the dark about how much a scheduled health procedure would actually cost them.
Successful deprescribing (that is, reducing or eliminating certain drugs that may be causing harm) in the course of routine care may depend on strengthening and elevating the information that is available to consumers.
As facilities use the lessons learned to put in place policies and programs to continue delivering COVID-19 vaccines, they also should evaluate the quality and effectiveness of their influenza and pneumococcal immunization programs.
Facilities are beginning to innovate and put in place best practices to drive down the number of COVID-19 cases among residents and staff.
Now that we are reaching a point where the U.S. has an adequate supply of COVID-19 vaccines, officials must consider how to identify and reach older adults who remain unvaccinated, particularly those who want but have been unable to access a vaccine.
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