Authors

Contributor: Congress Must Do More to Cover Nonopioid Alternatives

Preventing addiction is key to ending the opioid epidemic—2020 alone saw more than 93,000 overdose deaths—as are expanding access to treatment, promoting recovery, and building a multifaceted strategy that incorporates nonopioid alternative and their coverage by providers. Although appropriate in certain situations, opioids are not a one-size-fits-all approach.

Experience Incentivizing Reduction of Racial and Ethnic Disparities in a Medicaid Hospital Quality Incentive Program

Construction of a composite measure, use of a summary disparity statistic, and measure selection are key considerations in the design of equity-focused payment programs.

Preventive Care: Vaccines Matter

A database of information about more than 30,000 patients verified improved morbidity and mortality due to vaccines and preventive health care in prospective trials.

Disparities in Physician Access for Rheumatology, Dermatology, and Gastroenterology: A Systematic Review

This article presents a systematic review of US health care disparities in physician specialist access across rheumatology, dermatology, and gastroenterology and a call to action.

Investigators Advocate for Ongoing Comparison of Cancer Outcomes Among MA, FFS Beneficiaries

Galen Shearn-Nance, BS, and Johnie Rose, MD, PhD, of Case Western Reserve University, acknowledge key limitations of their study and prioritize areas for further research.

Primary Care Video and Telephone Telemedicine During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Treatment and Follow-up Health Care Utilization

Telephone visits may offer a simple and convenient option to address patient primary care needs without raising safety concerns.

Geographical Variation in Kidney Function Testing and Associations With Health Care Costs Among Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease and Type 2 Diabetes

Appropriate ED Utilization Leading to Better Care Coordination

Addressing avoidable emergency department (ED) utilization takes interventions in partnership with providers.

Care Coordination in Primary Care: Mapping the Territory

A survey completed by 100% of leaders of diverse care systems in Minnesota participating in an observational study showed little difference in approach to care coordination.

Clinical Outcomes in Heart Failure Monitoring: A Pooled Rates Analysis

This systematic literature review and pooled rates analysis investigated the standard of care for patients with heart failure in the US post hospital discharge.

Medical Costs for Managing Chronic Kidney Disease and Related Complications in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease and Type 2 Diabetes

Understanding the Complexities of Equity Within the Emergence and Utilization of AI in Academic Medical Centers

This editorial discusses positions for academic medical centers to consider when designing and implementing artificial intelligence (AI) tools.

Appropriate ED Utilization Leading to Better Care Coordination

Addressing avoidable emergency department (ED) utilization takes interventions in partnership with providers.

Operating Room Efficiency of Orthopedic Surgery During the COVID-19 Era

The authors analyzed the impacts of COVID-19 on orthopedic operating room efficiency via comparison of 14,856 surgeries performed before, during, and after the pandemic.

Medicare Accountable Care Organizations Reduce Spending on Surgery

Medicare Shared Savings Program accountable care organizations spent less on surgical care by reducing inpatient surgery, increasing outpatient surgery, and reducing spending on postacute care after inpatient surgery.

Medicare Payment Rule Threatens Access to Life-Sustaining Kidney Care

The authors call on Congress to reform Medicare reimbursement for dialysis, saying the recent rule puts clinics at risk of closure.

Impact of Psychiatric Follow-Up Frequency on Outcomes and Waiting Times

Naturally occurring variations in appointment frequencies do not appear to have a major impact on clinical outcomes, but they significantly affect waiting times.

Improving Access and Care for All Patients With Atopic Dermatitis

Panelists discuss how successful access initiatives include integrated specialty pharmacies, community-based clinics, clinical trial opportunities, telehealth services, and financial assistance programs like 340B to serve underserved populations with atopic dermatitis.

Reducing Readmissions in the Safety Net Through AI and Automation

Artificial intelligence (AI) and electronic health record–based automation tools helped a safety-net health system meet performance-based readmission metrics, thereby retaining critical funding while improving clinical and equity outcomes.

A Scoping Review of US Insurers’ Use of Patient-Reported Outcomes

This scoping review found 350 articles that discuss US health insurance providers’ use of patient-reported outcomes about health-related quality of life.

Association of Opioid Utilization Management With Prescribing and Overdose

Opioid utilization management in Medicare was associated with mixed effects on opioid prescribing, and prior authorization was associated with a decreased likelihood of subsequent overdose.

Atsena Therapeutics and Nippon Shinyaku Enter Exclusive License Agreement for ATSN-101

Atsena Therapeutics and Nippon Shinyaku have formed an exclusive licensing agreement for ATSN-101, a gene therapy for Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA1). Nippon Shinyaku will commercialize ATSN-101 in the US and Japan, while Atsena retains global rights outside these territories.

Impact of Delayed Adoption of Novel Atrial Fibrillation Treatments

Using direct oral anticoagulants as a case study, the authors examined how delayed adoption of novel treatments could impact patient health outcomes and cost.

Scaling Early Palliative Care in Value-Based Community Oncology: A Technology-Enabled Approach

Non–Face-to-Face Care Management and Service Utilization in Patients With Diabetes

CMS began reimbursement for non–face-to-face chronic care management in 2015, and results from Louisiana show that it increases outpatient visits but decreases inpatient and emergency department encounters.

Contributor: Leveraging Telehealth to Improve Access to Care for Maternal Health

This article explores the challenges and highlights actionable telehealth solutions that enhance access to care, particularly for mothers at higher risk of postpartum depression.

Primary Care Visit Cadence and Hospital Admissions in High-Risk Patients

Patients with congestive heart failure and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who had more quarterly primary care visits had lower rates of hospitalizations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Development and Validation of the COVID-19 Hospitalized Patient Deterioration Index

The authors developed and validated an accurate, well-calibrated, easy-to-implement COVID-19 hospitalized patient deterioration index to identify patients at high or low risk of clinical deterioration.

Building Research Capacity in Primary Care Practices That Serve Predominantly Racial and Ethnic Minority Populations

The successful collaboration between a primary care–based network of practices and academic researchers demonstrates feasibility and the need for more funding for primary care research.

After Tornado Damages Pfizer Plant, Hospitals Brace for Shortages

Analysts warned of the potential for some shortages until the company can move production elsewhere. The North Carolina plant produces a quarter of the company’s sterile injectables used in hospitals.