Christina Mattina

A new study indicates that adults with mental health disorders receive more than 51% of all opioids prescribed in the United States each year, further illustrating the complex relationship between mental health and substance abuse.

As part of its new Drug Competition Action Plan, the FDA has announced it will seek to spur innovation by allowing for accelerated approvals of generic drugs without competitors. It also published a list of drugs without approved generics that could be eligible for this expedited review process.

A newly published analysis, supported by an editorial, finds that the growing prevalence of cosmetic-related adverse events may warrant stronger regulation of these products used to alter appearance.

A new study finds an association between Medicaid disenrollment in Tennessee and higher rates of late-stage breast cancer diagnoses and delays to treatment.

The gap in disease incidence among ethnic groups demands a policy response, say experts who weighed in on the SEARCH data.

The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has updated its recommendation on screening for obesity in children and adolescents to suggest regular screenings in those aged 6 and older, who can then be referred to weight management interventions.

Although the healthcare bills have many fundamental similarities, the Senate’s Better Care Reconciliation Act differs from the House’s American Health Care Act (AHCA) in ways that extend beyond the name change.

A new study in the New England Journal of Medicine has found that a combination of tumor mutation burden and expression of the programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) can predict patient response to nivolumab in non—small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

In response to trepidation from clinicians, CMS has announced a proposal to alter the rules of the Quality Payment Program established by the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). The changes will exempt thousands of physicians from quality reporting requirements and allow small practices to form “virtual groups” with one another.

When undergoing therapy for cancer, patients must be aware of the risks of adverse interactions between the therapy and any other drugs or herbal supplements they take, a new study cautions.

The Supreme Court of the United States has determined that a group of nonresident plaintiffs may not sue Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) in California state court, as neither these patients nor the pharmaceutical company reside in that state. The ruling could have important implications for lawsuits seeking compensation for alleged harms.

As the opioid epidemic continues across America, medication-assisted therapies, like buprenorphine or naltrexone, have been highlighted as an important tool. However, a new study indicates that the number of young people with opioid use disorder who actually receive these medications remains low, although it has increased since 2001.

The European Commission has approved Rixathon, a biosimilar of the cancer drug rituximab, for use in Europe, according to an announcement from Novartis, whose Sandoz division manufactures the biosimilar.

Hybrid closed-loop insulin delivery systems, also called an “artificial pancreas,” have attracted a great deal of attention since the FDA approved the first such device last September. These systems continuously monitor blood glucose levels and adjust insulin dosing accordingly, although they require some input from users around mealtimes.

Guidelines recommend against screening for cancer in patients with shortened life expectancy, but a recent study revealed older patients may not want to consider their life expectancy when discussing with a clinician whether they should stop undergoing cancer screening.

An update on the latest developments in clinical and healthcare services research in oncology.

The CMS Office of the Actuary released a report projecting the financial and coverage impacts of the American Health Care Act (AHCA) passed by the House of Representatives, finding that 13 million more people would be uninsured by 2026 but the federal government would reduce expenditures by $328 billion.

A roundup of the panels and sessions at the National Comprehensive Cancer Network's 22nd Annual Conference: Improving the Quality, Effectiveness, and Efficiency of Cancer Care, held March 23-25, 2017, Oralndo, Florida.

The American Medical Association (AMA) has announced its choice of Barbara McAneny, MD, to lead as president-elect, making her the first oncologist to take the reins of the nation’s largest physician organization.

Prior data had indicated that sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors could be linked to diabetic ketoacidosis, a serious complication of diabetes.

Patients with comorbid depression and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have low rates of adherence to their COPD management medications, putting them at increased risk of emergency department visits and hospitalizations.

A new study finds that the incidence of cancer in high-income counties has spiked higher than in low-income counties, but the wealthier areas saw their cancer mortality rates decrease more, which could indicate that overdiagnosis is occurring among well-off populations.

A new study estimates that the cooperative research network SWOG, which is sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), has considerably impacted the US population over its 60-year history, as its 23 positive clinical trials have generated about 3.34 million life-years gained.

In testimony before the US House Ways and Means Committee’s Health subcommittee, Mark Fendrick, MD, co-director of the University of Michigan Center for Value-Based Insurance Design, discussed the importance of allowing for flexibility and clinical nuance when it comes to encouraging value in Medicare Advantage plans.

When the World Health Organization (WHO) updates its Essential Medicines List every 2 years, observers anticipate the addition of some new drugs or alternate indications. The 20th edition, released Tuesday, also includes a more drastic change by categorizing antibiotics.

Researchers and policy makers have recognized the importance of safe and stable housing in achieving better health outcomes, but a new study adds evidence that receiving housing assistance from programs administered by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is associated with expanded healthcare access.

Amid recent efforts to curtail sodium levels in packaged foods to prevent hypertension and heart disease, the amount of sodium in foods and beverages purchased by US households has decreased, according to a new study. However, most Americans are still buying sodium-dense foods, indicating the need for intensified initiatives to lower sodium intake.

According to a recent study, women who live in a highly segregated white community are more likely to receive a late-stage diagnosis of breast cancer.

A new Kaiser Health Tracking Poll delves into Americans’ attitudes about Medicaid: its importance to their family, how it should be funded, and whether it is more similar to health insurance or welfare programs.

Healthcare professionals working in the emergency department may be unaware of the costs of the care they deliver, according to a new study that asked clinicians to guess the cost of 3 hypothetical visits.