Christina Mattina

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recommended that CMS should take steps to prevent lower quality hospitals from qualifying for value-based bonuses, after a report by the office found that some bonuses in recent years had rewarded poorly-rated hospitals.

The FDA has approved the Praxis Extended RAS Panel for genetic testing in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). Detecting certain tumor mutations using the test could have important implications for treatment decisions.

Patients with schizophrenia are at high risk of developing diabetes, particularly due to the effects of antipsychotic medications, but the results of a recently published trial indicate liraglutide can help improve glucose tolerance and body weight in prediabetic patients.

The FDA has placed 3 clinical trials of Keytruda (pembrolizumab) on hold in response to a pattern of patient deaths, according to a statement from Merck.

A phase 3 trial in patients with advanced melanoma found that nivolumab (Opdivo) outperformed ipilimumab (Yervoy) in terms of recurrence-free survival.

A House Subcommittee has passed an appropriations bill that would direct the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to stop implementing the tax on Americans without health insurance known as the individual mandate.

A recent article by contributor Jennifer Major, MS, RD, explored the calorie counts in the popular salads sold at chain restaurants nationwide and how they stack up to fast food like burgers.

New data suggest that more Americans report walking for leisure, transportation, or exercise in the past week, although these increases were not uniform across all sociodemographic groups.

Among a group of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) who were previously unresponsive to rituximab, a new antibody could help enable the immune system to attack the cancer cells, according to a study in PLOS One.

In the June issue of The American Journal of Accountable Care®, authors described how their accountable care organization achieved impressive shared savings.

Each year, the CDC prepares a report on health statistics that is submitted to the president and Congress by the secretary of HHS. This year’s edition, the 40th annual Health, United States report, focuses on the long-term health trends witnessed over the past decades.

New research finds that hypofractionated radiation therapy is as effective as conventional radiation for treating prostate cancer while offering more convenience for patients.

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.