Christina is the associate editorial director of The American Journal of Managed Care® (AJMC®) and The American Journal of Accountable Care® (AJAC), and joined AJMC in 2016. She oversees the publication of the print journals, from manuscript submission to publication, and works with the editors in chief and editorial boards to promote the journals.
She has a BS in public health from Rutgers University. You can connect with Christina on LinkedIn.
Primary Care Appointment Availability Increased for New Medicaid Patients Under ACA
Despite concerns that an influx of newly insured patients from the expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act could make it more difficult for new patients to get a primary care appointment, availability remained stable for privately insured patients and actually increased for Medicaid beneficiaries.
After Heart Attack, Not Enough Survivors Getting Recommended Exercise
Clinical guidelines suggest that adequate physical activity after an acute coronary syndrome event is a key component of preventing reoccurrence, but a recent study found disappointingly low levels of compliance with these recommendations.
Infographic: Poll Finds Americans Split on Trusted Media for Health Law News
A new Kaiser Health Tracking Poll that asked Americans their opinion on the future of the US healthcare system found the country is deeply divided, but not only on questions of health policy. Americans also have widely varying feelings on which media sources they can trust for healthcare news — if they can trust any at all.
COPD Symptom Burden Linked to Work Impairment, Increased Utilization
A study of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease worldwide found that higher self-reported symptom burden was associated with more severe impairment of work and activities, as well as increased utilization of healthcare services.
Busier Docs Provide Lower-Quality Diabetes Care, Unless They Treat Many Diabetics
Patients treated by primary care providers with a high volume of patients experienced worse management of their disease. However, if a physician specifically treated a higher number of diabetics, the quality of the diabetes care received by patients was significantly higher.
Bundled Payments and Other Cost-Management Approaches to Oncology Care
At the 5th annual Patient-Centered Oncology Care® meeting, stakeholders shared their views on how bundled payments, clinical pathways, and other value-based approaches can be implemented in cancer care while ensuring adequate care quality.
Exercise Most Powerful Lifestyle Factor in Improving Breast Cancer Outcomes
A recent literature review, examining evidence on lifestyle changes that can reduce the risk of recurrence or death for women diagnosed with breast cancer, found that exercise can reduce the risk of both outcomes.
Naloxone Access Laws Significantly Prevented Opioid Deaths, Report Finds
A popular strategy to help stem the tide of opioid-related deaths has been the implementation of laws that expand access to naloxone, the drug that halts and reverses overdoses. A recent paper has found that these laws did in fact save lives.
Freestanding Emergency Centers Could Help Ensure Access to Care in Rural Areas
Critical access hospitals in rural areas continue to be threatened by unsustainable operating costs, but a recent blog post on Health Affairs proposed an innovative solution to ensure access to care persists in these areas: freestanding emergency centers.
Responding to Patient Needs Central to Providing Value in Cancer Care
At the 5th annual Patient-Centered Oncology Care® meeting, Nell Wood Buhlman of Press Ganey explained that oncology providers must focus on patient needs and minimize suffering in order to truly provide value in cancer care.
Cancer Trial Participants Can Successfully Self-Report Adverse Events
Adverse events from cancer clinical trials are currently reported by trial investigators, but a recent feasibility study found that patients can successfully and accurately report their own symptoms if given the opportunity.
Patients Treated by Frequent Opioid Prescribers in ED Often Continue Use Long-Term
New research indicates that Medicare patients were more likely to continue using opioid painkillers a year after a visit to the emergency department if they had been treated there by a physician that frequently prescribes opioids.
Aetna Becomes Latest Insurer to End Prior Authorization for Opioid Treatment
Following similar actions by Cigna and Anthem, Aetna has announced it will do away with requirements that force doctors to get approval from the insurer before prescribing medications to treat opioid addiction.
Hearing Testimonies Tout Benefits of Mental Health—Primary Care Integration
The Senate Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies held a hearing today to discuss mental health treatments and services, as witnesses discussed the progress they had seen and further steps needed to solve the crisis.
New Jersey Poised to Pass Opioid Treatment Mandate - and Health Plans Are Part of the Solution
The legislature is expected to give final passage to the nation's strictest treatment mandates and a 5-day cap on the initial opioid prescription. Governor Chris Christie's plan has met little resistance, even though the cost is unknown.
AHRQ Initiative to Assess Role of Primary Care in Preventing Readmissions
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has conducted numerous initiatives in hopes of preventing hospital readmissions, but a recently proposed project would examine ways to achieve this goal with a focus on the primary care setting.
Community Health Records Offer IT Approach to Improving Population Wellness
Community health records have the potential to transform the way stakeholders work to improve health at the community level by aggregating local data on the social and physical determinants of health, according to a recent commentary in the American Journal of Public Health.
Self-Management Interventions Could Improve Outcomes for Low-Income Diabetics
A study assessed the effectiveness of a support intervention delivered by community health workers in the homes of low-income diabetics and found that it may have improved outcomes for those with poor glycemic control.