Christina Mattina

According to new research, a program that used standardized criteria to trigger palliative care consultations for patients with advanced cancer was associated with lower use of chemotherapy, fewer readmissions, and increased utilization of home-based support services after discharge.

A new study published in Annals of Internal Medicine has observed encouraging results from a program that implemented a virtual glucose management system for hospital inpatients.

Patients with Clostridium difficile infection who take medications to suppress their gastric acid levels are significantly more likely to experience a recurrence of the infection, according to researchers from the Mayo Clinic.

A provision in President Donald Trump’s budget proposal would incorporate the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) within the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which could represent a threat or an opportunity.

Many women with breast cancer turn to radiotherapy, a proven treatment that reduces the risks of recurrence and death. However, long-term smokers face a greater risk of lung cancer and cardiac mortality from radiotherapy.

According to a viewpoint published in JAMA Internal Medicine, making city streets safer and more inviting for pedestrians and cyclists can help break the pattern of sedentary behavior that has contributed to the obesity epidemic in America.

Women who were diagnosed with cancer at a young age are more likely to experience adverse birth outcomes like preterm birth, low birth weight, and cesarean delivery, particularly if the diagnosis occurred during pregnancy, according to a study in JAMA Oncology.

At the 22nd Annual Conference of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, in Orlando, Florida, Paul M. Cinciripini, PhD, of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center delivered a presentation on a mission he said he has spent the better part of his life working on: getting patients with cancer to quit smoking cigarettes.

As House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wisconsin, and President Donald Trump endeavored to round up enough Republican votes to pass the American Health Care Act this week, a major sticking point for some reluctant GOP legislators was the inclusion of the Affordable Care Act’s essential health benefits in the replacement bill. Reports indicate that the essential health benefits requirement will be cut from the bill that will go to the House for a vote today.

An innovative housing model for seniors that incorporates healthcare within the residential environment contributed to lowered rates of both inpatient hospitalizations and readmissions, according to a recent study.

As more health systems aim to engage patients in their own healthcare, a new study has found that letting patients type their agenda into their electronic medical record before a visit improved communication between patients and physicians.

According to a review of 37 studies, health interventions delivered to children and teens through mobile apps have significant potential to boost healthy behaviors and improve disease outcomes in this population.

A new study has found that clinicians who used an electronic drug reference database at the point of care tended to prescribe a more varied range of medications and started to prescribe new generic drugs faster than other doctors.

According to a new clinical trial, circulating tumor cells can serve as a biomarker that alerts clinicians to the recurrence of non-small cell lung cancer months before it is detected by CT scans.

For patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), catching a cold is often more than just an annoyance; their risk of experiencing COPD symptom exacerbation rises 30-fold when they exhibit signs of a cold.

A new study has found that an educational program can help ease worries associated with palliative care, and make cancer patients more likely to use it if referred.

Atul Gawande, MD, has penned an article in the Annals of Surgery calling for his fellow surgeons to do their part in reducing the supply of excess prescription painkillers by embracing new technologies that would allow them to prescribe opioids electronically.

A new economic study has found that cancer types that were the focus of articles receiving public or private research support had fewer hospitalizations and lower mortality.

A concerning new study has found a significant gap in survival for cystic fibrosis patients in the United States and Canada. The 10-year advantage observed in Canadian patients could partially be explained by disparities in the countries’ healthcare systems, the researchers suggested.

Researchers from the Mayo Clinic and Arizona State University’s Biodesign Institute have collaborated to identify biological markers in the blood of patients with Crohn’s disease, spurring optimism that a simple blood test could be developed to accurately diagnose the disease.

Low-value care and its detrimental effects have become a hot topic among medical professionals in recent years, but a new study suggests that many patients many not be aware of why the concept matters or what the term even means.

A recent study in Health Affairs assessed cost and utilization outcomes for 3 innovative care models for Medicare beneficiaries with cancer: oncology medical homes, patient navigator programs, and palliative care initiatives.

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have a higher risk of falls, which a new study suggests could be explained by their altered walking patterns compared with healthy controls.

When people with diabetes experience symptoms of depression and/or anxiety, their risk of mortality increases-particularly for men with only depressive symptoms.

Researchers have identified another high associated with marijuana use: the risk of heart failure and cerebrovascular accidents.

A review of research on the effectiveness of several treatments for cancer-related fatigue determined that exercise and psychological interventions resulted in more significant improvements than pharmaceutical regimens.

A study on the impact of a value-based pharmacy benefit on medication adherence found that offering free chronic disease medications maintained patients’ levels of adherence even after switching to a health plan with a deductible.

Senators Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, and Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, put their political differences aside to collaborate on a JAMA Internal Medicine Viewpoint article that called for allowing hearing aids to be sold over the counter.

A recent study has found that low-income subsidies under the Medicare Part D program can help improve rates of persistence and adherence to breast cancer therapies among Hispanic and black women.

The epidemic of opioid abuse across America is the result of a complex interplay of social, financial, and behavioral factors, leaving communities with no easy solutions. Experts who discussed the crisis with The American Journal of Managed Care® offered their opinions on what's driving the crisis and what can be done to help fight it.