Christina is the managing editor 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.
Vermont Becomes First State to Experiment With All-Payer ACO Model
October 29th 2016In conjunction with the state of Vermont, CMS announced the Vermont All-Payer Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Model on Wednesday. The new model is the first of its kind and represents an advancement in the goal of redesigning the healthcare delivery system with an emphasis on high-value care and improved health outcomes.
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5 Takeaways From the ACO Coalition Fall 2016 Live Meeting
October 28th 2016At the fall live meeting of the ACO & Emerging Healthcare Delivery Coalition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, attendees heard presentations and participated in workshops that discussed care management, value-driven payment systems, and the future of healthcare.
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CMS Finds Errors in Almost Half of Doctor Listings in MA Directories
October 27th 2016A CMS investigation found that almost 46% of the doctor listings in Medicare Advantage (MA) directories contained incorrect information. Officials worry that these inaccuracies could make it more difficult for seniors to access the healthcare they need.
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Can Telehealth Revolutionize the Definition of Value?
October 25th 2016The opportunities for telehealth to radically transform the healthcare system are enormous, but the foremost priority of these innovations must be the delivery of value, said Reed V. Tuckson, MD, FACP, at the National Committee for Quality Assurance Quality Talks conference in Washington, DC, on Monday.
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Improving Quality by Understanding Social Determinants of Health
October 24th 2016The healthcare community needs to understand and address the personal and social circumstances that contribute to a patient’s health before they can improve the quality of care, according to 2 presentations in the first segment of the National Committee for Quality Assurance Quality Talks conference in Washington, DC.
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Home-Based Palliative Care Program Found to Reduce Costs, Hospital Admissions
October 21st 2016A home-based palliative care (HBPC) program tested within an accountable care organization (ACO) demonstrated substantial cost savings and reduced hospital admissions for patients near the end of life, according to a Journal of Palliative Medicine study.
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Coffee Consumption Could Protect Heavy Drinkers From Alcoholic Hepatitis
October 21st 2016A study of heavy drinkers found that those who drank coffee regularly were less than half as likely to develop alcoholic hepatitis. A certain genotype was also found to be a significant protective factor.
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Identifying and Engaging High-Risk Patients Through Hotspotting
October 21st 2016The innovative strategy of hotspotting, implemented by the Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers, was the focus of a session and a panel discussion during the first day of the ACO & Emerging Healthcare Delivery Coalition.
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MACRA Changes Have Far-Reaching Implications for Providers
October 21st 2016Healthcare attorney James M. Daniel, Jr, JD, MBA, explained how healthcare providers will be impacted by CMS’ newly released final rule on the implementation of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) in a session during the second day of the ACO & Emerging Healthcare Delivery Coalition.
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Inconsistent Treatment for Prisoners With Hepatitis C Provokes Lawsuits
October 17th 2016The rate of inmates infected with the hepatitis C virus is estimated at 17.4% across the United States, and can reach as high as 40% in some states. However, many inmates in state prisons are not permitted to receive the the newest and most expensive treatments for the virus.
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Breast Cancer Death Rates Drop, but Racial Disparities Linger
October 14th 2016Data released by the CDC today indicate that while breast cancer deaths are on the decline, black women still have worse outcomes than white women. The report also noted disparate trends in breast cancer incidence among different races and age groups.
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Valeant's Steep Price Hikes Continue With Lead Poisoning Drug
October 13th 2016The cost of an intravenous drug used to treat lead poisoning has skyrocketed after a 2700% price increase by Valeant Pharmaceuticals. Experts worry that its high price and the lack of alternatives will place it out of reach for hospitals that need it. This is not the first time Valeant has been criticized for its price-raising practices.
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Physicians Outperform Online Symptom Checkers in Diagnosis Accuracy
October 11th 2016Though symptom checking apps and websites have been touted by some as the future of clinical diagnostics, a recent study has found that they are far less accurate than actual physicians at identifying the correct diagnosis when given a clinical vignette.
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ACA One of Many Points of Contention During Second Clinton-Trump Debate
October 10th 2016The second presidential debate, which took place Sunday night at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, allowed candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton to spar over a multitude of issues, including the future of healthcare in America.
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Does Online Testing Overdiagnose Prediabetes?
October 7th 2016A short online test evaluates respondents’ health status to determine their risk of having prediabetes. However, some doctors worry that too many people will fall into the high-risk category, contributing to an overuse of resources.
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Evidence Shows Trump's Comments on Veterans Could Perpetuate PTSD Stigma
October 5th 2016During a campaign event on Monday, Donald Trump said that veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) “can’t handle” what they’ve seen in combat. Criticism of his comments, as well as research, show his choice of words could perpetuate harmful stigmas about mental health, especially in the military.
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Millions More Americans May Be Eligible for ACA Tax Credits
October 4th 2016Data released by HHS today revealed that up to 2.5 million Americans currently purchasing health insurance through an off-Marketplace plan could qualify for ACA tax credit assistance if they switch to a Marketplace plan for 2017.
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Knowledge Is Power for Cancer Patients, British Study Says
October 3rd 2016A study suggests that regions of England where patients show less awareness of cancer symptoms tend to have lower cancer survival rates, particularly in lower-income areas. The research, published in the British Journal of Cancer also examined whether barriers to care can affect the likelihood of surviving different cancers.
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CMS Pledges $347 Million Toward Reducing Patient Harm and Readmissions
October 1st 2016CMS announced on Thursday that it would award $347 million in contracts to various hospital associations and quality improvement organizations as part of its ongoing effort to reduce hospital-acquired conditions and readmissions in the Medicare program. The Hospital Improvement and Innovation Network agreement sets high goals in hopes of continuing the progress that has already been made in patient safety.
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ACO Coalition Discusses Digital Cognitive Assessment Tool
September 29th 2016During the most recent web-based seminar of The American Journal of Managed Care’s ACO & Emerging Healthcare Delivery Coalition, experts discussed a digital test that can help primary care physicians assess patients’ cognitive abilities and detect impairment sooner.
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Enhancing Benefit Design Through Value-Based Insurance Design
September 27th 2016Both private and public healthcare plans have traditionally used patient cost sharing to keep costs down. However, implementing value-based insurance design may be able to promote efficiency while increasing the use of high-quality care.
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Test Hepatitis C Patients for Hepatitis B Before Treatment, Panel Advises
September 26th 2016The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases/Infectious Diseases Society of America Guidance Panel is recommending that before patients begin antiviral therapies for the treatment of hepatitis C, that they be screened for hepatitis B, as well.
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Study Shows Medicare's Readmission Rate Penalties Are Unfair to Safety Net Hospitals
September 24th 2016Readmission rates for both safety net hospitals and other hospitals have decreased since Medicare’s Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program went into effect in 2013. However, disparate rates of improvement could show that these hospitals in low-income areas are still at a disadvantage.
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5 Things About the FDA's Call for a Naloxone-Finding App
September 23rd 2016The FDA has announced a public competition to develop a mobile application that allows users to find the nearest location of the overdose-reversing drug naloxone. Here are 5 things to know about the 2016 Naloxone App Competition.
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