Laura is the vice president of content for The American Journal of Managed Care® (AJMC®) and all its brands, including Population Health, Equity & Outcomes; Evidence-Based Oncology™; and The Center for Biosimilars®. She has been working on AJMC since 2014 and has been with AJMC’s parent company, MJH Life Sciences®, since 2011.
She has an MA in business and economic reporting from New York University. You can connect with Laura on LinkedIn or Twitter.
CMS Announces Star Ratings Will Expand to ACA Health Plans
Health plans on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) exchanges will be required to display quality ratings starting with the 2020 plan year, according to an announcement from CMS, which is expanding the 5-star rating system it uses on Medicare plans to the health insurance exchanges.
Chronic Active Lesions Associated With Poorer Outcomes in Multiple Sclerosis
Chronic active lesions, which are identified by their darkened outer rims, are associated with more aggressive multiple sclerosis and earlier disability, according to new research from the National Institute of Health.
Patients With Low-Risk Multiple Myeloma Precursor Can Progress to the Disease in Just 5 Years
Patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), a precursor to multiple myeloma (MM), can progress from low- or intermediate-risk to MM in just 5 years, according to researchers who are now recommending all patients with MGUS undergo blood testing and risk assessment.
Patients With MS Less Likely to Have Received Vaccinations Before MS Diagnosis
In the 5 years before being diagnosed, patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) were less likely to receive vaccinations than comparator groups, according to a new study from the Technical University of Munich and published in Neurology.
New Understanding of PARP Inhibitors Could Expand the Number of Patients to Treat
A new understanding of how poly (ADP ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors work could expand the patient populations who are treated, according to a study. The researchers also identified a potential biomarker to indicate which patients would benefit the most.
Underlying Pathway in Lung Cancer Could Identify Appropriate Targeted Treatments
Research has uncovered 2 pathways through which lung adenocarcinoma can develop, and that knowledge could help target treatments to patients who will benefit the most, according to a new study published in Cancer Cell.
Coordinated Wellness Strategy Nets Positive Results and Savings at The Ohio State University
A case study from The Ohio State University highlights how initiatives addressed system-level drivers of burnout and not only improved the health of faculty, staff, and students, but also saved money.
Targeted Interventions Could Improve Sleep Quality in Patients With Interstitial Lung Disease
While poor sleep quality is common in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD), it is unclear which factors other than sleep disordered breathing may contribute to poor sleep quality for these patients. A study published in ERJ Open Research found that providers should target depression and coexisting sleep disorders in order to improve sleep quality and quality of life for patients with ILD.
Researchers Identify 5 Risk Factors for Blood Clots in Patients With MM Treated With IMiDs
Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a significant complication for patients with multiple myeloma (MM) who are being treated with immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs), and a new assessment model may help to predict VTE in this population.
Water Source May Be Associated With Risk of Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Infection
An anaysis of nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) diagnostic tests for 15 years, water disinfection treatment, and water sources has found that where a city gets it water can increase the risk of NTM infection more than how the water is treated.
5 Things About the Importance of Housing in Healthcare
As social determinants of health are being more intensely researched, one determinant that is already well understood and has a number of interventions in place and being studied is housing. Here are 5 things about housing in healthcare.
Undetectable MRD Status in Patients With CLL
Achieving undetectable minimal residual disease (MRD) status is important for deep and durable responses in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), according to 2 abstracts presented at the 2019 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting.
Assessing MRD Status in Patients With MM By Risk Status
While minimal residual disease (MRD) is being used to assess response to treatment in multiple myeloma (MM), the level of risk a patient has can make a big different in how well MRD works as a prognostic indicator, according to 2 abstracts presented at the 2019 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting.
Study Finds a Lack of Progress on Health Equity in US Despite Public Health Goals
Although health equity has been a stated public health goal, new research shows that there has been a lack of progress on health equity in the last 25 years in the United States, indicating that the country must either work harder to promote health equity or must find out which policies would produce greater improvements in health equity.