Laura Joszt, MA

More than $240 million has been awarded to support programs that increase access to primary healthcare in medically underserved communities, announced HHS Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell.

Even though the US spent far more on healthcare in 2013 than other comparable high-income countries, it has the lowest life expectancy and some of the worst health outcomes, according to a study by The Commonwealth Fund.

Not only do healthcare markets across the country vary, but there are stark differences between healthcare markets within the same state, according to the Healthy Marketplace Index Report from the Health Care Cost Institute.

Researchers have found a high number of older adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are using opioids excessively even though the drug may negatively effect lung health, according to a new study.

Turing Pharmaceuticals has yet to reduce the price of Daraprim, despite statements that the company would do so following public outcry over the 5000% increase overnight in the drug's cost.

Nearly 70 people have been recommended to receive testing for hepatitis B and C and HIV after they received flu shots from syringes that had been reused.

Many individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are only diagnosed after they experience late-stage exacerbations, but a new tool could hasten the process of diagnosing cases of COPD.

Millions of Americans with serious illness, such as cancer, heart disease, kidney disease, and dementia, continue to have inadequate access to palliative care, according to the 2015 State-by-State Report Card from the Center to Advance Palliative Care.

The use of telemedicine could be an alternative to visits at respiratory outpatient clinics for patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to a study published in the International Journal of COPD.

A new medication therapy management model being rolled out by CMS will test strategies to improve medication use among Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in the Part D drug program.

The next generation of healthcare was the main topic of conversation at the 65th Annual Roy A. Bowers Pharmaceutical Conference, held by the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.

Researchers in China and the United States have developed a predictive model capable of forecasting which patients will account for either small or large proportions of healthcare resource utilization in the next 6 months.

Healthcare networks around the country will be getting some financial help from HHS to improve quality of care, increase patient access to information, and reduce costs.

High-cost patients diagnosed with opioid abuse have higher rates of chronic comorbidities and mental health conditions compared with lower-cost patients, which highlights the need to consider the complete medical and psychosocial patient history, according to a new study published in the Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy.

Medicare beneficiaries undergoing dialysis who reach the Part D coverage gap have increased out-of-pocket spending, increased medical service utilization and costs, and increased mortality, according to a new study.

A new report from The Commonwealth Fund has found similarities between premium costs for marketplace enrollees and those with employer plans. According to Are Marketplace Plans Affordable?, 60% of marketplace enrollees and 55% of individuals with employer plans pay either nothing or less than $125 a month for individual coverage.

More than $100 million in Affordable Care Act funding is being awarded to 17 national, regional, and state hospital associations and health system organizations to assist efforts to reduce hospital-acquired conditions and readmissions.

The pharmaceutical industry's largest trade group, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, announced that Stephen J. Ubl will be the next president and chief executive officer.

Telehealth follow up consultations after a surgical operation have become preferred compared to in-person visits, according to 2 recent studies.

Public outrage over the 5000% price increase for Daraprim, a 62-year-old drug purchased by Turing Pharmaceuticals in August, prompted the company to promise it would lower the drug's cost. This is not the first time such an incidence has occurred.

A 3-year study of 200,000 Cigna customers has revealed just how expensive correctable health conditions can be and not knowing what health conditions they have can cost consumers even more.

The federal government intends to modernize the US health information technology (IT) infrastructure so patients, providers, and communities can achieve health and wellness goals.

Despite the reported slowdown in healthcare spending, consumers are unlikely to have noticed such a change because of the sharp increase in deductibles.

Meaningful use stage 3 is not scheduled to start until 2017, but 41 medical societies are calling to delay the start of stage 3, especially given recent changes to Medicare.

The implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has reduced the number of uninsured Americans and created significant gains in health coverage among racial and ethnic minorities. However, the ability of Obamacare to reduce racial and ethnic disparities has been limited.

Researchers are proposing a new model to integrate clinical and community services for the purpose of preventing and controlling obesity, as well as related chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes.

Multispecialty medical groups and integrated delivery systems expect fee-for-service payments to decline 24% in the next 2 years, according to results of a survey from the American Medical Group Association.

While employers will continue to shift healthcare costs to employees, a new report found that the underlying cost growth, which employers would expect if they did not make changes such as raising deductibles or switching carriers, will slow in 2016.

Women bear greater costs related to Alzheimer's disease (AD) compared with men for 2 reasons: they are at greater risk of developing the AD and cost Medicare and Medicaid more, and they are more likely to provide informal, unpaid care to family members with AD.

Robert Califf, MD, current deputy commissioner for medical products and tobacco at the FDA, has been nominated to lead the FDA and take over as commissioner. Margaret Hamburg, MD, stepped down from the position in February after nearly 6 years at the helm.