Mary Caffrey is the Executive Editor for The American Journal of Managed Care® (AJMC®). She joined AJMC® in 2013 and is the primary staff editor for Evidence-Based Oncology, the multistakeholder publication that reaches 22,000+ oncology providers, policy makers and formulary decision makers. She is also part of the team that oversees speaker recruitment and panel preparations for AJMC®'s premier annual oncology meeting, Patient-Centered Oncology Care®. For more than a decade, Mary has covered ASCO, ASH, ACC and other leading scientific meetings for AJMC readers.
Mary has a BA in communications and philosophy from Loyola University New Orleans. You can connect with Mary on LinkedIn.
Gallup-Sharecare Survey Finds 11.6% of US Adults Have Diabetes; Tops CDC Study
While Gallup-Sharecare and CDC had different ways of calculating diabetes prevalence, the bottom line is the same: the rate is too high and continues to climb in an alarming way. The survey featured breakdowns on diabetes prevalence by occupation.
The Best Way to Stay Active? Walk the Dog
Researchers said they expected people with dogs to walk more than those without, but the size of the gap surprised them. The lead author, who studies dementia, said the results could point to a solution for seniors looking for a way to stay active.
Hopkins Study Finds No Immediate Drop in Emergency Department Use After Medicaid Expansion
Researchers found very little dropoff in emergency department use in the first months after Medicaid expansion, but they did find a change in the payer mix. In addition, expansion did help stabilize finances for both hospitals and patients.
"Beyond A1C" Pinpoints Metrics That Matter to Patients for Future FDA Approvals
Luminaries from the worlds of research, regulation, and advocacy in diabetes gathered in Bethesda, Maryland, to discuss what future rules for drug and device approvals might look like if things like hypoglycemia and time in range had consideration.
Big Breakfast Key to Lower Weight, Study Finds
The study found that no matter their eating pattern, participants tended to add weight gradually until age 60, then lose it gradually. But those who had most of their calories earlier in the day gained less and lost weight more rapidly after age 60.
Just an Hour of Social Time a Week Makes a Difference in Dementia
The British study found that just an hour a week of added social interaction, and letting patients have a say in their care plan, reduced agitation and improved quality of life for Alzheimer's patients. This method also reduced costs, which has implications for Medicare as the Alzheimer's populaton is expected to grow in Medicare.
Rule Would Limit Digital Providers to Makeup Sessions When Medicare Launches DPP in 2018
Digital providers have been seen as crucial to scaling the Diabetes Prevention Program to the 22 million seniors with prediabetes. Medicare spends $1 out of every $3 on diabetes, and disease prevention is essential to lowering overall healthcare spending.
UPDATE: BCBS of Minnesota, Children's Hospital Settle Contract Dispute
Minnesota's attorney general helped resolve a split that was a sign of the times. Top-performing hospitals increasingly find themselves on the outside of narrow networks when managed care contracts try to limit costs.