Mary Caffrey

Democratic lawmakers who signed a letter to Mylan this week say that the practice of offering coupons masks the high drug prices that are paid by commercial health plans. The practice is not allowed in Medicare or Medicaid.

Since New Jersey's Republican governor shares power with a Democratic legislature, acceptance-if not full-throated support of Medicaid expansion-was not a surprise in 2013. But this week's event was seen by political observers as a sign Christie wants to be compared with Ohio's John Kasich.

Researchers and patients alike are increasingly interested in therapies that do more to limit the day-to-day, and hour-to-hour fluctuations in blood glucose that consume the time and energy of those living with diabetes.

The authors are among those concerned that patients with diabetes may be given more medication than they can tolerate or afford to achieve small improvements in A1C, without any other health benefits.

CMS' new proposal to shore up the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces signals that federal officials have heard concerns that not enough has been done to prevent adverse selection or share risk for the sickest patients who gained coverage under the ACA.

Payer coverage has been cited as the most frequent barrier to patient access to obesity therapy. While most new obesity therapies have lower wholesale costs than SGLT2 inhibitors, lack of coverage puts them out of reach for most Americans, according to a new study.

Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin's updated Medicaid proposal relies on beneficiaries being active consumers in their healthcare, but evidence shows that will be unlikely, especially among those with low incomes.

Researchers found a dose-response relationship for several cancers involved in eating, meaning the higher the weight, the greater risk of cancer.

Researchers found that changing cooking methods could allow people at risk of developing diabetes to reverse damage done by things like grilling and frying their food.

The study in JAMA represents the largest effort to date to integrate mental health and primary care services across a health system and measure both clinical outcomes and savings.

For years, researchers have looked for a solution that would mean fewer injections for those with type 1 diabetes.

While Mylan has steadily increased the price of EpiPens since 2007, the uproar from consumers is more recent. This suggests that for several years, payers masked the cost of the product, but that has changed with the popularity of high deductible plans.

Governor Phil Bryant's opposition to expansion contrasts with his public support for other healthcare initiatives, such as a new diabetes research center and telehealth research.

The recommendation comes after a review of evidence of how sugar consumption affects children's health. FDA is scheduled to add information on added sugar to food labels in 2018.

A $245 million priority review voucher is essentially wasted, not over the therapy, but the delivery device.

Diabetes advocate Kelly Close of diaTribe and Close Concerns wrote in a blog post that those with diabetes can make a video to share with the FDA.

Highlights from the recent gathering of the American Association of Diabetes Educators, which met August 12-15, 2016, in San Diego, California.

Questions about hospitals or their foundations paying for premiums of sick patients to keep them out of Medicaid are as old as the exchanges themselves.

A nonprofit that provides free sports physicals was able to gather data that revealed important population health findings.

The findings suggest that the improved glycemic control that often comes with bariatric surgery may have a role in affecting the brain's response to food.

The researcher, Kyle Fluegge, PhD, found that just comparing fluoride levels by parts per million showed little, but comparisons based on how much water people drank were revealing.

Researchers found that drug prices would need to be less than one-third of their current retail value to be cost-effective.

Work at the University of Montreal shows how a urea impacts a protein, disrupting insulin secretion and elevating blood glucose.

Another large insurer says it can't sustain losses from people who were sicker than anyone imagined. Leaving unprofitable markets doesn't answer the question of how to pay for their care.

A commentary accompanying the study assets there's no question that targeted retail advertising makes it more likely that children will start smoking and less likely that adults will quit.

While there has been some recent progress, bias pervades healthcare when it comes to obesity treatment. This gives patients less access to care than they receive for other chronic conditions, even though obesity causes some of those conditions.

More than 3500 sites offer diabetes self-management education, and speakers at the annual meeting of the American Association of Diabetes Educators discussed how this system could be engaged to bring the Diabetes Prevention Program to all 50 states.

Despite recent progress by advocates, children with type 1 diabetes still face discrimination at school. A panel at the meeting of the American Association of Diabetes Educators spelled out what laws apply, what plans schools must have, and how certified diabetes educators can help allay fears and misunderstanding.

An administrator and a dietitian presented their blueprint for shared appointments, which they said offer patients both individual attention and group support.

The transition to a value-based payment system may ultimately reward diabetes educators, but right now these professionals see challenges on the front lines.