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Choosing Wisely Interventions to Reduce Antibiotic Overuse in the Safety Net

This study evaluates the impact of Choosing Wisely–based interventions on antibiotic prescribing for viral respiratory tract infections in a real-world safety-net setting.

Medical Policy Determinations for Pharmacogenetic Tests Among US Health Plans

This analysis demonstrated significant variability in medical policy determinations and evidence cited for clinically relevant pharmacogenetic tests among major US health insurers and laboratory benefit managers.

Optimizing Pharmacologic Treatment for ALS to Improve Outcomes and Quality of Life

Are Work Relative Value Units Correlated With Operative Duration of Common Surgical Procedures?

Work relative value units (wRVUs) correlate with operative duration of common surgical procedures. Reimbursement for physicians depending on wRVUs is fair for commonly performed surgeries.

The Essential Role of Population Health During and Beyond COVID-19

The authors detail how population health management enables health systems to promote public health, strengthen health system resiliency, and support financial recovery during and beyond coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Impact of Electronic Information Exchange on Repeat Imaging During 30-Day Readmissions Among Medicare Beneficiaries

This analysis of Medicare data examines the relationships between fragmented readmission, health information exchange, and repeat imaging in older adults with and without Alzheimer disease.

Development and Validation of the COVID-19 Hospitalized Patient Deterioration Index

The authors developed and validated an accurate, well-calibrated, easy-to-implement COVID-19 hospitalized patient deterioration index to identify patients at high or low risk of clinical deterioration.

Tacking Upwind: Reducing Spending Among High-risk Commercially Insured Patients

Although commercial accountable care organization populations are healthy on average, some individuals might benefit from programs for high-risk patients to mitigate high levels of health care utilization.

Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Cost-Related Barriers to Care Among Near-Poor Beneficiaries in Medicare Advantage vs Traditional Medicare

Among near-poor Black and Hispanic individuals, Medicare Advantage was associated with increased vision care and some, although not uniform, reductions in access disparities vs traditional Medicare.

Interventions Addressing Cost-Related Medication Nonadherence in Diabetes: A Scoping Review

Many US patients with diabetes cannot afford their medical care. The authors review the impact of interventions that reduced and/or eliminated diabetes-related costs.

Increased Payments to Medicare Advantage Plans for Dually Eligible Beneficiaries

Increasing Medicare Advantage payments for full Medicaid enrollees was not associated with meaningful changes in inpatient or nursing home use.

Integrating Primary Care and Public Health for Advance Care Planning

This article proposes a new model, Public-Primary ACP, that leverages coordination between primary care and public health workforces to improve delivery of advance care planning.

Addressing STIs Through Managed Care: Opportunities in Medicaid and Beyond

Medicaid and other managed care organizations could take several key steps to respond to the sexually transmitted infection (STI) epidemic in the US, including congenital syphilis.

Perspectives on Nonmedical Switching and the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Narrative Review

This review describes the impact of nonmedical switching of biologic therapies on US patients and providers, with a focus on switching to in-class alternatives.

Understanding the Complexities of Equity Within the Emergence and Utilization of AI in Academic Medical Centers

This editorial discusses positions for academic medical centers to consider when designing and implementing artificial intelligence (AI) tools.

Dosage and Outcomes in a Complex Care Intervention

Associations between intervention dosage and hospital use outcomes were observed among patients enrolled in a care management program serving individuals with complex needs.

Insurer Costs of COVID-19 by Disease Severity and Duration

Payer costs for COVID-19 ranged from a mean of $505 for asymptomatic cases to $126,094 for severe cases with post–COVID-19 condition.

AI in Health Care: Closing the Revenue Cycle Gap

This commentary explores the current state, challenges, and potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in health care revenue cycle management, emphasizing collaboration, data standardization, and targeted implementation to enhance adoption.

How Do Primary Community Hospitals Enact Early Response to COVID-19? The Experience From Chengdu, China

Our hospital is a primary hospital in Chengdu, China. Since February 5, our hospital has been listed as the primary designated medical unit for treating new patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Jinniu District. In this letter, we share our COVID-19 experience with readers.

Health Systems and Telemedicine Adoption for Diabetes and Hypertension Care

Small practices reduced their use of telemedicine during early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Technical support may help expand and maintain telemedicine in small practices.

Patient Experience After Modifying Visit Delivery During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was associated with immediate weekly visit trend decreases for overall, primary care, and specialty care with long-term recovery trends; transformation to virtual visits; and increasing long-term trends for meeting patient scheduling and visit needs.

Addressing Complexities of Alzheimer Disease Care Coordination: Tara Carlisle, MD, PhD

Tara Carlisle, MD, PhD, University of Colorado, discusses how coordinated care efforts and frequent safety monitoring are transforming early Alzheimer disease management.

Determinants of ICS Therapy Adherence in Patients With Asthma

This study describes determinants affecting disease control and inhaled glucocorticosteroid therapy adherence for patients with asthma in western China.

Diabetes Care Quality: Do Large Medical Groups Perform Better?

Large medical groups perform better than medium- or small-sized groups on diabetes quality measures, perhaps because they have more care management processes in place.

Physicians in ACOs Report Greater Documentation Burden

An analysis of nationally representative survey data from 2019 and 2021 shows that office-based physicians participating in accountable care organizations (ACOs) reported greater documentation burden across several measures.

Transitional Care Management Visits to Improve Coordination of Care

Inspira Care Connect, LLC, an accountable care organization, incorporated transitional care management services into its postdischarge follow-up process to prevent avoidable utilization of health care services and costs.

Impact of Travel Distance on Quality Outcomes in Colorectal Cancer

This study identified characteristics of patients with colorectal cancer who traveled farther for surgery and found that those who traveled tended to stay longer at the hospital.

Addressing Evolving Patient Concerns Around Telehealth in the COVID-19 Era

With a rapid shift to telehealth during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, clinicians, health care organizations, and policy makers must consider and address patients’ evolving needs, concerns, and expectations.

Variation in Network Adequacy Standards in Medicaid Managed Care

Medicaid managed care network adequacy standards exhibit significant heterogeneity across regions and specialties, potentially creating large variations in health care access and quality.

Digital Musculoskeletal Program Is Associated With Decreased Joint Replacement Rates

Adults with osteoarthritis who took part in a digital musculoskeletal program had lower rates of knee and hip arthroplasty at 12 months vs those using traditional care.