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CDC Recommends Update to Hepatitis C Virus Screening

The CDC made this recommendation after reviewing relevant literature and noting that complete testing jumped from about only two-thirds of patients to nearly all patients.

Implementation of Evidence-based Alcohol Screening in the Veterans Health Administration

High-Deductible Health Plans and Costs and Utilization of Maternity Care

High-deductible benefit design was associated with increased out-of-pocket costs for maternity care, but had no adverse impacts on receipt of recommended prenatal and postpartum care.

Current and Emerging Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis

Variation in Outpatient Antibiotic Prescribing in the United States

Rates of outpatient antibiotic prescribing vary widely between US commercial health plans. High-utilizing health plans may improve quality and lower costs by reducing unnecessary antibiotic use.

Correspondence regarding, "The Diagnosis and Treatment Approach to Two Common Conditions by the Physician Members of a Community Health Plan"

Epidemiology of Low Bone Mass and Fractures

Potential Benefits of Increased Access to Doula Support During Childbirth

Increasing access to continuous labor support from a birth doula may facilitate decreases in non-indicated cesarean rates among women who desire doula care.

Effects of Physician Payment Reform on Provision of Home Dialysis

The Medicare program’s transition in 2004 to tiered fee-for-service physician reimbursement for dialysis care had the unintended consequence of reducing use of home dialysis.

Incorporating Clinical Outcomes and Economic Consequences into Drug Formulary Decisions: A Practical Approach

Framing the Debate: The Trends in Mastectomy Rates

Emergency Department Use: A Reflection of Poor Primary Care Access?

An original emergency department patient survey, insurance claims data, and administrative records are used to examine the characteristics of nonurgent users.

Diagnosis and Care of Irritable Bowel Syndrome in a Community-Based Population

Cost-Effectiveness of Salmeterol, Fluticasone, and Combination Therapy for COPD

This cost-utility analysis compares the cost-effectiveness of salmeterol, fluticasone propionate, combination salmeterolfluticasone, and no maintenance therapy in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Implementing Guidelines for Eye Care of Diabetic Patients: Results from an HMO Intervention Study

Measuring Physician Performance: Enhancing Quality of Care, Reducing Costs

Contributor: Helping Women of Color Achieve a Healthier Future

To achieve health equity, experts from CVS Health discuss why we must invest in programs that improve access to health care for historically marginalized communities, address social determinants, boost health education, increase representation in all levels of health care delivery, widen access to clinical trial research, and more.

Assessing Outcomes in Child Psychiatry

Two standardized rating scales appeared to be valid and reliable for use at admission and possibly follow-up in a child psychiatry system of care.

Journey Forward: The New Face of Cancer Survivorship Care

WellPoint, UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) and Genentech collaborated to develop Journey Forward, a first-of-its-kind program for coordinating post-treatment care.

Measuring Value for Low-Acuity Care Across Settings

To analyze value of low-acuity care, an existing model is adapted to highlight factors impacting how stakeholders assess emergency department care compared with alternatives.

The Intensification of Drug Therapy for Diabetes and Its Complications

Empiric Examination of Physician Behavior in a Changing Healthcare Market

Evaluation of Electronic Medical Record Administrative Data Linked Database (EMRALD)

The combination of electronic medical record data and administrative data provides the fullest picture of patient health histories.

Initiation of Triple Therapy Maintenance Treatment Among Patients With COPD

Claims data analysis showed that 60% of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) receiving triple therapy had no evidence of exacerbation or only 1 exacerbation not resulting in hospitalization.

Efficient Evaluation of Thyroid Nodules by Primary Care Providers and Thyroid Specialists

Delivery of Preventive Healthcare to Older African-American Patients: A Performance Comparison from Two Practice Models

Update on the Impact of the Affordable Care Act on Consumers

Five years after the implementation of the first provisions of the Affordable Care Act and 5 months after the close of the first open enrollment period for the Health Insurance Marketplaces, we are starting to be able to measure the impact of the law.