Authors

Adherence Patterns 1 Year After Initiation of SGLT2 Inhibitors: Results of a National Cohort Study

This article describes the trajectory of adherence patterns among users of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. The authors found that baseline factors were unable to predict the adherence trajectory groups.

Real-world HIV Diagnostic Testing Patterns in the United States

This retrospective study evaluated real-world implementation of the updated CDC HIV algorithm in a large US laboratory.

Contributor: Advancing Breast Cancer Treatment—The Role of Clinical Trials and the Path Ahead

Clinical studies have transformed how breast cancer is prevented, identified, and treated. Successful clinical trials improve patient outcomes, so trial administrators must ensure participants receive appropriate support at trial enrollment.

Gaps in the Coordination of Care for Older Adults With or at Risk for Cardiovascular Disease

Older adults with cardiovascular disease (CVD) or CVD risk factors report that gaps in communication among their providers are common and hazardous.

Use of Voluntary Alignment in the Next Generation ACO Model

Use of voluntary alignment attribution by Next Generation Accountable Care Organization (ACO) participants was limited. The authors highlight the reasons and describe organizational use cases via a mixed-methods approach.

Medicare Advantage in the US Mainland and Puerto Rico

Medicare Advantage enrollment has increased in the US and Puerto Rico, with a dramatic growth among Puerto Rico beneficiaries with end-stage renal disease.

Making Cancer Support Services Sustainable in Value-Based Care

Value-based care in oncology: why CMS’ models have fallen short and how new partners can sustain navigation, symptom monitoring, and savings.

The Hepatitis B Care Cascade Using Administrative Claims Data, 2016

Analysis of a large, nationally representative claims database to longitudinally monitor enrollees with hepatitis B showed that 36% received recommended care and 18% were prescribed treatment.

Health Impacts of Health System Implementation of a Food-as-Medicine Strategy

This article describes the reach of a Food-as-Medicine strategy implemented by a regional health care system and its impact on adult participants’ cardiometabolic risk factors.

Hyperkalemia and Its Treatment: Real-World Evidence and Managed Care Considerations Supporting Use of Potassium Binders

This supplement was supported by AstraZeneca.

Preoperative Acute Care Spending Predicts Costs in Bundled Payment Programs

Preoperative acute care costs significantly predicted postoperative costs in Bundled Payments for Care Improvement model year 3 surgeries, suggesting that accounting for preoperative factors may improve bundled payment outcomes.

Health-Related Social Needs, Methods, and Concerns for a Polysocial Risk Score: An Expert Panel

A polysocial risk score is a potentially useful addition to the growing methodologies to better understand and address health-related social needs.

Coverage With Evidence Development Study Shows Benefits in Patients With Migraine Treated With Remote Electrical Neuromodulation

A coverage with evidence development (CED) study demonstrated significant and clinically meaningful benefits in patients with migraine treated with remote electrical neuromodulation (REN). Health plans should support clinicians’ REN prescriptions by ensuring adequate coverage.

Leveraging Health Plan Infrastructure, Patient Voices to Improve Food Insecurity Identification: Jonathan Wrathall, PhD

Health plan infrastructure and patient reporting are underutilized, powerful tools for identifying food insecurity, Jonathan Wrathall, PhD, argues.

Prior Authorization Requirements in Medicare Advantage and County Social Vulnerability

This study links county-level social vulnerability to variation in Medicare Advantage prior authorization policies.

Neonatology Pricing and Network Participation Under State Balance Billing Regulations

This national study of neonatology services found no clear evidence that state surprise billing regulations influenced prices or provider network participation for the commercially insured.

A Standardized Care Pathway Increases Optimal Dialysis Starts

The authors observed a significant increase in optimal starts for dialysis and in peritoneal dialysis rates after implementing a standardized end-stage renal disease transition pathway.

The Spectrum of Progressive Fibrosing Interstitial Lung Disease: Clinical and Managed Care Considerations

Population-Based Return on Investment of Deploying Transient Elastography

Deploying vibration-controlled transient elastography/controlled attenuation parameter devices at the population level is a financially advantageous solution to address the epidemic of fatty liver disease.

Characteristics of Accountable Care Organizations’ Preferred Skilled Nursing Facility Networks

Medicare accountable care organizations use preferred skilled nursing facility networks for postacute care management, although the size, structure, and resource allocation of networks vary widely.

Contributor: It’s Important to Prioritize HIV Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Not all barriers to HIV-related care and services have been eliminated, and these gaps in care were exacerbated by treatment disruptions brought on by the COVIDC-19 pandemic.

Contributor: How Pediatric Mental Health May Influence the Risk of Heart Disease in Adulthood

In this contributor piece, the connection between the complexities of mental health and heart disease in at-risk communities is explored, with the authors stressing the importance of risk factor evaluation and multidisciplinary patient education from both mental and physical health providers.

Scaling Care Coordination Through Digital Engagement: Stepped-Wedge Trial Assessing Readmissions

This evaluation looks at a postdischarge digital engagement (PDDE) program using causal inference methods to examine the impact of PDDE on readmission.

Differences in the Use of Telephone and Video Telemedicine Visits During the COVID-19 Pandemic

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, we found lower use of video vs telephone visits among older, Black, Hispanic, and Spanish-speaking patients, driven largely by clinician and practice factors.

Grocery Assistance Benefit Linked to Fewer Diabetes Complications

Authors noted that a grocery assistance benefit in commercial health plans was linked to fewer diabetes complications and improved medication adherence.

Medicare Advantage Reimbursement Structures Impact Home Health Delivery and Outcomes

Medicare Advantage plans that place greater restrictions on home health agency care delivery may have more adverse patient outcomes than plans that provide episodic payments.

Health Care Utilization in Veterans With Alzheimer Disease

Veterans with Alzheimer disease (AD), identified using clinical notes, have higher health care utilization than veterans without AD.

RAISE: Elevating Person-Centered Data for Healthy Communities

The RAISE program provides awareness and shares comprehensive solutions to address the multifaceted reasons for missing and incomplete data across the real-world data continuum.

Use of Voluntary Alignment in the Next Generation ACO Model

Use of voluntary alignment attribution by Next Generation Accountable Care Organization (ACO) participants was limited. The authors highlight the reasons and describe organizational use cases via a mixed-methods approach.

Combined Pharmacotherapy and Psychotherapy Impact on Opioid Use Disorder Treatment

The combination of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy is associated with reductions in emergency department visits and inpatient admissions along with lower total cost of care relative to either therapy alone.