Authors

Pharmacist Hypertension Management Using an Electronic Health Record–Based Approach

The authors studied the impact of a pharmacist intervention on blood pressure control compared with usual care.

Racial/Ethnic Differences in Autoimmune Disease Prevalence in US Claims/EHR Data

This analysis uses claims and electronic health records from 2021 to examine racial and ethnic variations in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases in the United States.

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.

Improving Care Coordination and Reducing ED Utilization Through Patient Navigation

A navigation program demonstrated decreased odds of repeat emergency department (ED) visits in patients with low baseline ED utilization and increased odds of follow-up primary care appointments.

Expert Perspectives on Disease Burden of Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: A Q&A With Jonathan C. Calkwood, MD

Growth of Electronic Consultations in the Veterans Health Administration

This study evaluates the growth in electronic consultation use over the first 7 years after its implementation across the entire Veterans Health Administration system.

Timely Preterm-Birth Prediction Among Pregnant Women in Medicaid Without Preterm-Birth History

A novel prediction model is developed that accurately predicts preterm birth in a timely manner among pregnant women in Medicaid without preterm-birth history.

An Accelerated Hospital Observation Pathway to Reduce Length of Stay for Patients With COVID-19

For select patients hospitalized due to COVID-19, an academic urban hospital implemented an observation pathway that incorporated mobile health technology, reducing hospital length of stay by more than 2 days.

Proposed Framework for Patient-Centered Outcomes-Based Measures in Alternative Payment Models

Synthesis of multistakeholder perspectives from a mixed-methods study identifies guiding characteristics for outcomes-based quality measures in future, more patient-centered alternative payment models.

At-Home Hemoglobin A1c Testing During COVID-19 Improved Glycemic Control

Providing at-home hemoglobin A1c test kits increases testing rates and facilitates hemoglobin A1c reduction over time among members of a large commercial health plan with diabetes.

A Multistakeholder Effort in Pennsylvania to Improve the Accuracy of Reporting Fatal Drug Overdoses

The authors describe a novel training program for death certifiers in Pennsylvania, which has been designed to specifically focus on some of the main challenges in the death certification process and resulted in a useful model that can potentially be adopted by other states or municipalities.

Assessment of Structured Data Elements for Social Risk Factors

An expert panel identified and assessed electronic health record and health information exchange structured data elements to support future development of social risk factor computable phenotyping.

Validation of the FINE-CKD Model for Future Health Technology Assessments for Finerenone in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease And Type 2 Diabetes

Investigating Real-world Consequences of Biases in Commonly Used Clinical Calculators

Clinical calculators that do not include demographic variables may be biased, and their equity should be understood in the context of clinical guidelines.

High-Risk Care Management Impact on Medicaid ACO Utilization and Spending

In Massachusetts’ largest Medicaid accountable care organization (ACO), high-risk care management significantly reduced spending, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations, demonstrating that targeted strategies can manage health care costs amid budget constraints.

Predictors of Discharge From the VA Caregiver Support Program

The year of application predicts discharge from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) caregiver program. Unexpected, disallowed criteria also predict discharge, with significant others facing higher discharge risk than spouses.

Poor Self-rated Mental Health and Medicare Beneficiaries’ Routine Care-Seeking

Efforts are needed to ensure that Medicare beneficiaries with poor mental health receive regular routine care, which may be facilitated by having a personal doctor.

Service Utilization by High-Need, High-Cost Patients Following Emergency Department Visits

This article provides insights into patterns of health care use following emergency department visits by high-need, high-cost patients with different types of California Medicaid primary care providers.

Small Practice Participation and Performance in Medicare Accountable Care Organizations

Medicare beneficiaries attributed to small practices in accountable care organizations (ACOs) achieve greater savings than beneficiaries attributed to large practices in ACOs.

An Accelerated Hospital Observation Pathway to Reduce Length of Stay for Patients With COVID-19

For select patients hospitalized due to COVID-19, an academic urban hospital implemented an observation pathway that incorporated mobile health technology, reducing hospital length of stay by more than 2 days.

Two Steps Forward, One Step Back: 50 Years of Societal Value From LDL-C–Lowering Therapies

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)–lowering therapies have yielded significant value to society through reduced costs for both fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular disease events. The vast majority of this value has accrued to patients.

The Price Paradox of Biosimilar-Like Long-Acting Insulin

Findings suggest that Basaglar was not less expensive for patients than Lantus. Empirical evaluation of biosimilar costs prior to automatic substitution is necessary.

Addressing the Individualized Needs in Hereditary Angioedema: Managed Care Strategies to Optimize Access to Care

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.

Evaluating Racial Concordance in a Telephonic Care Management Program Among Black Patients

The race of a telephonic care manager did not impact closure rates for gaps in care among Black Medicare Advantage beneficiaries.

The “New” New Normal: Changes in Telemedicine Utilization Since COVID-19

Telemedicine utilization has declined since the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, but non–primary care specialties continue to see an increase in moderate- and high-complexity telemedicine visits.

Low Colorectal Cancer Screening Among Adults Aged 45-49 Years in the US, 2023

Less than half of US adults aged 45 to 49 years were up to date on colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in 2023, suggesting that age group–specific interventions may improve CRC screening in the US.

Consumer-Centric Approach to Enhance Access to Pediatric Specialty Care

The authors’ organization optimized scheduling techniques that improved patient access to pediatric specialists to within 7 calendar days for new patients.

Risk Assessments of Drug-Related Problems for Cardiac Surgery Patients

Risk assessments of drug-related problems for cardiac surgery patients can be conducted by implementing a framework for patient safety.