COPD

This week in managed care, The American Journal of Managed Care celebrated 20 years and presented its first Emerging Leader award, plus confusion reigns after study links processed meats to cancer and death rates on the decline.

Novartis' dual combination bronchodilator Utibron Neohaler inhalation powder for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has received FDA approval. It is not indicated to treat asthma or sudden symptoms of COPD.

By enrolling selected high-risk elderly patients into the intervention, then empowering and educating them, this study successfully reduced hospital readmission rates.

While the age-standardized death rate for all causes of death combined, as well as heart disease, cancer, stroke, unintentional injuries, and diabetes, have slowed from 1969 to 2013, the rate for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease actually increased.

Despite the fact that post-bronchodilator spirometry is required for the diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, an analysis of primary care clinics found only 19% of patients diagnosed with the disease had undergone spirometry testing.

Three important patient-reported outcomes can help predict hospitalizations among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, potentially helping clinicians to categorize patients' level of risk and design preventive interventions and proper care.

Two head-to-head trials comparing the safety of Incruse Ellipta to 2 available bronchodilator treatments used by patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease has yielded positive results for GlaxoSmithKline's therapy.

Researchers have found a high number of older adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are using opioids excessively even though the drug may negatively effect lung health, according to a new study.

Integrated Medicare and Medicaid managed care may not sufficiently address the problems of inefficiency and fragmentation in care for hospitalized dual eligible enrollees.

Many individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are only diagnosed after they experience late-stage exacerbations, but a new tool could hasten the process of diagnosing cases of COPD.

The use of telemedicine could be an alternative to visits at respiratory outpatient clinics for patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to a study published in the International Journal of COPD.

Researchers in China and the United States have developed a predictive model capable of forecasting which patients will account for either small or large proportions of healthcare resource utilization in the next 6 months.

The path to President Obama's Precision Medicine Initiative has been paved as is evident from a report released by a Working Group convened by the National Institutes of Health.

Compared with traditional Medicare, relative resource use for those with diabetes or cardiovascular disease is lower in Medicare Advantage, while quality of care is higher.

Research conducted at the University of Texas has identified an important role of psychological disorders in the early readmission of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Interactive voice response reminders had neither a positive nor a negative effect on promoting influenza vaccination over reminders via postcards, but are a potentially less expensive option.

Instead of making patients suffering from life-limiting illnesses choose between hospice care and curative care, CMS will test coverage that allows individuals to receive palliative and curative treatment concurrently.

Home healthcare transition from hospitals for diabetic Medicare home healthcare beneficiaries can be improved by identifying risk factors for 30-day readmissions due to ambulatory care—sensitive conditions.

Increased care fragmentation among chronically ill, commercially insured patients is associated with higher costs and lower quality of care.

This study's findings showed that diabetes care remained suboptimal among many patients with multiple chronic conditions and that patient outcomes varied by multimorbidity profile.

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is a comparatively small part of the federal budget, but its research priorities for FY 2016 affect areas that consume huge sums.

This article outlines the frequency of transfers of patients with ambulatory care-sensitive conditions from nursing homes to emergency departments or hospitals, and provides reliable estimates of associated costs.

Substantive outcome improvement and savings to Medicaid may be achieved with small changes in prescribing rates or comorbidity prevalence among patients with heart failure.

Growing up in a smoke-free home is now the overwhelming norm for most Americans, with the share of smoke-free homes nearly doubling in the 20 years that ended in 2011, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said today in a new study. Overall, the prevalence of smoke-free home rules increased from 43 percent during 1992—1993 to 83 percent during 2010—2011, according to the study, which appears in today's Mortality and Morbidity Weekly Report, published by CDC.

Pearson emphasized a coordination of care, between the primary care provider, the pharmacist, and payers, to improve patient care.