Population Health

New data from the CDC reveal that opioid overdose deaths have decreased to their lowest since 2020.

Health care apps like MyChart, mySugr, GoodRx, and Smoke Free can enhance patient care through accessibility, convenience, and engagement, but further discussion is warranted on the optimal use of these apps.

Emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations for ambulatory care–sensitive conditions (ACSCs) among Medicaid patients constitute almost 40% of all ED visits and hospitalizations, with lower rates observed in areas with greater proximity to urgent care facilities and density of rural health clinics.

The US government is tackling veteran homelessness through housing programs. A recent study found that temporary financial assistance (TFA) through the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program is associated with positive health effects and lower health care costs.

This article used regression analyses to quantify how clinical staff perceive provider feedback to improve human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates and determine the prevalence of such feedback.

Proactive care management for artificial intelligence (AI)–identified at-risk patients reduced potentially preventable hospital admissions.

Financial toxicity is a burden many patients and their families unfortunately are forced to shoulder, leading some to delay or skip care and incur bills related to their care that they lack the financial capacity to pay off.

Carol R. Regueiro, MD, MSc, of Allegheny Health Network, highlights how the Physician Partners of Western PA practice support model has successfully engaged specialty practices to enhance patient connections and promote a population health perspective.

US drug shortages have decreased from 323 to 277 as of September 2024, yet many essential drugs remain scarce, with 50% of shortages lasting over 2 years due to ongoing supply and manufacturing issues.

The authors detail how artificial intelligence could be used in primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention to improve health outcomes and provide better value-based care.

Prior authorizations (PA) have been the subject of much scrutiny as of late through research demonstrating subsequent limited access to care in the aftermath of PA denials from use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.

Global respiratory leaders at the CHEST 2024 annual meeting underscored the ongoing clinical burden of tuberculosis, emphasizing that it remains a significant global health challenge that requires ongoing attention and awareness.

The authors evaluated whether adolescents receiving care at accountable care organizations (ACOs) vs non-ACOs were more likely to initiate and complete the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination series.

Of the 10% of women contacted for this survey who said that they or their partner had ever sought fertility assistance, only 7% were able to get the necessary care; cost was cited as the top reason for not being able to access fertility services.

Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance programs all showed significant variability in expenditures based on social and nonclinical factors.

A study in Indiana found that older adults in low-income clinics often experience memory problems that go undetected, with African American patients facing a significantly higher risk.

Vaccine hesitancy grew more prominently in the wake of COVID-19 and the spread of misinformation. This flu season, seeking out reliable sources of health information will help individuals make the best decisions to protect themselves.

The Wellth smartphone app significantly increased medication adherence and lowered unnecessary health care utilization and costs over 9 months among Medicaid beneficiaries who were self-managing chronic conditions.

Amidst ambiguous international guidelines for first-line treatment of opioid use disorder, a new population-based study sheds light on the benefits of methadone vs buprenorphine/naloxone for holding off treatment discontinuation.

Financial advocacy in health care should advocate for system change and community work to give people better access to health and well-being before they get a life-changing cancer diagnosis, said Nadine J. Barrett, PhD, MA, MS, FACCC, of Wake Forest University and the Association of Cancer Care Centers.

Mortality outcomes were analyzed for the COVID-19 public health emergency period, from March 2020 through May 2023, to see if there were any apparent differences according to race or ethnicity.

Lecanemab (Leqembi; Eisai/Biogen) received traditional approval from the FDA in July 2023, following an accelerated approval in January 2023, to treat adult patients who have Alzheimer disease.

When medically complex patients transfer to LTACHs, they receive specialized ICU-level care and rehabilitation that improves outcomes and reduces readmissions.

The FDA has approved FluMist (AstraZeneca) for self-administration by adults up to age 49 years or for caregiver administration for children aged 2 to 17 years, making it the first self-administered flu vaccine option.

The proposed Medicare High-Value Drug List Model, also known as the Medicare $2 Drug List, could have modestly reduced out-of-pocket costs for 38% of beneficiaries if implemented in 2021.