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As the healthcare industry continues its transition towards alternative payment models (APMs), some providers might feel apprehensive about keeping up with new requirements like those in the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) final rule. However, these providers can use healthcare information technology (IT), data analysis tools, and other resources to adapt to these changes, according to Suzanne Travis, vice president of regulatory strategy at McKesson.

Researchers from Canada’s McGill University have developed a potential tool that can detect early signs of cachexia in cancer patients, which could impact survival.

Last month, the healthcare payment network InstaMed announced that it was the first in the industry to achieve point-to-point encryption (P2PE) v2.0 validation. How important is this level of encryption for healthcare? What will this mean for those who seek better protection of their payment card data?

This week, the top stories in managed care included the new Physicians' Fee Schedule released by CMS, a focus on a ballot question in California regarding drug spending, and Patient-Centered Oncology Care announced keynote speaker Roy Beveridge, MD.

Prices rising for the same drug across multiple pharmaceutical companies might be the result of collusion, according to a letter sent to the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission from Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, and Representative Elijah Cummings, D-Maryland.

Audits, consumer education, and help for states were among the recommendations to force better compliance with the 2008 law, which seeks to ensure that coverage for mental health or substance abuse disorders mirrors other benefits in a health plan.

The study identifies a potential drug target to treat diabetes.

Read on for a breakdown of what to expect from the near-final MACRA rule announced by CMS on October 14, 2016.

What we're reading, November 4, 2016: Public option gains momentum among Democrats; a new Veterans Affairs clinic is dedicated to women's health; and Sutter Health in California attempts to prevent lawsuits.

A new study in the Journal of Oncology Practice has found that the health plan requirement of counseling by certified geneticists could have led to patient access issues in oncology.

Highlights of press coverage of our reports and peer-reviewed research.

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has announced that it is collaborating with Innovative Oncology Business Solutions, Inc, on ASCO COME HOME.

The Affordable Care Act called for making it easier for practices to pursue models like collaborative care by allowing physicians to bill for it.

No matter who is elected president, the exchanges created by the Affordable Care Act are in need of a fix.

The program has been shown to reduce by 58% the likelihood of progressing to type 2 diabetes. Reimbursement details are still being worked out, but CMS clarified that Medicare patients will not be subject to cost-sharing.

What we're reading, November 3, 2016: gubernatorial races could expand Medicaid in 3 more states; genetic testing wastes billions of dollars; most popular Facebook posts on the Zika virus contained inaccurate information or conspiracy theories.

Study finds the use of short-acting opioids decreased and the usage of long-acting opioids increased from January 2014 to March 2016.

Read on for a breakdown of what to expect from the near-final MACRA rule announced by CMS on October 14, 2016.

A new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that more than 25% of older adults have not engaged in planning for end-of-life care or advance directives.

The WalletHub scores examine overall obesity rates, health indicators such as diabetes and cholesterol, and habits such as fruit and vegetable consumption.

Among the measures on the ballot for Californians this Election Day is Proposition 61, the Drug Price Standards Initiative. The measure, which would restrict the amount state agencies pay for drugs, has a multitude of supporters and opponents who have amassed a combined $125.84 million in contributions as of Monday.

What we're reading, November 2, 2016: Donald Trump attacks Obamacare while drug makers pour funding into Republican candidates, and Anthem considers reducing Affordable Care Act participation and is under fire in California for auto-renewals.

Gains in health coverage for children have been steady since 2008, but they picked up steam after 2013.

A total of 27 million Americans under the age of 65 remain uninsured, and 43% of them are eligible for financial assistance through the Affordable Care Act either by enrolling in Medicaid or through subsidies for purchasing coverage.

The annual campaign from the American Diabetes Association raises awareness of the public health crisis that is diabetes and the people living with the disease.

A new study suggests that a Web-based intervention could improve a cancer survivor’s cognitive function post treatment.

CVS Health has reversed its decision on physician dispensing of specialty drugs, originally meant to be implemented by January 1, 2017.

What we're reading, November 1, 2016: despite law, women in California still struggle to access birth control; Americans mostly believe obesity can be fixed through willpower; and Facebook is going after pharmaceutical advertisements.

A small, early-stage study in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma who had failed multiple treatments or relapsed after stem cell transplant indicates that pembrolizumab could be a favorable treatment option in these patients.

Low-value care can harm consumers both financially and physically. During the final panel at the VBID Summit, speakers discussed how to address and reduce low-value care.