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Risk adjustment for social determinants of health could reduce penalties to children’s hospitals for patient factors that are beyond their control, according to the results of a new study published in JAMA Pediatrics.

Pollution is believed to create insulin resistance and chronic inflammation, which leads to obesity and diabetes.

Lower-income consumers can encounter a lot of difficulties if they end up in a high-deductible plan paired with a health savings account, explained Lydia Mitts, senior policy analyst at Families USA.

The state's first-of-its-kind model for delivering Medicaid creates brings managed care concepts without commercial insurers to the one of the nation's poorest markets.

The American Journal of Managed Care's co-editor-in-chief A. Mark Fendrick, MD, director of the University of Michigan Center for Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID), is testifying on how the principles of VBID and clinical nuance can contribute to healthcare reform in the US military health system.

What we're reading, February 22, 2016: new legislation proposes placing a 3-year moratorium on advertising newly approved drugs; the prevalence and incidence of stroke among young adults has increased significantly; and more women with breast cancer are choosing outpatient mastectomies.

Support from at least 60 senators during today's procedural vote will ensure a final confirmation vote for Robert Califf, MD, likely Tuesday.

CMS proposes increasing payments to Medicare Advantage plans by an average of 1.35% in 2017 in contrast to proposed cuts in recent years.

A report card evaluating the healthcare being provided to the aging US population found that the use of evidence-based practices widely varies across the country.

A review of evidence of the clinical safety and efficacy of Zepatier found that the hepatitis C virus treatment appears to have a less risky safety profile than Sovaldi and a similar safety profile as Harvoni.

Adult obesity increased to 28% of the US population in 2015 and the diabetes rate also climbed to 11.4%. Adults who are obese are 4.7 times more likely to be diabetic compared with adults with a normal weight

For independent primary practices considering transitioning into a medical home, substantial costs to make the transition may outweigh the benefits, according to a recent RAND study.

This week's top managed care stories included the release of 7 core sets of quality measures, more evidence that value-based insurance design works to lower costs, and the FDA assigns breakthrough designation to AstraZeneca's PD-L1 inhibitor.

Two studies presented at the ongoing 2016 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium report on financial hurdles faced by patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer that result in lifestyle modifications, advanced disease, and worse outcomes.

At a State House press conference, critics of OMNIA highlight early problems, with a physician describing how the tiered health plan is disrupting existing patient-centered medical homes.

The scientists on the panel will advise JDRF on policy and research priorities as the organization supports major initiatives to cure type 1 diabetes or manage the disease.

Population health, healthcare value, innovations in healthcare, cost of care-these were just some of the topics discussed at the meeting.

What we're reading, February 19, 2016: long-term hospice care is weighing on Medicare; both the pope and the World Health Organization suggest women in Zika infected countries have access to contraception; and Texas health official steps down after co-authoring study on Planned Parenthood.

While primary care physicians are incorporating more nurse practitioners and physicians' assistants into patient care teams, there is a lack of incorporation of other healthcare professionals, such as behavioral specialists, psychiatrists, and pharmacists.

A study of decade-long trends in the incidence and mortality rates of patients who develop cardiogenic shock during hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction found a decline in death rates, but not incidence.

FDA had halted work on the study drug after 2 deaths in an unrelated trial.

A new study, published in Nature Communications, has delineated a mechanism that could help explain the resistance that is emerging with the new immuno-oncology agents such as PD-1 and PD-L1.

The shared savings payments were for specialists in hip and knee replacements, knee arthroscopy, and pregnancy. These areas have been among CMS' top targets for savings, while New Jersey has been focused on reducing its high rate of C-sections.

What we're reading, February 18, 2016: one-third of clinical trial results are never published; Sandoz challenges rule for notices of biosimilar launches; and hepatitis C combination drug could reduce treatment to just 4 weeks.

Wellness programs that base financial incentives on loss aversion could result in better outcomes, according to a trial of how certain financial incentives impact physician activity among overweight and obese adults.

While patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have a higher risk of stroke than the general population, patients who have frequent exacerbations of their illness actually have a reduced risk of stroke than those with infrequent exacerbations.

A Task Force composed of gastroenterology specialists, with a special interest in colorectal cancer, has released updated recommendations urging post-operative colonoscopy instead of endoscopy to improve survival.

The clinical trial across 3 sites in California and Washington state will involve 300 participants and report results in 2017.

The Nurse-Family Partnership expansion will bring 3200 new families into the program over 4 years. The nonprofit initiative is backed by 30 years of evidence, including a 2014 study that showed better long-term survival among 20-year-olds whose mothers were among the early participants.

Durvalumab is being developed for the treatment of PD-L1—positive patients with inoperable or metastatic urothelial bladder cancer