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Patients with Medicare were 5.08 times more likely than patients with private insurance, and 2.81 times more likely than patients with Medicaid, to face a financial barrier to obtaining varenicline and combination nicotine replacement therapy.

Rajini Katipamula-Malisetti, MD, executive vice president of Minnesota Oncology, defined value-based cancer care and its importance.

The data show the average age of dialysis in the least vulnerable neighborhoods was 68.2 years old, but 59.4 years—almost a decade earlier—in the most vulnerable.

A poster presented at the 40th National Oncology Conference addressed several hot topics in the oncology treatment and research space: addressing medical mistrust in underresourced communities, partnering with trusted organizations to improve health equity, and increasing inclusivity in research.

Fresenius Vascular Care's own research reportedly showed these surgeries not only failed to benefit patients with end-stage renal disease, but also potentially damaged their ability to receive essential dialysis treatment.

More ovarian cancer drug approvals and treatments have become available since 2014 than in the preceding 60 years combined, emphasized Rebecca Brooks, MD, UC Davis Health.

Madeleine McDowell, MD, hopes these data insights will help change providers' behavior in terms of adopting earlier and more regular screening for chronic kidney disease (CKD).

The researchers noted that their findings suggest clinicians and policy makers should encourage hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment in those with unhealthy alcohol consumption or alcohol use disorder (AUD) rather than create barriers to it.

Among Latino men who have sex with men (MSM), access to and use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) remain at suboptimal levels, despite this population of individuals having disproportionately high rates of diagnosed HIV in the United States.

Rhonda Henschel, US Oncology Network's vice president of payer relations, summarized what she learned from the Minnesota Oncology IVBM and discussed new developments in the value-based cancer care space.

Olalekan Ajayi, PharmD, MBA, 2023-2024 president of the Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) and chief operating officer of Highlands Oncology Group, PA, reflects upon his role at ACCC and highlights key topics in oncology care and cancer research that will be presented at the National Oncology Conference.

The October issue of Health Affairs examines the multifaceted aspects of structural racism in health care, exploring historical roots, policy implications, public biases, innovative solutions, and institutional challenges, urging action to confront and dismantle disparities.

Robin Shah, CEO of Thyme Care, which he founded in 2020 with Bobby Green, MD, president and chief medical officer, joins hosts Emeline Aviki, MD, MBA, and Stephen Schleicher, MD, MBA, to discuss his evolution as an entrepreneur in oncology care innovation and his goal of positively changing how patients experience the cancer system.

ViiV Healthcare is developing a self-injectable HIV drug similar to Cabenuva; HHS met with insurance companies to resolve COVID-19 vaccine coverage issues; the FDA has greenlit drugmaker Novo Nordisk to add reports of ileus, or intestinal blockage, to its Ozempic label.

Family history is probably the biggest risk factor that patients need to know about, said Rebecca Brooks, MD, UC Davis Health.

Seun Ross, PhD, describes the goals Independence Blue Cross has for improving maternal health, diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, and behavioral health.

As of November 2022, the Pittsburgh Financial Empowerment Center has helped 1227 clients, saved them over $2 million, and helped reduce their debt by almost $3.5 million. Counselor Alicia Donner discusses how the organization not only provides financial assistance but also helps patients cope with unexpected health care expenses.

In their latest recommendation statement, the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends blood pressure screening for all pregnant individuals to detect hypertensive disorders.

Higher neighborhood-level opportunity and social vulnerability measures were associated with pediatric asthma incidence, a new study has found.

To reduce the global burden of respiratory diseases and tackle inequalities, the Forum of International Respiratory Studies and the American Thoracic Society suggested improving access to preventive services, inhaler therapies, and effective pneumonia vaccines.

Employees want to know that their employers have a vested interest in their health, Vikki Walton, MBA, health equity leader at Mercer, explains.

At the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Oncology Policy Summit, prominent figures in the health care industry from diverse organizations emphasized a commitment to advancing health equity and addressing pressing social and health disparities.

On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we speak with the senior author of a study published in the September 2023 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® on the importance of adequate and effective lung cancer risk factor documentation to determine a patient's eligibility for screening.

Matthew Crowley, MD, MHS, associate professor of medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, discusses telehealth initiatives at Duke Health, as well as overcoming virtual challenges and barriers that underserved and underinsured patient populations who need diabetes care face.

The median age of death remained consistently 10 years lower for Black and Hispanic males in comparison to White males, underscoring a critical area for further attention.

At the Greater Philadelphia Business Coalition on Health 2023 Wellness Summit, Seun Ross, PhD, explains the business case for achieving health equity.

"CMS cannot do this alone. We have to do this in partnership. So really thinking about providers and beneficiaries and how we do this together," Ellen Lukens, MPH, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, explained.

Laurie Sobel, the associate director for women’s health policy at KFF, moderated a panel discussion with Christine Gilroy, MD, MPH; Victoria Nichols, MPH; and Don Downing, RPh, about insurance coverage of FDA-approved Opill and other OTC contraceptives.

If clinicians empower individuals by giving them the appropriate tools and education to promote brain health, it can make a big difference, said Alvaro Pascual-Leone, MD, PhD.

The UPMC Health Plan Neighborhood Center, which first opened its doors in December 2022, offers a wide array of services to support plan members and others living in the community.