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Researchers investigating the associations between ground-level ozone and fine particulate pollution and emergency department (ED) visits for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and respiratory infections found that as levels rose, more patients land in the ED with breathing problems.

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation under CMS expanded its value-based insurance design (VBID) model for Medicare Advantage, as well as created more risk sharing in Part D payment models for plan sponsors. Both plans are voluntary.

In a new survey, clinicians highlight how the ongoing government shutdown, the longest in US history, is taking a toll on patients’ health as they miss appointments or are noncompliant with their medication.

This week, the top managed care news included a new investigation into drug prices; FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD, provided updates on how the government shutdown is impacting FDA work; research found comorbidities impede clinical trial participation for patients with cancer.

Earlier this week, the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) released a draft guidance recommendations on medications for women at an increased risk for breast cancer.

CMS is proposing more changes to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), including ways to seek to end the practice of silver loading, end automatic re-enrollment in individual exchange plans, and raise premiums by 1%, it said in its proposed 2020 Payment Notice.

For the eighth year, The American Journal of Managed Care® (AJMC®) presents its annual issue focused on health information technology (IT). This year, articles featured insights on health information exchange use, data breach consequences, telemedicine experiences, and more. Here are 5 findings from the research published in the issue.

Coverage of our peer-reviewed research and news reporting in the healthcare and mainstream press.

Amid drug shortages and recalls, at least 3 sellers of a widely used blood-pressure medication, valsartan, have raised prices since a series of safety-related recalls of the drug by other manufacturers; the FDA is attempting to conserve dwindling resources during the government shutdown by prioritizing drug applications; researchers are looking into a possible link between prescription opioids and a birth defect called gastroschisis.

Minimal residual disease in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) can be a powerful predictor of outcomes and a useful guide of treatment strategies.

Patients in the most rural areas had an 87% higher chance of receiving an opioid prescription than did patients in large urban areas, according to Thursday's CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Treating patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) early with disease-modifying treatment can reduce the risk of conversion to secondary progressive MS.

More than 2 weeks of treatment with cefepime administered by intravenous (IV) push significantly increases the risk of cefepime-induced neutropenia.

The study is first to measure sleep along with spread of atherosclerosis throughout the body, according to the American College of Cardiology.

Patients who have 4 or more migraine days per month and have failed on prophylactic treatment experience reduced quality of life, work productivity, and social activity involvement.

Published results confirm the efficacy of tisagenlecleucel in patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Patient advocacy and medical groups launch an ad campaign in opposition to proposed changes to Medicare; patients often turn to GoFundMe to help pay for medical costs; and new diet guidelines are aiming to save more lives and the planet.

It's time for doctors and healthcare systems to act on climate change, said a pair of articles in The New England Journal of Medicine, before public health consequences become too dire.

Moving from a comfortable place to one with new paths, new experiences, and new goals is both challenging and invigorating at the same time. Good fortune is when you choose to change because the future belongs to those who adapt.

Breast cancer risk estimation models identify women who are at high risk based on a variety of factors, and women who are identified as being at high risk may be able to reduce their chance of breast cancer through preventative measures such as prophylactic surgeries or chemoprevention medications. However, uptake of these preventative treatments varies among racial groups, new research from The Ohio State University finds that racial disparities in healthcare are to blame.

There is a lack in correlation between circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and bone marrow for minimal residual disease (MRD) by next generation sequencing (NGS) using immunoglobulin genes in patients with multiple myeloma, according to results of a recent study.

Researchers from the National Institutes of Health (NIH)’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases reviewed clinical trials and cohort studies validating the concept that people living with HIV who have achieved viral suppression can not sexually transmit HIV.

Hundreds of furloughed FDA employees are resuming work on some food and drug inspections during the shutdown; Walmart is leaving CVS Caremark's pharmacy benefit management (PBM) networks over a pricing dispute; and this year's flu season is shaping up to be more mild than last year's.

Price information about biologics, diabetes, and cancer drugs are among the dozen that the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, led by Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, D-Maryland, is probing.

Patients with cancer who have comorbidities are less likely to have clinical trial discussions, be offered a clinical trial, and participate in a clinical trial, according to a new study.

Keeping patients with diabetes motivated is the most challenging part of exercise, the authors say, as they call for psychologists and counselors to be part of the care team.

The pharmaceutical industry is looking for answers as the government shutdown, if it lasts longer, could threaten decisions on highly anticipated new drugs; a federal judge in Philadelphia issued a nationwide injunction that prevents the Trump administration from blocking women’s access to free birth control guaranteed under the Affordable Care Act; providers are trying to strike a balance between informing their patients about the Trump administration’s proposed “public charge” rule while not causing undue concern about their immigration status.

Providing healthcare professionals with up-to-date guidance for the use of preventive and acute treatments for migraine, the American Headache Society has published a consensus statement outlining indications for initiating, continuing, combining, and switching the treatments.