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There is not a lot of information about primary medication nonadherence, but it could have a huge impact on patients, as discussed by a speaker at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy Nexus 2015 meeting.

This year's Nobel Prize winner in economics and his wife uncover sad statistics on how substance abuse and suicide are taking their toll on white Americans at midlife. Princeton's Angus Deaton speculates that the trends reflect the broader picture of inequality.

The finding that chronic statin therapy lowers vaccine effectiveness in elderly individuals may have implications for future vaccine recommendations.

After melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer, the FDA has granted Breakthrough Therapy status to pembrolizumab in advanced colorectal cancer patients with mismatched repair deficiency.

What we're reading, November 3, 2015: off-label drug use is associated with a higher risk of adverse drug events; CMS finalizes its rule for advanced care planning for end-of-life care; and Californians send measure to cut drug prices to the vote.

Perioperative medication errors and adverse drug events occur in every second operation and in 5% of observed drug administrations, according to a study from Massachusetts General Hospital.

As has been the case in other states, Virginia seeks a solution to rising costs for medically fragile patients. Lawmakers have been unwilling to expand Medicaid and likely will not until a cost-containment plan is found.

The new meta-analysis was sponsored by the American Diabetes Association and the National Institutes of Health.

Some progress and a lot of room for improvement in the latest Hospital Safety Score report.

What we're reading, November 2, 2015: third open enrollment under the Affordable Care Act kicks off; common medical tests are being done inaccurately; and hospitals and the government settle over cardiac device implants.

During the last 5 years of life, the cost of dementia eclipses that of other diseases, like cancer and heart disease, according to a study from the National Institutes of Health.

Healthcare spending for the privately insured increased 3.4% in 2014 despite a decline in the use of healthcare services.

Advocacy groups say it's long past time for Medicare to cover continuous glucose monitoring, which is standard of care and funded by most commercial payers.

A majority of pharmacies are committed to implementing an electronic prior authorization (ePA) solution that sends prior authorization requests electronically to the prescriber.

This week in managed care, The American Journal of Managed Care celebrated 20 years and presented its first Emerging Leader award, plus confusion reigns after study links processed meats to cancer and death rates on the decline.

Novartis' dual combination bronchodilator Utibron Neohaler inhalation powder for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has received FDA approval. It is not indicated to treat asthma or sudden symptoms of COPD.

With the expansion, UnitedHealthcare will bring 5 more oncology practices on board to participate in its bundled program, which will grow the program to 650 oncologists across 7 states.

What we're reading, October 29, 2015: Fewer health plans will be available on HealthCare.gov in 2016; PBMs cut ties with pharmacy connected to Valeant; and emergency departments are dissatisfied with electronic health record interoperability.

Highlights from this week's news about the big transaction between 2 retail pharmacy giants.

Patients who had access to their PCP's progress notes had improved adherence to prescribed antihypertension medications.

More states cover all recommended evidence-based treatments, although many require copayments or put annual limits on care.

Olaparib, a PARP inhibitor approved for treating BRCA1/2-mutated ovarian cancer, has been found effective in treating men with metastatic, castrate-resistant prostate cancer.

The study found subtypes aligned by likelihood to be obese, to have cancer or heart disease, or to have mental illness.

What we're reading, October 29, 2015: Pfizer and Allergan in talks to merge; the House passes a budget deal with implications for Medicare beneficiaries; and autism in children is being overdiagnosed.

The drug significantly delayed recurrence of the cancer in patients treated post surgery.

What we're reading, October 28, 2015: Ben Carson plans to replace the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, and Medicare; a homeless shelter utilizes telemedicine to alleviate emergency department visits; and researchers uncover gender gap in post-heart attack treatment.

A forum presented by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey and The Atlantic casts the debate over a state-level population health plan against national healthcare cost trends.

Twenty-four states have received grants to improve the behavioral health of their citizens by providing community-based mental and substance use disorder treatment.

Experiments with rats showed that specially engineered polymer patches attached to the intestine and delivered insulin.

Consolidation in the healthcare market continues with an announcement that Walgreens has entered into an agreement to purchase Rite Aid for a total of $17.2 billion.