February 2026

340B covered entities are expanding contracts with retail pharmacies that are increasingly located in counties with high rates of Medicare and Medicaid insurance coverage.

Penetration of Medicare Shared Savings Program accountable care organizations and Medicare Advantage was not associated with substantive changes in health care use among commercial enrollees.

This study evaluates inclusion of National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guideline recommended biomarkers for metastatic non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in commercially available targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) panels.

A large commercial insurer is increasingly covering acupuncture, which is a safe and effective alternative to opioids, for multiple pain conditions.

This article highlights challenges in prior authorization and offers practical, experience-based strategies to streamline workflows, reduce delays, and improve patient access to necessary treatments.

Medicare Advantage enrollment has increased in the US and Puerto Rico, with a dramatic growth among Puerto Rico beneficiaries with end-stage renal disease.

Because evidence gaps in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis research hinder demonstration of antifibrotic therapies’ impact on patient quality of life (QOL), integrating validated health-related QOL measures into trials is urgently needed.

Increasing Medicare Advantage payments for full Medicaid enrollees was not associated with meaningful changes in inpatient or nursing home use.

Medicare Advantage grocery supplemental benefit use is associated with increased outpatient care, suggesting that policy changes allowing for nonmedical supplemental benefits could improve beneficiaries’ health, especially for dual-eligible beneficiaries.

Hospital accountable care organization (ACO) participation did not impact emergency department admission rates, length of stay, or costs, suggesting limited effectiveness in reducing spending for unplanned admissions and challenging hospital-led ACO cost-saving strategies.

Ambulatory cardiac monitors’ clinical and economic outcomes vary; one long-term continuous monitor brand showed greater arrhythmia diagnosis, fewer retests and cardiovascular events, and lower health care resource use and costs.

Medicare Advantage outperformed traditional Medicare on clinical quality measures before and during the COVID-19 pandemic; mid-pandemic, however, traditional Medicare narrowed the gap on some in-person screenings.