Health Care Delivery

Age, renal disease, and suboptimal myeloma control were among the many factors identified in a recent study as increasing the risk of death from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) for patients being treated for multiple myeloma (MM).

Addressing the social health needs of those ill with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a challenge for providers and health care systems. On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we speak with Bechara Choucair, MD, senior vice president and chief health officer for Kaiser Permanente, who discusses the organization's guide that walks clinicians through considerations to keep in mind when screening patients in order to improve health outcomes as well as reduce community transmission.

In recent clinical practice guidelines issued by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), authors established recommendations for the use of behavioral and psychological treatments for chronic insomnia disorder in adults.

An abstract from last month’s San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium identifies factors linked with longer-term controlled substance use after treatment of breast cancer with mastectomy plus breast reconstruction in women receiving opioids, benzodiazepines, and other sedative/hypnotics.

A new study from Sweden cautions against routine discontinuation of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Integrating novel parameters into conventional risk stratification systems may better define patient subgroups in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), thus creating a more enhanced classification and prognostic scoring system for patients, say researchers.

Questions remain about the optimal approach to transfusion management in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), particularly in the outpatient setting, leading a pair of researchers to review current evidence.

Matthew J. Zirwas, MD, a dermatologist in Ohio, discusses how dermatologists may stratify patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) with the launch of new biologic treatments in 2021.

Several economic benefits stem from engaging in care soon after HIV transmission and maintaining viral load suppression, noted Milena Murray, PharmD, MSc, BCIDP, AAHIVP, associate professor, Midwestern University College of Pharmacy.

The top 5 most-read Parkinson disease stories of 2020 on AJMC.com included the latest insights on treatments such as spinal cord stimulation and the role of dietary management, as well as implications of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

The top 5 most-read sleep stories of 2020 on AJMC.com spotlighted the role of sleep hygiene among children and adolescents, changes in sleeping habits amid the pandemic, and how a rare gene mutation may cause people to require less sleep to achieve wakefulness.

Two story lines predominated renal news in 2020: coronavirus disease 2019's effect on the kidneys and the overwhelming benefits of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors for those with chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes.

Recent study findings highlight mixed results following use of this medication among Mississippi and Massachusetts Medicaid beneficiaries.

The top 5 most-read employer stories of 2020 on AJMC.com focused primarily on the role of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on several issues affecting the workplace, including adverse mental health outcomes, leave-related concerns, and the rise of virtual care.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on racial and ethnic minorities in America. MJH Life Sciences™ will host a free webinar to explore potential solutions.

The FDA has approved Margenza (margetuximab-cmkb) plus chemotherapy as a treatment option for adults with HER2-postive advanced breast cancer.

Early detection of colon cancer is key to survival. New guidance advises endoscopists in identifying malignant colorectal polyps and recommendations for surgery.

Clarence Moore, PharmD, BCPS, BCOP, assistant professor at Shenandoah University in Ashburn, Virginia, discusses whether treatment methods for beta thalassemia are accessible to patients.

The use of Mohs micrographic surgery, which had the highest average Medicare payment from 2012-2017 among a set of 4 skin cancer procedures, has increased by more than 20%.

Researchers review pulmonary function testing measures that span 4 categories that can assess the respiratory muscle dysfunction that happens in diseases like spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).

The FDA Friday issued the second Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine, this one to Moderna, as the pandemic reached critical stress points across the country, especially in California.

Four principal themes emerged in this study, describing why Latino/a and Black transgender women and men who have sex with men discontinued their preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV.

Since the start of the pandemic, many patients with COPD, especially if they experienced an exacerbation during 2020, reported adopting telemedicine, according to a recent study.

Both clinical and physician-based factors play a role in the risk of a patient with hematologic malignancies ending up in the ICU.

An outcomes-based agreement conducted by Boehringer Ingelheim and Highmark found that use of Jardiance (empagliflozin) among adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and known cardiovascular disease (CVD) was associated with a total cost of care savings of over 20%.

In a recently published review, researchers highlighted the disease burden of migraine, advances in preventive therapies, key takeaways from the most recent migraine management consensus statement, and advocated for increased pharmacist intervention in migraine medication management.

Compared with before the Affordable Care Act (ACA), study results show there was an increase in diagnoses of early-stage breast cancer among younger vs older minority women after the act.

Insurance status can influence an individual’s ability to access care, stated Milena Murray, PharmD, MSc, BCIDP, AAHIVP, associate professor at Midwestern University College of Pharmacy.