Health Care Delivery

What we're reading, December 30, 2015: most commonly used generic drugs were cheaper at the end of 2015, meanwhile the FDA has a huge backlog of generic drug applications, and few states are expected to expand Medicaid in 2016.

Puerto Rico’s community health centers face grave challenges because of a lack of funding.

How promoting the penalties of the individual mandates changes the sign-up mix, changing attitudes on women's pelvic health, and the challenges that await Louisiana's new governor as he plans to expand Medicaid.

Patient awareness and educational support can improve their attitude as well as prepare them to make better informed decisions on clinical trial participation, a new study has found.

What we're reading, December 28, 2015: patients fight for Medicaid coverage of expensive hepatitis C treatment, Express Scripts develops programs to protect insurer's from pricey new drugs, and Republicans divided over Medicaid expansion.

A new study published by the American Cancer Society found that younger colorectal cancer survivors end up spending over $8500 annually in medical expenses and they also experience significantly greater loss of productivity compared with individuals without cancer.

Study finds healthcare access was of paramount importance to people with chronic conditions and their caregivers.

Historically, the biggest barrier to enrolling diverse populations in clinical trials has been a lack of establishing trusting relationships between researchers and communities and their residents, explained C. Daniel Mullins, PhD, professor in the Pharmaceutical Health Services Research Department at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy.

Top 10 videos from The American Journal of Managed Care's Summit and Insight programs.

What we're reading, December 24, 2015: more than half of Affordable Care Act co-ops will be closed by the end of 2015, but this could have been avoided; 5 senators are pressing CMS for information on containing drug costs; and a task force does not recommend screening all teens and children for high cholesterol.

The new rule has been issued just as states are cracking down on the practice of balance billing patients who take steps to use in-network hospitals, only to be balanced billed anyway if they are seen by a provider not on their health plan.

With the Affordable Care Act endangered during the first half of 2015, many popular newsroom stories concerned President Obama's signature legislation.

What we're reading, December 23, 2015: CMS releases data on the most expensive Medicare drugs, while HHS reports strong enrollment numbers on HealthCare.gov, and Hillary Clinton outlines a plan to spend $20 billion on Alzheimer's disease research.

An analysis revealed growing evidence of improved access to and affordability of care after the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, but gaps remain, especially for low-income adults.

Several economists have proposed a way to level the financial playing field between employer and individual health insurance markets.

Americans are more likely to be facing higher premium costs than in previous years, according to Gallup poll results.

Democrats and Republicans agreeing on something having to do with the Affordable Care Act is unusual, but there is one aspect of the healthcare law that both parties feel the same about: the excise, or Cadillac, tax.

What we're reading, December 17, 2015: Congress is expected to pass a spending plan that includes 3 changes to the Affordable Care Act; a new analysis estimates 2016 premiums for marketplace plans will increase 11%; and one-third of Americans die from cardiovascular disease.

A study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology predicts financial stress on Medicare Part D beneficiaries on oral anticancer medicines, even after the expected closing of the donut hole in 2020.

Telemedicine in mobile stroke treatment can reduce time to evaluation and thrombolysis.

What we're reading, December 16, 2015: a new study casts doubt on what experts thought they knew about healthcare costs; unprecedented interest in health insurance coverage has prompted the government to extend the deadline for full-year 2016 coverage; and a law to create multi-state health plans won't reach it's 2017 goal.

While cost is an important component of value, it tells only a small part of the cancer care story. By focusing on issues of payment and cost alone, we miss our opportunity to engage cancer care stakeholders in the process of creating a more effective system of care.

This article describes provider networks and benefit design-including deductibles, cost-sharing, and maximum out-of-pocket limits-for oncology care in 2015 health insurance exchanges.

What we're reading, December 15, 2015: call centers overwhelmed by last-minute rush for health insurance enrollment; AstraZeneca exploring deal with Acerta Pharma; and despite near universal health insurance coverage in Massachusetts, patients have access issues.

Providers and payers came together to discuss challenges and share success stories as they adapt to the changing healthcare realm.

The advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, is working across the country to pass and implement strong oral chemotherapy fairness laws to help ensure cancer patients have access to the recommended course of treatment without added out-of-pocket costs based on how their drug is administered.

Addressing the financial burden of cancer treatment requires efforts at the policy, payer, and clinic level, and implementation of these strategies, in clinical practice, requires commitment from various stakeholders.

Most physicians consider telehealth a promising tool in improving patient access to primary care services, but only 15% use it in their practice.

Patients with chronic conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, often have high-cost health needs that make choosing a health plan difficult.

Consumer demand for engagement in health information technology is a vital aspect of achieving national health goals, but multiple barriers prevent this demand from being filled.