Health Care Delivery

This week, the top stories in managed care were that the Senate began the process of repealing the Affordable Care Act, Cigna and CVS moved away from the EpiPen, and the NCI Formulary will make it easier to study cancer drugs and their combinations.

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) hopes that the principles will help ensure access to healthcare and adequate insurance, to improve outcomes among those diagnosed with cancer.

What we're reading, January 13, 2017: more states consider contraception laws with Affordable Care Act (ACA) in peril; GOP will speed up timeline to replace ACA; Tom Price will sell his stocks to avoid conflicts.

What we're reading, January 12, 2017: Republicans begin process of repealing Obamacare by passing budget resolution; AbbVie's CEO promises to keep drug price increases to once a year and less than 10%; Cardinal Health will pay $44 million for not reporting suspicious opioid orders.

What we're reading: the Obama administration promises swift action on North Carolina's Medicaid expansion plan; FDA approves long-acting opioid; and a look at where President Barack Obama and President-elect Donald J. Trump stand on 5 areas of health policy and science.

The impending repeal of Obamacare has sparked concerns that vulnerable groups will lose insurance coverage and access to treatment, including HIV/AIDS patients.

What we're reading, January 9, 2017: how Meals on Wheels is becoming the "eyes and ears" of the healthcare system; unease brewing among Republicans about repealing Obamacare without a replacement; and a doctor at the Cleveland Clinic faces disciplinary actions after publishing anti-vaccine rhetoric.

During an interview with Vox that was simulcast by the White House, President Barack Obama reviews where his signature law is working, where it isn't, and why Americans should demand to see what a replacement would look like.

This week in managed care, readers chose the top healthcare news story of 2016, 4 physician groups appealed to Congress to have a replacement for Obamacare ready if it is repealed, and the American College of Physicians released a new guideline on oral medications for type 2 diabetes.

What we're reading, January 6, 2017: some Democrats are appealing to the GOP to consider bipartisan efforts to overhaul Obamacare instead of repealing it; enrollment for Affordable Care Act plans is up 2.3% over last year; and Democrats demand an ethics probe into Tom Price's stock trades.

There are signs that some Republicans are uncomfortable with repealing President Barack Obama's signature law without taking steps to keep those who gained coverage from becoming uninsured.

What we're reading, January 4, 2017: Republicans in Congress may also make changes to Medicare; churches and faith-based organizations launch syringe exchanges; and judge rules Amgen's PCSK9 patent is valid.

A look at value-based insurance design, and how it provides a way to reduce financial barriers to care for people with chronic conditions.

The groups represent nearly 400,000 practitioners on the front lines of primary care for families, women, and children.

What we're reading, January 3, 2017: Colorado's Affordable Care Act exchange misused more than $9 million in federal funds; an over-the-counter birth control may be coming to the United States; and returning health data to patients could reduce health record breaches.

What we're reading, January 2, 2017: drug makers are taking a cautious approach to off-label promotion; Republicans eye changes to Medicaid under Trump administration; and the impact of geography on health.

As 2016 drew to a close, The American Journal of Managed Care (AJMC)® polled readers on what was, in their opinion, the biggest healthcare story of the year. Runners-up included drug pricing drama, Medicare policy announcements, and more, but the top answer by far was the news story that sent shockwaves throughout the healthcare industry and around the world.

After the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010, hospital readmission rates decreased nationwide, most dramatically for the lowest-performing hospitals, according to an analysis of readmissions data published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

As 2016 draws to a close, here’s a look at the top 5 news articles that captured reader interest on AJMC.com.

What we're reading, December 26, 2016: Medicare starts looking into drug-resistant infections in hospitals; Republicans may not repeal all of Obamacare's taxes when they repeal the law; and a program that partners drug addicts with police officers to get help.

People are more likely to search for the term "Obamacare" than "Affordable Care Act," but both searches saw spikes in interest following Donald Trump's election, and people are getting curious if the president-elect will keep or repeal the law.

During the December Managed Care Cast hosted by Patricia Salber, the guest was Joe Antos, PhD, resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, who discussed potential changes to healthcare and the realities of repeal and replace under President-elect Donald J. Trump’s administration.

What we're reading, December 22, 2016: Americans continue to sign up for Obamacare coverage despite Republicans' promise to repeal the law; California is implementing a $3 billion effort to help the state’s neediest individuals; and Zika vaccine shows success.

With the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) set to take effect January 1, 2017, The American Journal of Managed Care has created a resource center, the MACRA Compendium, where payers and providers can find updates on the transition to value-based care.

A study by The Commonwealth Fund reports that uninsured rates have dropped in all states and fewer patients in most states say cost is a barrier to care. These improvements were observed in the years after the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.