Health Care Delivery

Despite the increased use of breast-conserving therapy among women with early-stage breast cancer, many women continue to undergo mastectomy, according to a study from researchers at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston published in JAMA Surgery.

While Republicans continue to look at dismantling President Obama's Affordable Care Act, they are also working on plans to extend subsidies temporarily to the millions of Americans who may lose the financial assistance should the Supreme Court rule in favor of the plaintiffs in King v. Burwell.

One point of concern among Justices Anthony Kennedy and Sonia Sotomayor during the oral arguments of King v. Burwell was the issue of unconstitutional coercion, and Timothy S. Jost, professor of law at Washington and Lee University School of Law, explains the main issue.

In its proposed fiscal year 2016 funding bill, the House Appropriations Committee is looking to defund the Affordable Care Act, block additional funding for patient-centered outcomes research, and terminate the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

If the Supreme Court rules that individuals in states on the federal marketplace are ineligible for subsidies, the annual consumer premium contribution could increase $3300 in 2015, according to an analysis from Avalere Health.

Given that the subsidies in the federal exchange have helped to cover a lot of previously uninsured people, Chip Kahn, president and chief executive officer of the Federation of American Hospitals, remains encouraged the Supreme Court will "do the right thing."

The findings of inadequate access to providers and outdated information were no surprise to healthcare advocates. Many of the issues are addressed in a giant proposed rule issued by CMS in late May.

Another 2 companies that are using natural language processing and artificial intelligence in their efforts on direct-to-person health coaching.

The consensus that drug manufacturers are at fault for high prescription prices comes even though only half the respondents said they were taking medication themselves.

Although the introduction of new specialty drugs and increased investments into personal health data security, moderating forces will keep healthcare spending growth in check in 2016, according to a report from PwC's Health Research Institute.

Arkansas, Delaware, and Pennsylvania have all received tentative approval from HHS Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell to set up their own state-based insurance exchanges and move their residents off the federally facilitated marketplace.

Even though there hasn't been much public discussion from the Obama administration in regards to contingency plans should the Supreme Court rule in favor of the plaintiffs in King v. Burwell, there is likely much talk going on behind the scenes, explained Susan Dentzer, senior health policy adviser at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Leading up to the Supreme Court's decision in the case of King v. Burwell, Avik Roy, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, discusses in what ways Congress should potentially act if the plaintiffs receive a favorable ruling, who is to blame more if subsidies are removed from the federal marketplace, and how much time there will be for a patch to prevent millions of Americans losing financial assistance and subsequently their health insurance.

A new policy emerged from the annual meeting of the American Medical Association that calls for increased access to and coverage of integrated medical and behavioral healthcare services for patients.

An analysis of the Medicaid expansion plans of 6 states that have been granted Section 1115 waivers identified both the promise and limits that have emerged through these alternative expansion approaches.

The American Journal of Accountable Care recently interviewed Dr Jain about his decision to join CareMore, CareMore's innovative care model, and his perspectives on US healthcare.

This manuscript describes a structural alternative that builds upon the vision of the ACO, positions it centrally in the healthcare experience, and overcomes current limitations in delivering care.