Policy

Susan Cantrell, CEO of AMCP, discusses the impact of the CDC's recent changes to the childhood immunization schedule and the role of managed care pharmacy in addressing them.

As Medicare Advantage grows, first-time enrollees demonstrate increasing demographic and clinical diversity, indicating that benefits should be designed to reflect the population’s changing composition.

A study of 46 million visits finds telemedicine remains above prepandemic levels, but older adults and minority groups are less likely to use virtual care.

Using nationally representative data, the authors found that for common physician-administered drugs, hospitals’ unilaterally set cash prices are frequently lower than their median—and sometimes even their lowest—commercial negotiated prices.

Community programs like Go for Bold improve health, but lasting, equitable gains require complementary structural food policies—including taxes, reformulation, and labeling—to shift environments and sustain change.

New data tracks young-onset colorectal cancer, Medicaid health gaps, pediatric diabetes spikes, and drug-pricing shifts reshaping US care in 2026 highlight this weekly roundup.

Quality evidence is needed to support a new Medicare Part D medication therapy management (MTM) program performance measure, prompting a scoping review on MTM services and associated outcomes.

The politicization of public health is eroding vaccine confidence, risking lower uptake and potential disease outbreaks, says Noel T. Brewer, PhD.

Experts unpacked MFN drug pricing, expired ACA subsidies, and IRA fallout for community oncology in a recent webinar.

Medicaid managed care organizations should prioritize children in low-opportunity neighborhoods to optimize health care utilization, improve minority health, and address health-related social needs.

The Inflation Reduction Act introduced Medicare drug price negotiations to reduce treatment costs, enhance access, and potentially reshape prescribing patterns in oncology and hematology.

A study of 1.5 million patients suggests that ACA Medicaid expansion reduces breast cancer deaths, especially advanced cases—yet racial and income gaps persist.

Bidisha Mandal, PhD, concluded her conversation with AJMC by emphasizing the need for policy support and further research to maximize telehealth's impact.

A new science-focused autism committee mobilizes against controversial federal appointments.

Jody L. Green, PhD, explains how regulatory decisions shape medication safety amid uptake of OTC drugs.

Socioeconomic adversity in the perinatal period drives widening low birth weight gaps, fueling adverse pregnancy outcomes and deepening maternal and infant health inequities.

Nearly 3 million MA enrollees may lose plan coverage in 2026 as payment reforms drive market exits, hitting rural areas hardest and reshaping competition, explains Mark Meiselbach, PhD.

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

Sweeping federal funding cuts and stalled prevention efforts are unraveling hard-won gains in HIV research and access, warns Peter Staley.

Kevin Ma, PhD, discusses new data showing 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccines reduced hospitalization and severe outcomes.

The authors argue that sustainable drug pricing reform should focus on patient-centered value, not price alone.

Over 15,000 NYC nurses ratified new contracts after a 41-day strike, securing staffing protections, salary increases, and safety reforms.

MA grocery card use was associated with modest increases in wellness, primary care, and specialist visits among dual-eligible beneficiaries, says Jennifer L. Kowalski, MS.

New research shows that adherence to antiretroviral therapy and pre-exposure prophylaxis depends on a steady budget through PEPFAR and SNAP.

The authors discuss ways to ensure that accountable care organizations do not bear the cost of inaccurate spending growth predictions.