June 23rd 2025
In 2025, each issue of Population Health, Equity & Outcomes will feature a profile of a health system leader transforming care in their area of expertise. This issue spotlights a conversation with Ken Cohen, MD, executive director of translational research at Optum Health.
Dr Dennis Scanlon Discusses End-of-Year Letter on Health Care Innovation
February 18th 2022Dennis P. Scanlon, PhD, professor of health policy and administration at Pennsylvania State University and editor-in-chief of The American Journal of Accountable Care, discusses his 2021 end-of-year letter calling on health system leaders to learn and innovate in real time.
Watch
Dr Kenneth Cohen: Low-Value Care Exists Across the Health Care System
February 15th 2022Kenneth Cohen, MD, FACP, executive director of clinical research at UnitedHealth Group Research and Development and senior national medical director at OptumCare, discusses areas where low-value care is more prevalent and the shift to high-value care.
Watch
Dr Kenneth Cohen on Education, Tools to Reduce Low-Value Care
February 10th 2022Kenneth Cohen, MD, FACP, executive director of clinical research at UnitedHealth Group Research and Development and senior national medical director at OptumCare, discusses evidence-based education and other tools to address low-value care.
Watch
Number of Accountable Care Organizations Joining MSSP in 2022 Grew Slightly, CMS Says
January 26th 2022In its annual Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) report, CMS said the number of accountable care organizations joining increased, but a trade group said the results should have been better.
Read More
AJMC® Conversations: BCBS NC and Newton Family Physicians—Aligning Incentives to Lower Costs
December 31st 2021This 8-part conversation with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina and Newton Family Physicians, moderated by The American Journal of Managed Care® (AJMC®), focuses on the role of value-based care, independent care practices, and other aspects of health care that have been and continue to be affected by the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, even as we enter 2022. This is part 5.
Watch
AJMC® Conversations: BCBS NC and Newton Family Physicians—Impact of Value-Based Care on Primary Care
December 31st 2021This 8-part conversation with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina and Newton Family Physicians, moderated by The American Journal of Managed Care® (AJMC®), focuses on the role of value-based care, independent care practices, and other aspects of health care that have been and continue to be affected by the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, even as we enter 2022. This is part 2.
Watch
AJMC® Conversations: BCBS NC and Newton Family Physicians—The Pandemic and Primary Care
December 31st 2021This 8-part conversation with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina and Newton Family Physicians, moderated by The American Journal of Managed Care® (AJMC®), focuses on the role of value-based care, independent care practices, and other aspects of health care that have been and continue to be affected by the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, even as we enter 2022. This is part 1.
Watch
Kimberly Westrich on Incentivizing Value-Based Care in Benefit Design and Reimbursement Strategies
November 28th 2021Kimberly Westrich, MA, vice president of health services research at the National Pharmaceutical Council, discusses the shift to a value-based system from a fee-for-service one and how the health care system can incentivize high-value care.
Watch
With No Replacement for OCM on Horizon, Oncology Practices Ask: What Now?
November 22nd 2021The announcement of a "strategic refresh" for payment models under the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation offered no details on what practices should expect when the Oncology Care Model (OCM) expires in 2022.
Read More
A National Perspective of the Opportunities, Challenges Facing Health Care Cost and Sustainability
November 11th 2021Michael E. Chernew, PhD, co-editor-in-chief of The American Journal of Managed Care®, discussed cost and sustainability issues specific to commercial insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid at the National Alliance 2021 Annual Forum held in a hybrid format in Washington, DC.
Read More
Managing Disparities in Chronic Kidney Disease Through Value-Based Arrangements
November 9th 2021On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we speak with Abi Sundaramoorthy, MD, MBA, executive vice president of clinical enterprise at Somatus, on fragmented care in chronic kidney disease, its disproportionate impact on minority communities, and the potential of value-based arrangements to address disparities and promote preventive, effective care.
Listen
Aligning Value and Cost Considerations to Improve Access to, Outcomes of Gene Therapies
October 29th 2021A panel at Asembia 2021 Specialty Pharmacy Summit in Las Vegas addressed challenges in the treatment journey of patients with rare diseases, efforts to improve access to gene therapies, and cost and value considerations for stakeholders.
Read More
The state of value-based contracting in specialty pharmacy was addressed in a panel discussion at Asembia 2021 Specialty Pharmacy Summit in Las Vegas, with speakers touching on the essentials of such agreements, how to optimally integrate them, and future considerations for the pharmaceutical marketplace.
Read More
Dr Steven Peskin on Reforms Needed to Incentivize Value-Based Contracts
October 27th 2021Some policy reforms can help incentivize more use of value-based contracts, but overall an area that needs more work is value-based contracts with pharmaceutical companies, said Steven Peskin, MD, executive director, director of population health, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.
Watch
Dr Steven Peskin Gives a Sneak Peek of His Session on Value-Based Contracting
October 22nd 2021Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey has been involved in a number of value-based cancer care initiatives that will be highlighted during an upcoming Asembia session, said Steven Peskin, MD, MBA, executive director, director of population health, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.
Watch
Agreement Among Measures Examining Low-Value Imaging for Low Back Pain
This study demonstrates the need for additional consensus surrounding how to translate guideline recommendations to administrative measures assessing imaging overuse for acute low back pain.
Read More
Spotlighting Social, Emotional Needs in Underserved Populations With Cancer
September 14th 2021Psychological and emotional needs specific to populations with cancer are often overlooked in clinical research, including those of adolescents, young adults, immigrants, and people of lower socioeconomic status.
Read More
Modeling Financial Outcomes and Quantifying Risk in Episode-Based Payment Models
This article provides a description of prospective financial simulation methodology and use cases with empirical data for episode-based bundled payments, including implications for contract negotiations and value-based care redesign.
Read More
Addressing Financial Toxicity With Patients and Health Systems
July 23rd 2021Speakers at the Advanced Topics for Oncology Pharmacy Professionals Summit discussed financial toxicity in health care, how it particularly impacts patients with cancer, and how to address the issue with patients and the health system.
Read More
MA Primary Care Payment Models Influenced Telemedicine Usage During the Pandemic, Research Shows
July 16th 2021Larger primary care practices in downside risk–only payment models and capitation saw the highest telemedicine utilization rates by their patients enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans.
Read More