This Week in Managed Care: July 18, 2015

This week the top story was the appointment of Marilyn B. Tavenner, former administrator for CMS, as the new president and chief executive officer of America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP). Former AHIP President Karen Ignagni left the job in May for a new position with EmblemHealth. The new role will make Ms Tavenner, who was elected unanimously by the board of directors, the nation's top healthcare lobbyist.

Last week, the House voted overwhelmingly to pass the 21st Century Cures Act, which advances Big Data, strengthens the National Institutes of Health and precision medicine, and speeds the FDA approval process. The act promotes research in diseases that range from cancer, to multiple sclerosis, to ALS.

A new study in JAMA has validated the 2013 statin guidelines that caused much controversy when the American Heart Association and the American College of College of Cardiology issued them. The guidelines call for more Americans to take statins and the study found that the new guidelines are efficient and cost-effective.