- Center on Health Equity and Access
- Clinical
- Health Care Cost
- Health Care Delivery
- Insurance
- Policy
- Technology
- Value-Based Care
What We’re Reading: Biden Eyes Cohen for CDC; Bias in PFTs; US Birthrate Stays Flat
President Joe Biden has reportedly picked former North Carolina health chief Mandy Cohen, MD, MPH, as next head of the CDC; Black men were probably underdiagnosed with lung problems because of software bias; the US birthrate remains flat.
Former NC Health Secretary Might Lead CDC
President Joe Biden plans to name Mandy Cohen, MD, MPH, the former North Carolina health and human services chief, as the next director of the CDC, reported The New York Times. Cohen, an internist, headed the department from 2017 to 2021 and formerly served in the Obama administration. If chosen, Cohen would replace Rochelle P Walensky, MD, MPH, who announced that she would step down at the end of June.
Black Men Likely Underdiagnosed Due to Bias in PFT Testing
Racial bias inherent in pulmonary function testing (PFT) is likely contributing to fewer Black patients getting care, suggests a study, according to The Associated Press. As many as 40% more Black male patients in the study, published in JAMA Network Open, might have received a diagnosis of breathing problems if current diagnosis-assisting computer software was changed to be race neutral. The findings are the latest example of faulty assumptions of algorithms used in diagnostic tests and software.
US Birthrate Flat Compared to Pre-Pandemic
The birthrate in the United States stayed flat in 2022 compared to pre-pandemic levels, according to a report from the CDC, reported The Hill. The CDC reported 3,661,220 provisional births in the United States in 2022, about 3000 fewer births than the year before. The CDC called it a “nonsignificant decline." Total birth count in 2022 also stayed below pre-pandemic levels after the birthrate slightly bounced back in 2021 following the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Standard Criteria for Loss of Ambulation Needed in DMD
April 19th 2024A recent study suggests the differences between ambulation definitions for patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) can impact the identification of ambulant vs nonambulant individuals, and standard criteria across settings are needed.
Read More
Navigating Health Literacy, Social Determinants, and Discrimination in National Health Plans
February 13th 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with the authors of a study published in the February 2024 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® about their findings on how health plans can screen for health literacy, social determinants of health, and perceived health care discrimination.
Listen
An Overview of Health Care and Pharmaceutical Trends, 2023-2024
April 19th 2024Douglas M. Long, BA, MBA, was featured as the keynote speaker on the closing day of The Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy 2024 annual meeting, with a session dedicated to surveying the health care and pharmaceutical trends of the last year.
Read More
Drs Raymond Thertulien, Joseph Mikhael on Racial Disparities in Multiple Myeloma Care Access
December 28th 2023In the wake of the 2023 American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition, Raymond Thertulien, MD, PhD, of Novant Health, and Joseph Mikhael, MD, MEd, FRCPC, FACP, chief medical officer of the International Myeloma Foundation, discussed health equity research highlights from the meeting and drivers of racial disparities in multiple myeloma outcomes.
Listen
Real-World Study Reveals Key Insights Into DLBCL Treatment Patterns, Outcomes
April 18th 2024A recent study offers valuable insights into the characteristics, treatment patterns, and outcomes of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in patients across different lines of therapy, providing a look into the landscape of DLBCL management.
Read More
