AJMC Staff

What We're Reading, August 30, 2016: the Justice Department is investigating police treatment of the mentally ill; researchers identify overtreatment based on imaging procedures; and 2 drug compounds may prevent the Zika virus from replicating in the body.

What we're reading, August 29, 2016: Audit finds Medicare Advantage plans overcharged the government; enrollment on the Affordable Care Act's exchanges less than half of initial prediction; and California bill to protect consumers from surprise medical bills divides physicians.

A review of our peer-reviewed research, in the healthcare and mainstream press.

What we're reading, August 26, 2016: the middle class is burdened with increasing healthcare costs; how much do voters need to know about presidential candidates' health; and honoring the end-of-life wishes of patients with dementia.

What we're reading, August 25, 2016: Hillary Clinton proposes fund for public health crises; hospitals that treated victims of the Orlando Pulse nightclub shooting will not bill survivors; and 1 in 4 people admit to using leftover antibiotics.

What we're reading, August 24, 2016: Tennessee signed off on high premium hikes as its exchange is close to collapse; 5 states sue the Obama administration over a transgender healthcare policy; and a new non—travel-related Zika case is identified in Tampa Bay.

What we're reading, August 23, 2016: Republicans in Congress indicate they may be willing to fix the Affordable Care Act instead of repeal it once President Obama is out of office; an Alzheimer's drug receives fast-track designation from the FDA; and Pfizer to acquire Medivation.

What we're reading, August 22, 2016: freestanding emergency clinics come under increased scrutiny; hospitals are being more open about medical mistakes; and regulations to blame for rising generic drug prices.

What we're reading, August 19, 2016: CMS is investigating if patients are being steered away from Medicaid and Medicare to private plans; Medicare Part D paid 17% more for drugs in 2014 than in 2013; and 5 things to know about HIPAA today.

A review of coverage of our peer-reviewed research, in the mainstream and healthcare press.

What we're reading, August 18, 2016: California drug price transparency bill gets pulled; researchers work on a new opioid painkiller without the addiction; and the need for more diversity in genetic sequencing.

What we're reading, August 16, 2016: hospitals are partnering with ride-hailing services to get patients to their appointments; Democrats look to repeal a ban on federal funding for abortion; and Colorado will vote on a right-to-die bill this fall.

What we're reading, August 15, 2016: public health emergency declared in Puerto Rico over Zika virus; the number of local transmission infections of Zika continues to climb in Florida; and men more likely to rate their health as excellent or good compared to 2007.

A review of our peer-reviewed research featured in the healthcare and mainstream press.

What we're reading, August 12, 2016: CMS announces Obamacare plans saw a healthier mix of consumers last year; the number of babies born addicted to opioids tripled in 15 years; and the Obama administration will shift funding from HHS to fight Zika.

What we're reading, August 11, 2016: hospitals are throwing out less-than-perfect organs and refusing transplants; why an increasing reliance on hospitalists is bad for comprehensive care; and removing the roadbloack to marijuana research.

What we're reading, August 10, 2016: mortality rate in the United States declines after 2015's increase; infant death in Texas linked to Zika virus; and Ohio colleges drop student health insurance due to Obamacare provisions.

What we're reading, August 9, 2016: tying drug costs to outcomes is the future of drug pricing; Walgreens expands drug take-back kiosk program; patients with atrial fibrillation need to consult a second doctor before receiving a new medical device.

While the online tools makes clear consumers can use it without obligation, the therapy section give patients information on AstraZeneca products.

What we're reading, August 8, 2016: a new Medicare law would require hospitals to notify patients about loopholes in nursing home coverage; e-cigarette makers flooded the market ahead of new regulation implementation; and California bill on nurse-midwife independents causes controversy.

A review of press coverage of our peer-reviewed studies and news items.

What we're reading, August 5, 2016: judge assigned to Anthem-Cigna and Aetna-Humana cases said he would likely only rule on one by the end of 2016; aversion to late-term abortion plummets when Zika infection is a factor; and the National Institutes of Health proposes lifting ban on research funds for human-animal stem cell research.

What we're reading, August 4, 2016: a new startup is aiming to move clinical trial data to the cloud; Aetna is informing physicians about the opioid prescribing habits; and Florida deploys a mosquito control team to combat Zika virus.

Foundation Medicine’s comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) assay has been submitted by the company for FDA review as well as for a CMS review in parallel.

What we're reading, August 3, 2016: Medicare penalties for hospital readmissions reach a new high; the importance of down-ballot races this election; and Virginia's Bureau of Insurance comes out against the Anthem-Cigna merger.

Adrenal gland tumors that are defined as being nonfunctional may not really be so, and the hormones that these tumors secrete could increase an individual’s risk of cardiometabolic irregularities, according to a new study.

What we're reading, August 2, 2016: co-ops in New Mexico and Massachusetts sue the government over the risk-adjustment formula and why hospital ratings should be viewed with a bit of skepticism.

What we're reading, August 1, 2016: proponents of Colorado's proposed state universal healthcare want Bernie Sanders' help; thousands need new health coverage in Ohio and Connecticut; and the trouble with getting a patient off a prescription.

The work with mice models revealed how the functioning of a key receptor affects the body's ability to burn fat.

What we're reading, July 29, 2016: a trans-Atlantic partnership has been formed to fight superbugs; the FDA halted blood collections in 2 Florida counties over Zika fears; and investigation confirms Zika cases in Florida were from local mosquitoes.