Allison Inserro

Pandemic anxiety continues to hurt Americans' mental health, while concerns about the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) splits by party affiliation and background.

Four studies were highlighted that amplified the 3 components of using genetic testing in cancer treatment and prevention: (1) understanding the germline component of a tumor test, (2) broadening access to genetic counselors with video sessions, and (3) making sure risk assessment of each patient is accurate, so that patients do not have unnecessary surgeries.

The attorneys general who spoke about the suit—California’s Xavier Becerra, Massachusetts’ Maura Healey, and New York’s Leticia James—said they found it difficult to believe that the administration would adopt the rule in the midst of the coronavirus disease 2019, which is disproportionately affecting communities of color.

Before coming to the clinic, they had been treated conservatively by primary care physicians and had suffered from pain anywhere from 2 to 40 years.

The authors said the results show a need to develop more targeted interventions for populations at risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Other respiratory diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma, also have seasonal variations, but the impact of such variation on interstitial lung disease (ILD) is poorly understood.

Pralsetinib, an investigational precision therapy in late-stage development for individuals with alterations in the RET gene, would be jointly sold in the United States by the 2 companies if it is approved.

A study from Germany asked patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) about beliefs regarding immune treatments as well as their illness perceptions. Researchers sought to assess these beliefs to test the idea that they are closely connected to adherence behavior.

Using artificial intelligence to comb through electronic health records to look for the subtle signs that individuals often present with to their doctor in the years before a more advanced diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is made showed promise in a early trial to see if earlier detection is possible.

The investigators conducted the study to understand more about the influence of each predictive factor of mortality in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as rates of death from the pulmonary disease have risen worldwide.

In the United States, Gilead Sciences set the price for remdesivir, its antiviral drug that can shorten hospitalization stays for individuals ill with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), based on insurance factors, and is allowing generic drug makers to create the drug for less in low to middle income countries.

The use of disease-modifying therapy (DMT) was associated with a lower risk of hospitalization for patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and neurological disability, age, and obesity were independent risk factors for more severe cases of infection for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).

A report, to appear in the September 2020 Health Affairs, says the losses could be higher, as much as $18 billion, if there is a second wave of infection in the fall or telehealth regulations eased at the start of the pandemic do not continue.

A trial of 2 doses of an inhaled glucocorticoid in a fixed-dose triple therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) appeared beneficial compared with 1 of 2 dual therapies.

Panelists at the AHIP Institute & Expo Online discussed whether algorithms will play a greater role in the future in reallocating health care resources.

During AHIP’s Institute & Expo Online 2020, the conversation focused on the impact the pandemic has had on health coverage and what can be done to improve health equity, among other issues.

The American Society of Hematology has adopted 10 of the recommendations from Choosing Wisely to encourage more high-value care, but barriers to adoption remain.

To mark the 25th anniversary of The American Journal of Managed Care®, each issue in 2020 will include a special feature: an interview with a thought leader in the world of health care and medicine. The July issue features a conversation with Anthony Fauci, MD, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

The authors said it was the first study to try and link these 2 central nervous system biomarkers to disease severity in multiple sclerosis.

During a session on telehealth at the National Association of ACOs (NAACOS) 2020 Virtual Spring Conference, viewers were told to look at the proposed 2021 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule when it is released next month to see which changes might become permanent even after the public health emergency ends.

Officials associated with Operation Warp Speed, the administration's initiative to speed development for a vaccine for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), claimed that doses for elderly patients and other vulnerable populations would be made available free of charge if they cannot afford it.

Leaders from several different accountable care organizations (ACOs) describe their experience of creating programs to care for Medicare beneficiaries using the skilled nursing facility (SNF) waiver process.

To mark the 25th anniversary of the journal, each issue in 2020 will include an interview with a healthcare thought leader. For the June issue, we turned to Donald M. Berwick, MD, MPP, president emeritus and senior fellow at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and former administrator of CMS.

The challenges in precision oncology in gastric cancer is driven by its inter- and intra-tumoral heterogeneity, leaving chemotherapy as the standard of care.

The advice comes a week before Donald Trump seeks to hold an indoor re-election rally for his presidential campaign in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The findings in this study uncovered some critical gaps in asthma care that are linked to worse outcomes.

At the virtual spring conference of the National Association of ACOs (NAACOS), policy officials highlighted the changes since the start of the year due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Up to 30% of cases of dysanapsis, having a small airway-to-lung ratio, occur in people who have never smoked, while not having the condition could explain why some heavy smokers never develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The funding comes from the bipartisan CARES Act and the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, which allocated $175 billion in relief funds to hospitals and health care systems.

The study looked at patients taking ixekizumab or adalimumab.