Christina is the associate editorial director of The American Journal of Managed Care® (AJMC®) and The American Journal of Accountable Care® (AJAC), and joined AJMC in 2016. She oversees the publication of the print journals, from manuscript submission to publication, and works with the editors in chief and editorial boards to promote the journals.
She has a BS in public health from Rutgers University. You can connect with Christina on LinkedIn.
Novel Antibody May Restore Immune Response to Rituximab for CLL
Among a group of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) who were previously unresponsive to rituximab, a new antibody could help enable the immune system to attack the cancer cells, according to a study in PLOS One.
CDC Releases 40th Annual Report on Nation's Health Trends
Each year, the CDC prepares a report on health statistics that is submitted to the president and Congress by the secretary of HHS. This year’s edition, the 40th annual Health, United States report, focuses on the long-term health trends witnessed over the past decades.
Over Half of All Opioid Prescriptions Go to Mentally Ill Patients, Study Finds
A new study indicates that adults with mental health disorders receive more than 51% of all opioids prescribed in the United States each year, further illustrating the complex relationship between mental health and substance abuse.
FDA Plan to Boost Drug Competition Includes Expedited Generic Approval Pathway
As part of its new Drug Competition Action Plan, the FDA has announced it will seek to spur innovation by allowing for accelerated approvals of generic drugs without competitors. It also published a list of drugs without approved generics that could be eligible for this expedited review process.
USPSTF Recommends Screening for Obesity in Children, Adolescents
The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has updated its recommendation on screening for obesity in children and adolescents to suggest regular screenings in those aged 6 and older, who can then be referred to weight management interventions.
Mutation Burden and PD-L1 Expression Influence Response to Nivolumab in NSCLC
A new study in the New England Journal of Medicine has found that a combination of tumor mutation burden and expression of the programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) can predict patient response to nivolumab in non—small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
CMS Proposes Amending MACRA Rules to Alleviate Physician Burden, Exempt More Practices in 2018
In response to trepidation from clinicians, CMS has announced a proposal to alter the rules of the Quality Payment Program established by the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). The changes will exempt thousands of physicians from quality reporting requirements and allow small practices to form “virtual groups” with one another.
Supreme Court Rules Against Out-of-State Plavix Patients Suing BMS in California
The Supreme Court of the United States has determined that a group of nonresident plaintiffs may not sue Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) in California state court, as neither these patients nor the pharmaceutical company reside in that state. The ruling could have important implications for lawsuits seeking compensation for alleged harms.
Rates of Young Opioid Users Receiving Pharmacotherapy Remain Low, Study Finds
As the opioid epidemic continues across America, medication-assisted therapies, like buprenorphine or naltrexone, have been highlighted as an important tool. However, a new study indicates that the number of young people with opioid use disorder who actually receive these medications remains low, although it has increased since 2001.
Infographic: Hybrid Closed-Loop Insulin Delivery Systems - Outcomes and Outlooks
Hybrid closed-loop insulin delivery systems, also called an “artificial pancreas,” have attracted a great deal of attention since the FDA approved the first such device last September. These systems continuously monitor blood glucose levels and adjust insulin dosing accordingly, although they require some input from users around mealtimes.
Older Patients Prefer to Base Cancer Screening Decisions on Health Status, Not Life Expectancy
Guidelines recommend against screening for cancer in patients with shortened life expectancy, but a recent study revealed older patients may not want to consider their life expectancy when discussing with a clinician whether they should stop undergoing cancer screening.
CMS Actuary Projects AHCA to Save $328 Billion, Reduce Coverage by 13 Million
The CMS Office of the Actuary released a report projecting the financial and coverage impacts of the American Health Care Act (AHCA) passed by the House of Representatives, finding that 13 million more people would be uninsured by 2026 but the federal government would reduce expenditures by $328 billion.
Poor COPD Medication Adherence Observed in Older Patients With Comorbid Depression
Patients with comorbid depression and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have low rates of adherence to their COPD management medications, putting them at increased risk of emergency department visits and hospitalizations.
Cancer Overdiagnosis Possible in High-Income US Counties
A new study finds that the incidence of cancer in high-income counties has spiked higher than in low-income counties, but the wealthier areas saw their cancer mortality rates decrease more, which could indicate that overdiagnosis is occurring among well-off populations.
NCI-Sponsored Cancer Trials Potentially Saved Millions of Life-Years, Study Finds
A new study estimates that the cooperative research network SWOG, which is sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), has considerably impacted the US population over its 60-year history, as its 23 positive clinical trials have generated about 3.34 million life-years gained.
Dr Mark Fendrick Testifies on Allowing VBID Flexibility in Medicare Advantage
In testimony before the US House Ways and Means Committee’s Health subcommittee, Mark Fendrick, MD, co-director of the University of Michigan Center for Value-Based Insurance Design, discussed the importance of allowing for flexibility and clinical nuance when it comes to encouraging value in Medicare Advantage plans.
WHO Essential Medicines List Adds New Drugs, Categorizes Antibiotics
When the World Health Organization (WHO) updates its Essential Medicines List every 2 years, observers anticipate the addition of some new drugs or alternate indications. The 20th edition, released Tuesday, also includes a more drastic change by categorizing antibiotics.