Christina Mattina

In a blog post that served as a follow-up to a March report on electronic access to medical information, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) analyzed the reasons people may not use their electronic health records (EHRs) even if they are able to access them.

Researchers have identified a cellular signaling pathway that when activated by mutations may prevent immune cells from infiltrating bladder tumors, thus making the cancer resistant to immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Deprescribing ongoing medications has been identified as a way to prevent adverse drug events and avoid unnecessary medication utilization, but a recent study found that physicians report a number of obstacles making it difficult for them to deprescribe in their practice.

A study on long-term remission of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) shows that Kite Pharma’s anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor-T (CAR-T) cell treatment resulted in remission for up to 56 months.

CMS announced it will hold a meeting to gather input on potential models to pay for behavioral healthcare that would improve quality, expand access, and lower costs for beneficiaries.

In a webinar hosted by Carevive, researcher Ethan Basch, MD, MSc, discussed the findings of his recent study linking electronic patient-reported outcomes (PROs) to better survival outcomes for patients with cancer.

In a recently released position statement, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has outlined a pathway that would address the rising costs of cancer drugs in the United States.

The National Quality Forum (NQF) has issued a report detailing the results of its experiment with including social risk factors in its risk adjustment models for performance measures.

The FDA has approved neratinib (Nerlynx) for the extended adjuvant treatment of some forms of breast cancer, but recommends precautions against the common side effect of diarrhea.

According to a recent study, adding a stimulator of interferon genes (STING) agonist to rituximab for lymphoma can help provoke an immune response to the monoclonal antibody in patients who had shown resistance.

New research finds that having a retail health clinic nearby can make patients less likely to visit the emergency department for minor or preventable conditions.

A partnership of federal departments announced a coordinated takedown of hundreds of defendants accused of perpetrating schemes to defraud Medicare and illegally distributing opioids.

In response to a request from the FDA, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine has issued a report outlining the current body of research on chronic pain and opioid use disorder, including recommendations on what steps the regulatory agency can take in response to the ongoing epidemic.

A new draft report from the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) evaluates the evidence on the effectiveness and value of 3 drugs used to treat ovarian cancer.

The House of Representatives passed the FDA Reauthorization Act of 2017 with a voice vote, indicating the strong levels of bipartisan support for the bill that will reauthorize the user fee programs that fund the FDA.

Blinatumomab is now fully approved as a treatment for relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), following FDA assessment of new trial data on survival outcomes and its use in certain clinical subgroups.

A recent analysis of cancer incidence and mortality rates across America finds that while those in rural counties are less likely to get cancer, cancer-related mortality rates are higher than in more populous areas, and this disparity is increasing over time.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recommended that CMS should take steps to prevent lower quality hospitals from qualifying for value-based bonuses, after a report by the office found that some bonuses in recent years had rewarded poorly-rated hospitals.

The FDA has approved the Praxis Extended RAS Panel for genetic testing in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). Detecting certain tumor mutations using the test could have important implications for treatment decisions.

Patients with schizophrenia are at high risk of developing diabetes, particularly due to the effects of antipsychotic medications, but the results of a recently published trial indicate liraglutide can help improve glucose tolerance and body weight in prediabetic patients.

The FDA has placed 3 clinical trials of Keytruda (pembrolizumab) on hold in response to a pattern of patient deaths, according to a statement from Merck.

A phase 3 trial in patients with advanced melanoma found that nivolumab (Opdivo) outperformed ipilimumab (Yervoy) in terms of recurrence-free survival.

A House Subcommittee has passed an appropriations bill that would direct the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to stop implementing the tax on Americans without health insurance known as the individual mandate.

A recent article by contributor Jennifer Major, MS, RD, explored the calorie counts in the popular salads sold at chain restaurants nationwide and how they stack up to fast food like burgers.

New data suggest that more Americans report walking for leisure, transportation, or exercise in the past week, although these increases were not uniform across all sociodemographic groups.

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.

In the June issue of The American Journal of Accountable Care®, authors described how their accountable care organization achieved impressive shared savings.

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.

New research finds that hypofractionated radiation therapy is as effective as conventional radiation for treating prostate cancer while offering more convenience for patients.

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.