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.
Top 5 Most-Read Inflammation Articles of 2020
This year, the most popular articles and interviews related to the role of inflammation in asthma and other conditions touched on the mechanisms of inflammation, patterns of inhaler use, and the real-world impacts of the monoclonal antibody dupilumab.
Moving Beyond Precision Oncology to “Precision Prevention” in Oncology Practices
In a pair of sessions at the Quality Cancer Care Alliance Virtual Fall Leadership Summit, speakers discussed the promise of precision medicine for not only informing individuals’ cancer treatment decisions but also identifying individuals at high risk before disease develops.
Areas to Watch in Specialty Drug Pipeline Include Cancer, Orphan Drugs
In her presentation, Aimee Tharaldson, PhD, senior clinical pharmacist of emerging therapeutics at Express Scripts, discussed the upcoming pipeline of specialty drug approvals and their potential impact on the market.
Understanding the Complicated Patchwork of State Drug Pricing Reform Legislation
The pressure on state budgets exerted by new approvals of costly therapeutics has led many states to implement legislation aimed at regulating drug prices, but the success of these efforts is not uniform across the nation.
Succeeding in Value-Based Payment Requires Engaging Pharmacists From Health Plans and Systems
Pharmacists have an important role to play in the success of value-based payment models, according to panelists who discussed their health plan’s value initiatives at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy Nexus 2020 meeting.
Keeping Up With Pharmacists’ Changing Scope of Practice Amid COVID-19
A panel discussion examined the changes in the health care landscape occurring due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, particularly around pharmacists’ scope of practice, and which changes are likely to persist after the pandemic.
Makary Calls for Price Reform, Transparency to Fulfill Patient-Centered Medical Heritage
Marty Makary, MD, MPH, kicked off the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy Nexus 2020 meeting with a call to action around reducing overprescribing, increasing price transparency, and recapturing the public’s trust in the health care system.
Heart Disease in Pregnant Women Raises Risk of Maternal, Neonatal Complications
Women with heart disease during their first pregnancy had a higher rate of maternal cardiac events and neonatal complications, especially if they also had pulmonary hypertension, according to study findings published in BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. The study also identified factors that can predict which pregnant women with heart disease will develop heart failure.
Dr Mark Fendrick: Incorporating V-BID Into Our COVID-19 Response and the "New Normal" to Follow
We spoke with Dr Mark Fendrick, co-editor-in-chief of The American Journal of Managed Care®, and director of the University of Michigan Center for Value-Based Insurance Design, or V-BID, on how the principles of V-BID can be used to make a real difference for the millions of American families financially struggling with the impacts of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and can help shape the new healthcare delivery landscape after the pandemic.
States, Health Plans Prepare for Influx of New Medicaid Beneficiaries Due to COVID-19
With the economic upheaval and unemployment brought by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, observers anticipate a large influx of new members into Medicaid programs. We spoke with Russ Fendley, former Medicaid commissioner for Kentucky, and Patrick Sturdivant, president of the Amerigroup Texas Medicaid plan, to find out how states and plans are preparing for this challenge and its lasting effects.
Dr Kimberly Rockwell and Alexis Gilroy Discuss the Promise of Telemedicine for COVID-19 and Beyond
Kimberly Lovett Rockwell, MD, JD, and Alexis S. Gilroy, JD, the authors of a commentary in the April issue of The American Journal of Managed Care®, explain how telemedicine can help alleviate the burden on health systems brought by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and how regulations are shifting to enable use of the technology during the pandemic and beyond.
Patients With MS Report That Depression, Fatigue Have Strongest Effect on Quality of Life
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is known to be associated with lower health-related quality of life, and a new study adds evidence that depression and fatigue are the major drivers of this relationship.
5 Findings From the November 2019 Issue of AJMC®
The November issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® (AJMC®) included studies on a kidney disease intervention, perceptions of alternative financing models, population health screening, and more. Here are 5 findings from research published in the issue.
Researchers Explore Costs of Switching to Environmentally Friendly Inhalers for Asthma
Reducing the use of metered-dose inhalers for asthma could shrink the carbon footprint while achieving cost savings if less expensive brands of dry powder inhalers are used, according to new research findings.
Sleep Disruption, Amyloid Deposits Related in Elderly Individuals With Cognitive Disorders
As increasing evidence suggests that a disrupted sleep-wake cycle can drive the development of Alzheimer disease and other neurocognitive disorders via β-amyloid accumulation, a new study finds that the association between β-amyloid accumulation and cognitive impairment can be mediated by sleep disruption even after the onset of cognitive decline.
Study Finds Higher Odds of REM Sleep Behavior Disorder in Veterans With PTSD
Veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), whether or not they had experienced a traumatic brain injury (TBI), were more likely to experience rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder than veterans without TBI or PTSD, according to the findings of a new study.
Positive Airway Pressure Therapy for Sleep Apnea Associated With Reduced Care Utilization
Using and adhering to positive airway pressure therapy was associated with fewer inpatient and overall acute care visits and a lower likelihood of having costs from those visits among patients with moderate or severe obstructive sleep apnea.
Immunological Characteristics as Potential Treatment Targets in Refractory CRS With Nasal Polyps
The aim of this study was to assess cytokine levels in patients with refractory chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps and to identify inflammatory markers associated with certain subtypes.
Association Found Between Better Sleep, Academic Performance Among College Students
A study of college students found that better sleep—specifically, higher quality, longer duration, and greater consistency of sleep—was associated with higher scores on quizzes and midterm exams.