Katie Sullivan

The impacts the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will have on healthcare delivery will reach far beyond the clinical level. For that reason, America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), a strategic partner of The American Journal of Managed Care, knows that cultivating collaborative discussions about health law implementation is only common sense.

Hospital systems across the country are increasingly vying to establish some of the first treatment centers to provide proton beam therapy, a high-tech radiation treatment for cancer.

Could transparency in healthcare pricing decrease the disparity of costs in routine procedures?

As the future of healthcare reform is considered, many discussions seem to center around the concept of shared decision-making, specifically in regards to the patient's role in managing their own healthcare choices. However, in light of new research, the notion of patient participation is being questioned.

As people increasingly depend on electronics and technology to exchange information, it seems only logical that physicians would embrace electronic health records (EHRs) in favor of their paper predecessors.

The former nurse and hospital company executive, Marilyn Tavenner, has been confirmed as administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Tavenner has been serving as the interim administrator for the CMS since 2010. Her appointment, which has officially been vacant since Dr Mark B. McClellan stepped down in October 2006, came after much debate as to whether or not she should officially lead the organization.

An emerging partnership between a diverse group of providers, pharmacies, and other medical professionals is intended to help improve the rates of medication adherence. The coalition involves significant advocates such as the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), and the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS). Other participating companies include Merck, GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca, and CVS Caremark.

This week The American Journal of Managed Care editorial staff attended the Spring Managed Care Forum 2013 in Orlando, Florida, presented by the National Association of Managed Care Physicians (NAMCP).