Population Health

Bristol Myers Squibb settles lawsuit on conspiring to block generic competition to HIV drugs; FDA grants emergency use authorization to a novel breath test that can detect COVID-19 within 3 minutes; health savings accounts (HSAs) are being used less effectively by minority and low-income populations.

Reducing low-value care means saving money, reducing potential harm, and creating room for high-value care to be delivered in the United States.

Panelists touted the ability to pay for items and repairs to keep Medicare beneficiaries healthier at home, avoiding potentially costly hospitalizations and complications.

Without addressing rising costs, the problem of underinsurance in health care coverage will remain, said panelists at the 2022 V-BID Summit, discussing some of the smaller steps that are being proposed or are already in place to try to ease the financial burden.

The Biden administration plans to expand Affordable Care Act (ACA) coverage to more families; new guidelines jointly announced by cardiology organizations for the treatment and prevention of heart failure; World Health Organization estimates that 99% of people worldwide are exposed to poor air quality.

Two abstracts presented at the 2022 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting explored the health-related quality of life (QOL) and mental health impact of psoriasis disease burden by severity and affected body region.

Later school start times are being considered to address youth mental health crises; states are taking action to enact legislation on opioid addiction and fentanyl-related deaths; Unilever recalls 2 Suave aerosol antiperspirant products due to a potential carcinogen.

Democrats and Republicans are near agreement on a $10 billion COVID-19 funding package; scientists perform the first complete, gapless sequence of a human genome; more than a third of high school students reported they experienced poor mental health during the pandemic.

An unprecedented level of detail and robustness around interoperability standards is on its way, and on this episode of Managed Care Cast, we speak with Donald Rucker, MD, the former National Coordinator for Health Information Technology in HHS, about what the opportunities and responsibilities for payers are.

Clinical trial recruitment and management strategies for diverse populations are among the challenges that affect dermatology care quality and access, according to panelists at the 2022 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting.

A panel discussion at the 2022 American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting addressed the association between food and skin manifestations, as well as dietary triggers and recommendations in the management of a myriad of dermatologic conditions.

In Poland, the prevalence of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps was shown to be greater in men, elderly individuals, and those living in urban areas.

From one-stop testing and treatment sites to boosting research and surveillance, Biden administration health officials expanded on the COVID-19 plan the president announced in his State of the Union address Tuesday night, but the plan will require additional funding from Congress.

A study finds that lower-dose vaccines given to children aged 5 to 11 years provides less protection against infection; President Joe Biden will announce a major overhaul of nursing home quality during his State of the Union speech; United Nations report highlights need for drastic action to address climate change.

A webinar by the National Cancer Treatment Alliance discussed current use and diagnostic/therapeutic benefits of comprehensive genomic profiling in oncology, as well as recommendations for employers and benefit consultants considering biomarker testing.

The redesigned accountable care organization (ACO) model is called the Realizing Equity, Access, and Community Health model and is scheduled to begin in 2023.

The representation of Black physicians is alarmingly low, but the opportunities for change are possible and urgent. Health care leaders and human resource departments need to address these disparities, and increasing diversity among their workforce is an excellent place to begin.

Biden administration officials request additional funding from Congress to manage the global COVID-19 pandemic; New York delays its COVID-19 booster vaccine mandate for health care workers amid staffing shortages; study finds racism affected treatment decisions and led to care disparities among Black patients.

Japanese children of parents whose family business was primarily industry, including agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, had a greater risk of atopic dermatitis (AD) development.

A JAMA Dermatology study found that greater exposure to air pollutants, such as carbon monoxide and fine particulate matter, were significantly associated with later psoriasis flares.

Kenneth Cohen, MD, FACP, executive director of clinical research at UnitedHealth Group Research and Development and senior national medical director at OptumCare, discusses evidence-based education and other tools to address low-value care.

A bipartisan congressional report estimates overdose deaths cost the United States $1 trillion yearly; 4 states announce plans to lift their statewide mask mandates for schools; study finds greater risk of pregnancy complications in expectant mothers with moderate COVID-19 symptoms.

The CDC's wastewater monitoring program will soon begin evaluating more water samples for COVID-19; vaccine guidance changes for individuals who are immunocompromised may be forthcoming; exposure to air pollution levels vastly greater than that advised by World Health Organization guidelines.

Part 1 of a 2-part webinar series by the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions addressed issues in health care coverage affordability and how equitable health benefits and value-based design can reduce cost while improving employee engagement.

Minority patients and those with low income were more likely than White and high-income counterparts to report adverse outcomes in the management of asthma and eczema.