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Integrated approaches using electronic health records, clinical decision support, and patient-controlled technologies may help improve the appropriate use of medication as well as the management of type 2 diabetes.

Public and private payers all heading in the same direction in regards to payment reform is sending a consistent message to providers and creating alignment in healthcare, said Stephen Ondra, MD, senior vice president and enterprise chief medical officer at Health Care Service Corporation.

Be The First is a 5-year, $50 million initiative to help deliver the nation's first tobacco-free generation.

Patterns of meeting the minimum number of minutes to qualify for higher reimbursement rates were seen in 4 states: Texas, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Indiana. CMS said it will refer this matter to auditors for review.

The study revealed large disparities in prediabetes levels among young adults by race and ethnicity, underscoring the challenge for public officials in finding solutions to poor access to healthy food and safe places for children to play.

What we're reading, March 10, 2016: spending on drug advertisements up 60% over 4 years; lawsuit between Gilead and Merck over hepatitis C virus drugs; and Tennessee considers allowing pharmacists to prescribe contraceptives.

Several healthcare organizations have sent a letter to HHS urging withdrawal of this reimbursement model.

Despite big changes in the American healthcare system over the past 2 years, most US residents report that the healthcare they personally receive has remained about the same.

A new report from the interprofessional Task Force on Collaborative Practice recommended team-based care as a way to offer care that is safe, effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient, and equitable

The study found that being out of shape aerobically and having poor muscle strength made a young man 3 times more likely to develop diabetes as he got older.

The report found higher death rates from liver cancer among the age group most at risk for hepatitis C virus, those born between 1945 and 1965. But increased rates of diabetes, obesity, and alcohol use are to blame for rising liver cancer deaths as well.

A study conducted in Denmark identified an inverse association between controlling diabetes, through diet or oral medications, and breast density.

What we're reading, March 9, 2016: prescription drugs accounted for 16.7% of US healthcare spending in 2015; the FDA will allow Amarin to promote a prescription fish oil for off-label uses; and racial disparities for infant mortality persist.

CMS has announced its plans to evaluate a new value-based payment model for prescription drugs covered under the Part B program. This is yet another move by the federal body to ensure quality care for Medicare enrollees.

Based on their survey results, the authors conclude that clinician communication following detection of pulmonary nodules can help bridge knowledge gaps and relieve stress.

21st Century Oncology has informed patients that their patient database was compromised late last year.

It's no surprise that researchers were unable to come to firm conclusions about the cardiovascular safety of Contrave based on partial results. An accompanying editorial in JAMA finds that a repeat of the LIGHT saga could force FDA to demand full safety data before approval.

What we're reading, March 8, 2016: rate of unplanned pregnancies in the US is at a 30-year low; doctors told they are overprescribing addictive medicines don't change their behavior; and despite Obamacare, surprise medical bills find a way.

Having a job is not always better than not having a job. Poor psychological conditions at workplace, uncertainty of holding on to a job, and stressful working conditions have a direct link to deteriorating health.

As the fallout over Horizon BCBS of New Jersey's OMNIA tiered health plan continues, the legislature weighs the question: how much transparency will protect consumers and safety-net providers while ensuring a vibrant market that drives down costs?

Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) have sent a letter to the FDA urging the regulatory body to find efficient ways to distribute expensive cancer drugs.

Mental health parity laws have created very little progress, almost none, in enhancing access and utilization of mental health services.

A novel unit created to care for critically ill patients significantly sped access to specialized care.

Just how safe is the cloud and can we trust online software to keep sensitive medical billing data secure from a breach?

By monitoring for mutations in the circulating tumor DNA of melanoma patients undergoing treatment, researchers at Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute are confident they can predict how patients will respond to their treatment and whether their disease would relapse.

What we're reading, March 7, 2016: urgent care is being used as a bridge between the primary care doctor's office and the emergency room; a task force calls for physicians to employ team-based care; and the government will meet to craft a plan for the Zika virus.

The LEADER trial is the latest in a recent wave of cardiovascular outcomes trials now required by FDA for diabetes and obesity therapies. Full results will be reported in June at the meeting of the American Diabetes Association.

Personalized preventive care achieves definitive cost savings and better health management within 3 years of adoption, MDVIP study finds.

Despite various attempts to increase the vaccination rate among adults, Medicare beneficiaries are still susceptible to extensive cost-sharing for recommended vaccines, according to a study by Avalere.