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The randmized controlled trial confirms findings in observational studies that gastric bypass provides benefits beyond weight loss, and suggests BMI should not be the only consideration for who should have surgery. The fact that the study is associated with a major US payer is noteworthy.

A retrospective research study has identified disparity in the use of the test, primarily driven by race, insurance status, and the type of facility where treatment was administered.

While healthcare is an important issue among Democrats, it ranks lower on the list of priorities for Republicans and independent voters. Data show that voters are overwhelmingly concerned about jobs and the economy.

What we're reading, March 24, 2016: Valeant doubles the price of aid-in-dying drug; the Supreme Court seems split on contraception case; and less than 3% of Americans meet qualifications for a healthy lifestyle.

Many public agencies switch from salaried therapists to cheaper independent contractors to manage within the budgetary constraints of mental health clinics. But these contractors tend to have less knowledge about the latest evidence-based therapies.

A new study from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center has found that boys who underwent chemotherapy to treat their cancer were less likely to father children.

There is a need for a new stop loss formula that ensures a level playing field and motivates accountable care organizations.

With an increasing population of head and neck cancer survivors in the United States, the American Cancer Society identified the need to develop survivorship guidelines that can lend support to primary care clinicians and other health practitioners as they care for survivors.

What we're reading, March 23, 2016: moderate alcohol consumption may not have any health benefits; Johnson & Johnson researching the development of 2 diseases; and 2 more California hospitals received ransom demands from hackers.

The move means the nation's largest payer will invest in diabetes prevention, which has been a focus of CDC, the American Medical Association, and the American Diabetes Association.

Chemotherapy-induced neutropenia is a common adverse effect in children with cancer, yet there are less serious causes of febrile neutropenia for which extended in-hospital treatment might be unnecessary.

Smartphone personal voice assistants, such as Siri and Cortana, often fail to provide appropriate information when asked questions about mental health, rape, and domestic violence.

"Our analysis suggests that annual screens may not be warranted for patients who have had an initial negative scan, and future risk prediction and cost-effectiveness models could incorporate these data to improve screening guidelines," said the study's lead author.

The Alabama Senate seems poised to pass a budget that comes $85 million short of Governor Robert Bentley's funding request for a Medicaid agreement with CMS, which was signed a few weeks ago.

An estimated 29.1 million Americans have diabetes; most have type 2 disease. While the CDC reported in December that new cases had fallen for the first time in a generation, there are disparities in who gets the disease. It hits harder among the poor and minorities.

Growing numbers of women with breast cancer in one breast are choosing to have preventive double mastectomies despite there being little evidence that the surgery actually improves quality of life for those women.

A new study in JAMA Internal medicine has found that the concurrent use of interacting medications has increased since 2005 and that 15% of older adults are potentially at risk for a major drug-drug interaction.

What we're reading, March 22, 2016: the reduction of the uninsured rate was driven mostly by the Affordable Care Act, not economic recovery; heart disease rates dropped; and participation in meaningful use program declines.

Each year physician practices in 4 common specialties spend 785 hours per physician and more than $15.4 billion to report quality measures.

US hospitals continue to have high healthcare-associated infection rates according to a joint report by the Leapfrog Group and Castlight Health.

Analysis of data on nearly 27,000 patients with rectal cancer found distance from site of radiation therapy, along with a few other factors, could significantly impact the possibility of the patient receiving treatment.

The study from researchers at Cleveland Clinic found that during the years before full implementation of the Affordable Care Act, a shift in treatment methods for patients with a painful condition was associated with fewer amputations and deaths. But large disparities remain.

According to reports, the dispute centers on the terms of a repricing provision in the current contract.

The program will air nearly 3 years after Jolie stunned the country with news that she'd had surgery to remove both breasts after a genetic test revealed she was at very high risk for cancer.

Based on the review of additional data submitted by Janssen, an appraisal committee from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has finalized a guidance that recommends abiraterone for use in some prostate cancer patients prior to chemotherapy.

Patient behavior is perhaps the final frontier to concur in our quest of making our population healthier. But, how can we change the health behavior of nearly 200,000,000 Americans? A SXSW panel discussed some individual approaches using innovative technology.

What we're reading, March 21, 2016: government action to lower drug prices unlikely; women live longer than men but face more years of disability; and the movement to give nurses more autonomy.

In states that have not expanded Medicaid, uninsured low-income women face more difficulties in accessing recommended screenings for breast and cervical cancer.

Employers are willing to invest the money on emerging technologies aimed at improving employee wellbeing, but they face challenges with budgets and issues of confidentiality and privacy.