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In a 2-pronged move, the FDA approved the sale of the Dexcom G6 integrated continuous glucose monitoring system for determining blood glucose levels and also classified the unit as a class II medical device, enabling a speedier review for similar future systems.

Condition-specific readmissions measures for heart failure, pneumonia, and heart attack may not accurately or fairly reflect hospital quality, according to a study published this week in the Annals of Internal Medicine. The study found significant differences in hospitals' performance when readmissions were assessed for non-Medicare patients and for conditions other than those currently reported, showing that when these additional factors are taken into account, half of the hospitals would be subject to a change in their financial penalty status.

The usability and interoperability of electronic health records (EHRs) has long been a source of frustration for healthcare providers, but until now, specific usability issues and EHR processes that may contribute to possible patient harm have not been identified. A new analysis has discovered that patient safety reports that mentioned a specific EHR by name found some mentions of language suggesting the EHR may have contributed to possible patient harm.

Aetna's CEO envisions CVS deal helping it lead the way on social determinants of health (SDOH); the Senate health chair releases 2 draft bills on opioids; the medical community criticizes former Senator Rick Santorum, R-Pennsylvania, for suggesting student activitists learn CPR instead of advocating for gun control.

Despite price tags well over $350,000 for treatment, tisagenlecleucel, approved for children with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and axicabtagene ciloleucel, approved for adults with certain B-cell subtypes of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, are considered cost effective, according to a report from the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review.

A CDC study published in JAMA Internal Medicine on Monday found that primary care providers are prescribing antibiotics for sinus infections longer than recommended by clinical practice guidelines. A key antibiotic stewardship principle is to use the shortest effective length of antibiotics recommended by guidelines in order to fight the growing problem of antibiotic resistance.

Speaking at a healthcare symposium recently, Vivek Murthy, MD, the former Surgeon General of the United States, discussed the need to focus on both clinical and community-level prevention and the impact that community building has on health outcomes, as well as issues like moral leadership and the healthcare workplace.

Democrats and Republicans trade blame after insurance stabilization package fails; Aetna Foundation and US News & World Report create new list of healthiest places; Gallup finds that 55% of respondents worry about the cost and affordability of healthcare.

Recently, the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) released an evidence report that investigated the comparative clinical effectiveness and value of emicizumab (marketed as Hemlibra, developed by Genentech) in the treatment of hemophilia A.

This week, the top managed care stories included changes to the Next Generation ACO Model caused 7 accountable care organizations to leave the model; a report highlights how quickly hospital acqusition of physician practices is occurring; CMS finalizes coverage for Next-Generation Sequencing tests.

Learn About My Pain (LAMP), a recent study published in Annals of Internal Medicine that evaluated the efficacy of simplified group cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) versus group pain education (EDU) and usual care in a disadvantaged population, was found to be effective. Researchers found that in general, both CBT and EDU, but not usual care, were associated with statistically significant improvements in pain intensity.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) turns 8 years old today—here's a roundup of 5 things to know about this landmark healthcare law.

Americans still believe prescription drug prices are a problem that need to be addressed, but a minority have confidence in the president and Congress to pass legislation addressing these costs, according to the latest Kaiser Health Tracking Poll.

Eight years ago today, the Affordable Care Act was signed into law by President Barack Obama. In honor of the anniversary, we took a look at search trends of Affordable Care Act vs Obamacare over time, search interest for healthcare.gov by state, and search interest in repeal and replace over time

A healthcare tracking poll finds unhappiness aimed at the drug industry for high drug prices while more Americans are warming up to the idea of a national health plan; a study says opioid overdose deaths are undercounted by as much as 35%; whole-genome sequencing may not drive up downstream medical costs, but questions about its use remain.

Coverage of our peer-reviewed research and news reporting in the healthcare and mainstream press.

In the early hours of Friday morning, the Senate passed a $1.3 trillion federal spending bill funding the government until September. It includes new opioid funding and a path for research into the public health aspects of gun violence.

A case filed more than a year ago has taken many turns, landing in a federal court in Trenton, where it has been shaped by a difference of opinion over how to address the role of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).

Getting patients, especially in the Medicare population, to adhere to taking prescribed medications is key to preventing future complications. One health plan used personalized outreach to call Medicare beneficiaries to educate them about adherence and find out more about what barriers might exist to taking medications as prescribed by a healthcare provider.

Researchers have identified malignant cells that, if present, can predict whether a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) will relapse after treatment.

Adherence may play a role in the real-world findings of the study, which was sponsored by Janssen.

Congress reached an agreement on a $1.3 trillion spending bill that includes a provision allowing gun violence research, but does not include 2 drug pricing measures or a provision to stabilize the Affordable Care Act markets; and FDA has released 2 draft guidances on postmarketing safety reporting requirements.

The House of Representatives Wednesday night passed the right-to-try bill by a vote of 267-149, sending it to the Senate. HR 5247, "Trickett Wendler, Frank Mongiello, Jordan McLinn, and Matthew Bellina Right to Try Act of 2018," was passed largely along party lines.

New CDC Director Robert Redfield, MD, replaces the acting director, who led the agency through the severe flu season after Brenda Fitzgerald, MD, resigned at the end of January.

While years of efforts to combat the HIV epidemic have resulted in major successes, progress in reducing infection among men who have sex with men has lagged as they remain the most affected population, according to a study in Annals of Internal Medicine.

Two years ago, CMS announced a new model for accountable care organizations (ACOs) that had participants take on greater performance risk but also potentially greater rewards. After the Next Generation ACO Model grew to a list that included 58 organizations across the nation, 7 have now dropped out after CMS made changes to risk adjustment.

During a panel discussion presented by NPR and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, experts highlighted the discrimination that the LGBTQ community faces, the health consequences of that discrimination, and how the healthcare community can improve care for this population.

Between July 2015 and July 2016, hospitals acquired 5000 independent physician practices, and the number of physicians employed by hospitals grew by 14,000, according to a report from Avalere Health and the Physicians Advocacy Institute.

Patients suffering from back pain worldwide are being treated with an overuse of inappropriate tests and treatments such as imaging, opioids and other medications, and surgery, instead of being educated about their condition and to stay active, a new series of papers in The Lancet reported.

A nonpartisan research institute said that 2 analyses released this week from the Congressional Budget Office show that legislation to reinstate cost-sharing reduction payments to insurers and provide federal funding for state reinsurance programs would have a number of harmful effects on Americans.