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The updated position statement comes after a wave of recent research linking long periods of sedentary activity with poor health outcomes.

A new report looks at how Medicaid in states that expanded the program are pursuing alternative payment models in order to better respond to the complex health and social needs of beneficiaries.

Congress would have to approve some recommendations from the White House task force, which seeks to levy fines against health plans that do not follow the 2008 law.

A perspective piece, published by researchers from Rutgers University, laments the lack of interest shown by researchers in a clinical trial data-sharing project launched in January 2014.

What we’re reading, October 31, 2016: a CDC survey found that although almost 4 in 5 physicians have electronic health record (EHR) systems in place, only one-third use them; Community Health Options, an ACA Marketplace exchange in Maine, will no longer cover elective abortions; CMS improves its Dialysis Facility Compare website and adds patient ratings.

Underinsurance is a byproduct of the many changes being brought to the healthcare system, said Robert W. Dubois, MD, PhD, chief science officer and executive vice president of the National Pharmaceutical Council, during a session at the VBID Summit.

A new study by Avalere Health identified the key challenges facing health insurance exchanges created by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and considers a range of potential policy options that could be combined to improve the sustainability of the market into the future.

Instead of the 30-day hospital readmission indicator used by CMS to rate hospital quality and levy penalties for excessive unplanned readmissions, shorter intervals of 7 days or fewer are more accurate measures, according to a new study.

Increase in Medicare spending on hospice care from 2007 to 2015 was mainly driven by increases in the number of patients receiving services as per-patient costs remained flat, a new study found.

In conjunction with the state of Vermont, CMS announced the Vermont All-Payer Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Model on Wednesday. The new model is the first of its kind and represents an advancement in the goal of redesigning the healthcare delivery system with an emphasis on high-value care and improved health outcomes.

An animal study conducted at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, has identified a mechanism to strengthen the immune response of T cells in cancer patients who are treated with checkpoint inhibitors.

This week, the top stories in managed care included an announcement that premiums on Obamacare plans are set to increase by 25% on average, a discussion of Medicare Advantage growth at America's Health Insurance Plans' National Conference on Medicare, and recommendations for success with the Oncology Care Model.

Frustration with high prescription drug prices remains an issue that cuts across party lines. Majorities of Democrats, Republicans, and independents want the government to protect access to high-cost treatments for those with chronic conditions.

A coalition of 9 universities in the United States has been awarded $6.3 million by the National Institutes of Health’s National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences to bring patient-reported outcomes front and center in the clinic.

At the fall live meeting of the ACO & Emerging Healthcare Delivery Coalition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, attendees heard presentations and participated in workshops that discussed care management, value-driven payment systems, and the future of healthcare.

What we're reading, October 28, 2016: Medicare blocks some efforts to automatically move customers eligible for Medicare into Medicare Advantage; the first lung cancer vaccine developed in Cuba will be tested in the US; and American Red Cross and Teladoc partner for disaster relief.

A review of our appearances in the healthcare and mainstream press.

The connection between soda consumption and rising rates of diabetes and obesity has been well established. The World Health Organization has called for soda taxes and marketing limits, especially for advertising aimed at children.

Speakers at the VBID Summit discuss health equity and applying value-based benefit design principles to provide quality care at a lower cost.

For millions, the Affordable Care Act promised relief from the expenses of contraception. So why are many still not feeling it?

Long-term follow-up of women who underwent mastectomy and breast reconstruction subsequent to a breast cancer diagnosis found that the success of the procedure and associated complications were not influenced by the woman’s age.

The quality of outpatient care for adults has not improved during the past decade, and in some important areas has worsened, according to a new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine by David M. Levine, MD, of Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston, and colleagues.

A CMS investigation found that almost 46% of the doctor listings in Medicare Advantage (MA) directories contained incorrect information. Officials worry that these inaccuracies could make it more difficult for seniors to access the healthcare they need.

The healthcare news outlet STAT went to court to unseal records that show officials with West Virginia's state employee health plan were derailed in their early efforts to slow access to OxyContin.

What we're reading, October 27, 2016: the number of counties with just 1 Obamacare insurer will skyrocket in 2017; Teva and IBM partner for 2 projects; and the United States may never be able to rid itself of the Zika virus.

The findings highlight the need for collaborative care, which has support in the proposed 2017 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule.

An 18-month study conducted at a 384-bed community hospital found that including hospitalists in the care team reduced the cost of inpatient care without any impact on the quality of care rendered.

A new study suggests pollution particles could set into motion events like heart attacks and strokes years before they occur.

Challenges outlined by healthcare experts back in 2010 are coming to pass, as young adults do not see the current penalties for going without coverage as enough incentive to become insured.

What we’re reading, October 26, 2016: AAP advises that parents take measures to reduce the risk of SIDS; Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump reacts to ACA premium hikes announced by HHS; patients with ALS volunteer for an accelerated study on the effects of a dietary supplement.