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What we're reading, March 14, 2016: hospitals implement new ways to combat skyrocketing drug prices; some Affordable Care Act's health insurance co-ops could see profits in 2016; and patient anxiety decreases when hospitalists show more empathy.

According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology, TAPUR provides patients access to drugs at no cost, and is designed to evaluate FDA-approved targeted agents for indications other than those on the drug’s label.

Light-to-moderate alcohol consumption might actually be a good thing for the heart and heart diseases, according to the recent results of a study out of Norway.

Increased medical provider consolidation with hospitals and/or health systems results in increased spending on outpatient prescription drug-based cancer treatment.

The top stories in managed care this week included a proposed new payment model for Medicare Part B and the swift criticism that followed the announcement, findings on variation in cost based on site of care, and cardiovascular results for Victoza.

A new system could help healthcare providers predict patients with palliative care needs when they are admitted to the hospital.

An analysis of hospital participation in plans on the Affordable Care Act exchanges found that despite increasingly narrow networks, almost all highly ranked hospitals can be found in at least 1 plan.

Researchers noted the link but could not explain the cause and effect.

In spite of a surge in telehealth-related policies, telehealth claims numbers remain low, according to an analysis of private payer reimbursements to primary care providers for telehealth services from 2009 to 2013.

The Affordable Care Act and rising healthcare spending were the main topics of conversation at America’s Health Insurance Plans Health Insurance Exchanges Forum and National Health Policy Conference, which were held March 8-10 in Washington, DC.

HHS Sylvia Mathews Burwell has made fighting opioid and heroin abuse a priority and has talked about the effects of addiction on her home state of West Virginia.

The proposals recommend modernizing policies across the healthcare industry, including the drug discovery and development process, promoting value-driven healthcare, increasing the consumer voice, and addressing market distortions.

The United States loses approximately $100 billion to healthcare fraud annually. Up to $20 billion dollars are due to fraudulent practices in the mental health sector. One of the largest healthcare fraud cases in US history occurred in behavioral health -- one of healthcare’s smallest sectors.

What we're reading: California's assisted suicide law will take effect June 9; a majority of drugs in Medicare Part D require coinsurance; and Senate passes opioid abuse bill 94-1.

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.