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While the age-standardized death rate for all causes of death combined, as well as heart disease, cancer, stroke, unintentional injuries, and diabetes, have slowed from 1969 to 2013, the rate for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease actually increased.

What we're reading, October 27, 2015: a much-improved Healthcare.gov website, report says drug prices rose at a much slower rate in 2015, and USPSTF recommends glucose testing in asymptomatic adults who are overweight or obese.

A study shows too much conflicting dietary advice causes some people to tune it all out. Nuances in the report from WHO are lost on most consumers.

The vaccine, approved in Europe last week, is now awaiting approval in the United States.

Despite the fact that post-bronchodilator spirometry is required for the diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, an analysis of primary care clinics found only 19% of patients diagnosed with the disease had undergone spirometry testing.

Women who had risk factors for weight gain but were not overweight when they got pregnant were most likely to retain weight if they gained too much during pregnancy.

Some consumer-friendly features are still in final testing.

Three important patient-reported outcomes can help predict hospitalizations among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, potentially helping clinicians to categorize patients' level of risk and design preventive interventions and proper care.

In this AJMC Industry Outlook webinar "The Role of Real-World Evidence in Successful Product Commercialization," we discuss a framework to identify and validate the need for external customer-facing evidence generation and review how the framework can be applied. By the end of this discussion, you will have a deeper understanding of how to frame and justify investment in health economics and outcomes research, and real-world evidence generation.

What we're reading, October 26, 2015: One-third of uninsured in California are unaware of premium subsidies and medical school enrollment among black men is down.

A study published in the journal Cancer presents the financial impact of cancer on a survivor and his family.

A new health insurance start-up aiming to aid companies with their employer-sponsored insurance raised $81 million in a new round of financing. The new funding will allow the company to expand its services beyond California in 2016.

Two head-to-head trials comparing the safety of Incruse Ellipta to 2 available bronchodilator treatments used by patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease has yielded positive results for GlaxoSmithKline's therapy.

This week in managed care, documents show Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of NJ rolled out OMNIA prior to receiving regulatory approval, 2 Harvard professors argue the merit of the annual physical, and experts weigh in on the successes and flaws of Medicare Part D.

CMS has unveiled the latest improvements to HealthCare.gov. However, the agency was not able to complete all additional features in time for open enrollment and will roll the remaining ones out after November 1.

Years after the country was sent into a tizzy over the fear of "death panels," there has been an enormous growth in palliative care in the United States, although it and hospice care are still very misunderstood by patients, said speakers at America's Health Insurance Plans' National Conference on Medicaid.

The drug is awaiting an FDA verdict next week.

As the date for the comment period on the proposed guidance by HHS on 340B drug pricing draws near, read about the program and its impact on healthcare overall.

GAO made recommendations for safeguards to prevent enrollees from having Medicaid and exchange coverage at the same time.

Published in JAMA Oncology, the study found a significant difference in quality and access to care for black patients diagnosed with localized prostate cancer.

The prospective cohort study adds to the findings that connect lack of sleep to metabolic syndrome and the development of disease.

What we're reading, October 23, 2015: a new definition of dual eligibles, FDA warning on liver toxicity of Abbvie's hepatitis C drug, and Amgen's Repatha can cost patients more than just money.

Tiered and narrow insurance network products are increasing in US health insurance markets, particularly in the health insurance exchange market, according to an analysis by Avalere Health.

Patients with cancer in the urology clinic at a VA hospital in Arizona may have suffered adverse outcomes due to clinical disconnect and staff shortage.

Presenting results of a meta-analysis comparing low-carbohydrate and low-fat diets is never uneventful when the nation is weeks away from adopting the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer who have progressed on gemcitabine now have the option of Onivyde combined with leucovorin/fluorouracil.

Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) discussed Medicaid expansion, the Affordable Care Act, and politics at America's Health Insurance Plans' National Conference on Medicaid.

Out-of-pocket expenses for medications in typical silver plans are twice as high as they are in employer-sponsored plans, leading patients to fill and refill medications less frequently, which has important health implications.

A study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons found that including patients in the Enhanced Recovery program has a dramatic impact on their recovery post surgery.

Soda consumption dropped in Mexico in the year after its soda tax took effect, but the beverage industry is fighting back. Calls continue both here and abroad for taxes to combat obesity.