Health System

The Affordable Care Act marketplace reopened yesterday for a special enrollment period that will run until May 15; daily US coronavirus infections drop below 100,000 for first time since November; opioid deaths rise significantly amid the pandemic.

British scientists report research linking a UK coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) variant with higher risk of hospitalization and death; polls highlight the partisan gap among Americans willing to be vaccinated against COVID-19; state legislators nationwide are targeting legislation to curb rising drug prices.

Humana and IBM Watson Health collaboration to streamline access to accurate information on benefits and health care costs for Humana employer group members, agents, and employers.

Experts outlined the impact value-based insurance design (VBID) has had on the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic response and future potential applications of the model.

House Democrats include a major expansion of Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies in their proposed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) relief package; differences between vaccine hesitancy and refusal are spotlighted; CanSino Biologics’ 1-shot vaccine is 65.7% effective against symptomatic COVID-19 cases.

Breast cancer oncologists explore more recent advances using oral chemotherapies to treat metastatic breast cancer.

Patients’ socioeconomic status is a significant factor in predicting survival rates for multiple myeloma, according to a new study.

A CAR T-cell therapy that promises fewer side effects, and possibly lower hospital costs, wins approval after lengthy delays.

A survey by Willis Towers Watson found that nearly half of employer onsite and near-site health centers expanded virtual care services during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, including in chronic condition management and behavioral health.

With New York being at the crossroads of the HIV epidemic and the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, a group of researchers wanted to know what, if any, correlation there was between the 2 disease states.

An investigation of economic data from 3123 US counties, from 2007 to 2016, indicates that the cardiovascular mortality drop the authors saw may be a result of improved economic conditions.

With the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, a rising number of uninsured Americans, and a new Democratic president and Senate majority, 2021 is shaping up to be a dynamic year for health care policy.

CDC mandate requiring masks on most forms of public transportation to go into effect today; FDA will extend its review period on a possible new Alzheimer disease drug; HHS will delay the start date of a Trump administration drug pricing rebate rule.

Through an organizational commitment to diversity and inclusion initiatives, the biopharmaceutical industry can better serve historically underserved populations and cultivate a more diverse workforce and inclusive culture.

A 9% year-over-year increase was observed in the number of US Medicare beneficiaries who enrolled in a Medicare Advantage health plan in 2020, with the increase in enrollment influenced by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and its related effects.

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

The Biden administration will reopen the health exchanges created by the Affordable Care Act (ACA); direct HHS and other agencies to reexamine other health policies, including Medicaid work requirements; and reverse the so-called global gag rule while affirming support for reproductive health.

On this episode, we speak with the coauthor of a paper looking at the mental health stressors facing first responders and health care workers during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The paper found that a sizable number of these frontline workers are at risk for psychiatric illnesses at severity levels higher than other national disasters, including 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina.

President Joe Biden reportedly will take executive action to reopen federal marketplaces selling Affordable Care Act (ACA) health plans; Moderna investigating booster shot designed to be more effective against emerging variants of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); Brazil coronavirus variant is found in Minnesota.

Several factors will have a significant impact in the health care industry in 2021, such as management of disparities in vaccine administration and greater investment in telehealth, said Gurpreet Singh, MBA, US Health Services Leader at PwC.

President to sign travel ban meant to contain more contagious variants of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); limited vaccine supply concerns top health officials; Merck ends COVID-19 vaccine development.

Every week, The American Journal of Managed Care® recaps the top managed care news of the week, and you can now listen to it on our podcast, Managed Care Cast.

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

Although Parkinson disease (PD) is often characterized as a motor disorder, the presence of nonmotor symptoms, such as skin disorders, is common and may provide insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying PD.

Findings of the Change Healthcare 2020 Revenue Cycle Denials Index indicate that since the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, medical claim denials have risen 11% nationwide, with the most denial rates found in regions with the highest first wave of outbreaks.

The authors of a Clinical research article in the January 2021 Health IT issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® discuss their findings and suggestions for making telehealth access more equitable for all.

In California, a novel variant of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be less susceptible to approved vaccines; COVID-19 vaccine trials are assessing efficacy in adolescents; HHS relaxes a regulation on prescribing addiction medication.

Every week, The American Journal of Managed Care® recaps the top managed care news of the week, and you can now listen to it on our podcast, Managed Care Cast.

Consider social determinants of health when trying to help gay and bisexual men, stressed Milena Murray, PharmD, MSc, BCIDP, AAHIVP, associate professor at Midwestern University College of Pharmacy.

Based on US health insurance consumer behavior reported in the eHealth Insights: 2020 Retrospective report, notable trends of the past year to watch for in 2021 include the popularity of $0 premium Medicare Advantage plans, the rise of telemedicine, and potential hesitancy against taking a vaccine for coronavirus disease 2019.