Health Equity & Access Weekly Roundup: October 2, 2026

Experts Highlight PMOS Diagnostic, Care Gaps Amid Recent Name Change

Polycystic ovary syndrome has been formally renamed polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) under a global consensus published in May 2026 in The Lancet, backed by 56 organizations and informed by 14,360 survey responses. Anuja Dokras, MD, MHCI, PhD, of the Penn PMOS Center, said the old name wrongly implied that ovarian cysts define a multisystem disorder. PMOS affects an estimated 10% to 13% of women of reproductive age, and up to 70% are unaware they have it. Dokras said underserved communities may face longer diagnostic delays, and a 2022 study she coauthored found a higher incidence of metabolic syndrome in Black women than in white women with PMOS. Experts called for multidisciplinary care models, better-trained first-line clinicians, and engaged pharmacists.

Lung Cancer Screening Lags for People With HIV as Eligibility Triples

Fewer than 3 in 10 people with HIV who met lung cancer screening criteria at a Southeastern tertiary HIV clinic ever received a scan, even as eligibility rose from 6% in 2018 to 15% in 2023, according to a study in the International Journal of STD & AIDS. Among 2798 people with HIV in care, 62% had a smoking history, 13% were eligible at some point, and 27% of those were screened. Annual screening rose from 11% to 24%, a change that was not statistically significant (P = .10). Limitations include a single-center design and small eligible counts. The authors suggested embedding screening prompts, navigation, and reminders in routine HIV care.

Transplant Equity Requires Policy and Accessible Trials

Karilyn Larkin, MD, of Wilmot Cancer Institute, said policy may offer the most far-reaching path to equitable access to allogeneic stem cell transplant, arguing that mandated coverage that includes caregiver support and housing would reduce disparities tied to institutional resources and employer benefits. She also cited distance, noting that many centers require patients to stay within about 30 minutes for 100 days and that monthly trial visits deter patients who live 3 to 4 hours away. Larkin pointed to the ACCESS trial (NCT04904588), which had no monthly visits or inventoried study drugs, as a model, and said institutions should build trial portfolios that ask less of patients without sacrificing end points.

Half of Insured Patients With AD Go Without Related Prescriptions

About 6.9 million insured people in the US had diagnosed atopic dermatitis (AD) in 2023, but about half filled no AD-related prescription, according to The State of AD 2026 National Indicator Report from the National Eczema Association (NEA), based on a Milliman claims analysis. Systemic corticosteroids, which guidelines recommend against, were used by 4% to 5% of patients, often more than dupilumab (Dupixent; Regeneron and Sanofi) at 2% to 4%. Dermatology advanced practice providers delivered 26% to 37% of dermatology office visits, with a larger share in rural areas, and practitioner density varied more than 3-fold across states. NEA CEO Kristin C. Belleson said the findings create an opportunity to engage primary care physicians.

What Actuarial Modeling Reveals About Value-Based Care in Oncology

At the Community Oncology Alliance Payer Exchange & Innovation Summit, actuarial experts examined whether oncology value-based care models measure clinical value or only their own methodology. Andrew Mackenzie, FSA, CERA, MAAA, a health economist and strategic adviser, said payouts are usually biased, as small samples and high individual-level variance, such as a few million-dollar chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy claims, make spending hard to predict. Jason Altieri, ASA, MAAA, of Milliman, said missing data such as HER2 status leave payers unable to adjust accurately. Panelists warned that contracts can be gamed through therapy carve-outs, coding intensity, and Medicare Part B and Part D cost shifting, and urged practices to obtain actuarial support and run simulations before signing.