Top 5 Most-Read AJMC® Journal Articles of 2024

In 2024, the most-read articles published in our flagship peer-reviewed journal, The American Journal of Managed Care^® (AJMC^®), touched on disease burden, policy consequences, and more. The interest in these articles reflects the wide recognition of the importance of early diagnosis, tailored supports, and aligned incentives for achieving better health outcomes at lower costs.

Here are the 5 most-read AJMC journal articles in 2024.

The American Journal of Managed Care

5. Medication Adherence Star Ratings Measures, Health Care Resource Utilization, and Cost

In this original research article published in the May issue, the authors describe findings from aretrospective cohort studyexamining the association between missed CMS Star Ratings quality measures for medication adherence and health care utilization and relative costs. They find that not achieving these measures was associated with increased resource utilization and costs for patients taking medications to manage diabetes, hypertension, or hyperlipidemia.

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4. Screening for Health Literacy, Social Determinants, and Discrimination in Health Plans

This original research article published in the February issue by authors from Humana shows the feasibility of phone screening for health literacy and experiences with perceived health care discrimination when patients enroll in a health plan. The investigators noted that plan representatives and patients felt more comfortable asking and answering questions for the former screening than the latter. Also, low health literacy appeared to be associated with Black race, low income, and reporting loneliness or food insecurity.

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3. Racial/Ethnic Differences in Autoimmune Disease Prevalence in US Claims/EHR Data

In this original research article published in our annual Health Information Technology issue in January, researchers used electronic health record and claims data to evaluate associations between race and ethnicity and immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. Among their findings are higher risks of systemic lupus erythematosus for Hispanic and Black adults and of multiple sclerosis for Black women younger than 60 years. The authors note the frequency of misdiagnosis of these inflammatory disorders, so awareness of racial and ethnic differences could aid early diagnosis.

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2. Identifying Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 3 With Excess Disease Burden

This original research article published in the June issue provides a retrospective look at Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries with chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages 3 through 5 and end-stage kidney disease. The authors find that having CKD stage 3 plus at least 1 selected comorbidity was linked with cost and utilization patterns that are more similar to those of patients with CKD stages 4 and 5, highlighting a subset of patients identifiable via claims who could benefit from earlier nephrology intervention. They call for a change to current guidelines that recommend nephrology intervention to start at CKD stage 4.

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1. Unintended Consequences of the Inflation Reduction Act: Clinical Development Toward Subsequent Indications

In an original research article published in the February issue by authors from the National Pharmaceutical Council, authors explore the potential consequences of the Inflation Reduction Act’s price negotiation components, which they say could reduce economic incentives to develop multiple indications. In painting a complex portrait of clinical research, approvals, and market launch, they note that the law’s statutory price maximums for certain high-spending drugs in the Medicare program could ultimately end up hindering patient access.

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