AJMC Staff

A pocket veto ends hopes of Medicaid coverage for the Diabetes Prevention Program, MannKind partners with a pain medication manufacturer, and Governor Terry Branstad finds more Medicaid managed care woes.

What we're reading, January 20, 2016: UnitedHealth losses on Obamacare health plans steepen; more "skin in the game" doesn't necessarily result in savvier shoppers; and despite recommendations few high school students are tested for HIV.

What we're reading, January 19, 2016: the Obama administration is looking to make it easier for patients to access their medical records; a clinical trial has left 1 brain dead and 4 hospitalized; and hospitals are experimenting with mobile technologies to track patient health at home.

What we're reading, January 18, 2016: even if there is no drug price control legislation, pharmaceutical companies may bow to political pressure; study finds physician-led hospitals perform better; and Twitter can be used to obtain the patient perspective on medical errors.

What we're reading, January 15, 2016: new report finds flaws in how the FDA tracks drugs after they reach the market; rate of uninsured Hispanic children hits historic low; and CVS and New York State make medication that reverses opioid overdose available without prescription.

What we're reading, January 14, 2016: President Obama proposes extending financial assistance for new states expanding Medicaid eligibility; Hillary Clinton goes hard after Bernie Sanders on single-payer healthcare; and health information exchanges reduce repeated imaging procedures.

An infographic that looks at 3 factors impacting diabetes care, based on the keynote speech from Patient-Centered Diabetes Care 2015 from Robert A. Gabbay, MD, PhD, of Joslin Diabetes Center.

What we're reading, January 13, 2016: at a recent healthcare investor conference pharmaceutical company executives showed no concern over public outrage of rising drug prices; the American Hospital Association urges MedPAC withdraw 340B payment proposal; and California lawmaker reintroduces "right-to-try" bill.

What we're reading, January 12, 2016: 43,000 people will lose their Affordable Care Act tax credits for failing to file a 2014 tax return; Kentucky's new governor will dismantle the state's health insurance exchange; and deciding whether to get that medical test.

What we're reading, January 11, 2016: drug shortages in the emergency departments have quadrupled since 2008; the government has done little to verify people enrolling after Obamacare deadline under special enrollment categories; and Pfizer increased the prices of 100 drugs.

The principal investigator at Seattle Children's said prior work has shown that intensive interventions can be effective in fighting obesity, but they are rarely covered by insurance.

A new survey by a healthcare technology solutions company has identified that manual follow-up procedures on late payments from insurance companies costs the organization 33% more per claim than previous estimates.

The action comes after The Boston Globe's in-depth investigation of the practice in October. One of the patients suing Massachusetts General Hospital over double booking is former Boston Red Sox pitcher Bobby Jenks.

What we're reading, January 8, 2016: HHS releases report with full Obamacare enrollment information for all 50 states and the District of Columbia; the expansion of the biosimilars in 2016; and promising Ebola treatment found not effective.

What we're reading, January 7, 2016: the uninsured rate at the end of 2015 was essentially unchanged from the beginning of the year; CMS may start paying for some rehab for drug or alcohol addiction; and follow-up care plans after hospital discharge are often too difficult for patients to understand.

Stories about ensuring proper medication for veterans, possible changes to the Arkansas "private option, and fixing the nation's mental health system.

What we're reading, January 5, 2016: A special report highlights how the working poor slip through the cracks of the Affordable Care Act; the FDA approved 51 drugs in 2015 with nearly half being first-in-class; and the Senate is expected to vote on President Obama's nomination for FDA commissioner next Tuesday.

What we're reading, January 4, 2016: health insurers offering free doctor's visits for some plans; some consumers find paying the Affordable Care Act penalty cheaper than buying insurance; and clinicians and patients are increasingly worried about opioid dangers.

Penny Mohr, MA, senior program officer for improving healthcare systems at the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, discusses comparative effectiveness research, healthcare disparities, and patient-centered care at the 20th annual international meeting of ISPOR.

What we're reading, January 1, 2016: key healthcare legal battles in 2016; study looks at the safety and outcomes of giving birth outside of the hospital; and a tool helps providers better understand the costs they incur.

The research has important implications for finding a potential cure for type 1 diabetes.

What we're reading, December 31, 2015: small innovations from doctors and insurers can make a big difference in cutting healthcare costs; WellCare is transitioning its pharmacy benefit management to CVS Health; and US health officials remind Americans to get the flu shot.

Bariatric surgery is becoming a more popular method to address obesity, so physicians and surgeons should be more aware of how time of year affects outcomes.

What we're reading, December 30, 2015: most commonly used generic drugs were cheaper at the end of 2015, meanwhile the FDA has a huge backlog of generic drug applications, and few states are expected to expand Medicaid in 2016.

How promoting the penalties of the individual mandates changes the sign-up mix, changing attitudes on women's pelvic health, and the challenges that await Louisiana's new governor as he plans to expand Medicaid.

What we're reading, December 28, 2015: patients fight for Medicaid coverage of expensive hepatitis C treatment, Express Scripts develops programs to protect insurer's from pricey new drugs, and Republicans divided over Medicaid expansion.

John B. Watkins, PharmD, MPH, BCPS, pharmacy manager for formulary development at Premera Blue Cross, discussed using cost-effectiveness data for formulary decisions.

Emil Chiauzzi, PhD, research director, client services at PatientsLikeMe, sat down for an interview at the ISPOR 20th Annual International Meeting to discuss using social media for patient engagement and improving the relationships between researchers and patients.

What we're reading, December 25, 2015: a drug that is currently free could get very costly; this year's flu season is expected to be mild; and before they went on recess, members of Congress introduced a number of healthcare-related bills.

What we're reading, December 24, 2015: more than half of Affordable Care Act co-ops will be closed by the end of 2015, but this could have been avoided; 5 senators are pressing CMS for information on containing drug costs; and a task force does not recommend screening all teens and children for high cholesterol.