Christina Mattina

In recent years, testing for the BRCA1/2 gene mutations has increased among women in both metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, helping to drastically reduce the gap in testing rates between the groups.

Hospitals with more nurses on staff and better nurse-patient communication tend to receive higher scores on patients’ satisfaction with pain management, according to new research.

The rate of stroke deaths, after declining for decades, is now on an alarming uptick, according to the CDC. In 3 out of 4 states, decreases in stroke deaths have slowed or reversed over time.

“Is the pen mightier than the scalpel?” A new study aims to answer that question by presenting research on a handheld pen-sized device that can rapidly determine cancer tissue borders during surgery.

Trial results published in a recent article indicate that patients using tiotropium in the early stages of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) had better lung function and a slower decline in function.

A bipartisan group of governors from 5 states testified to a Senate committee on ways to stabilize the individual health insurance market and bring down premiums for their residents.

After presenting research on the use of a patient-reported distress survey to guide the timing of palliative care discussions, lead author Stuart Goldberg, MD, chief scientific officer for Cota, Inc, discussed how it represents a shift in the paradigm of end-of-life conversations.

New research suggests that the expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act was linked to gains in coverage among children who were already eligible, indicating a "welcome mat" effect.

A new study finds that obstetric units are closing at a concerning rate in rural American counties, highlighting the need to ensure access to obstetric care for vulnerable women.

The FDA has approved the first 2D digital mammography system that lets patients adjust the level of compression applied to their breast during the imaging procedure.

A new draft report from the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) indicates that cognitive and mind-body therapies may be valuable additions to usual care for chronic back and neck pain, but that more evidence is needed to understand the cost-effectiveness implications for both conditions.

Less than 2 months after it ordered a stop to 3 trials of pembrolizumab (Keytruda) in multiple myeloma due to safety concerns, the FDA has released a more detailed analysis of what went wrong in these trials.

Among the many exercise tests used to assess patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a 6-minute walking test was most strongly associated with patient-reported outcomes and quality of life.

AJMC caught up with several healthcare professionals at a New Jersey airport before they took off for Houston to help out in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.

A new study finds that individuals with advanced cancer have high rates of hospitalization in the year after diagnosis. Palliative care aimed at preventing hospital admissions may be a useful tool, especially for the populations most at risk of rehospitalization.

Through the power of social media, hospitals in Texas are asking nurses from across the country to lend a hand in assisting the overwhelmed staff who have been working overtime to care for survivors of Hurricane Harvey.

A newly released poll by Morning Consult/Politico finds that 51% of Americans surveyed support the idea of requiring individuals to work in order to be eligible for Medicaid.

AstraZeneca announced that the FDA has expanded the indications for fulvestrant (Faslodex). The drug is now approved as first-line monotherapy for women with certain types of breast cancer.

FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD, announced the agency would take more forceful steps to prevent unregulated stem cell therapies from endangering patients.

The state of Texas remains in a public health emergency after the landfall of Hurricane Harvey as first responders rush to meet emergency medical needs and officials urge insurers to loosen restrictions on care delivery.

Gilead Sciences will acquire Kite Pharma by the end of 2017 in an $11.9 billion transaction that will place Gilead at the forefront of chimeric antigen receptor-T (CAR-T) cell therapy development.

A new report from Express Scripts examines patterns of costs and utilization associated with adherence to diabetes medications among a commercially insured population.

In response to the questions raised about its objectivity and the methodology of its projections, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has released a letter defending the impartiality of its work and explaining how it estimated the impact of House Republicans’ proposed healthcare bill, the American Health Care Act (AHCA).

Novo Nordisk announced that its diabetes drug liraglutide (Victoza) has been approved by the FDA for a new indication: it can reduce the risk of major cardiovascular (CV) events in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and existing CV disease.

Several studies and commentaries published during National Immunization Awareness Month have addressed strategies to bring the vaccine coverage rate higher. Here are 5 promising tactics discussed this month for boosting immunization rates.

A new study points to an association between use of high-dose vitamin B6 and B12 supplements and an increased risk of lung cancer in men, especially in those who smoke.

A new report finds that small businesses in the US are offering health benefits that are competitive with those offered by larger employers, but that workers at the smallest companies tend to pay higher premium costs.

Researchers have outlined a 6-item risk stratification tool that successfully predicted the likelihood that patients with diabetes will have a hypoglycemia-related emergency department visit or hospital admission.

A new study indicates that palliative care can significantly reduce end-of-life hospitalizations and aggressive procedures among Medicare beneficiaries with advanced cancer.

With the comment period now concluded, CMS has received nearly 1300 comments on its proposed amendments to the Quality Payment Program established by the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA).