Christina is the associate editorial director of The American Journal of Managed Care® (AJMC®) and The American Journal of Accountable Care® (AJAC), and joined AJMC in 2016. She oversees the publication of the print journals, from manuscript submission to publication, and works with the editors in chief and editorial boards to promote the journals.
She has a BS in public health from Rutgers University. You can connect with Christina on LinkedIn.
Cancer Trial Participants Can Successfully Self-Report Adverse Events
February 20th 2017Adverse events from cancer clinical trials are currently reported by trial investigators, but a recent feasibility study found that patients can successfully and accurately report their own symptoms if given the opportunity.
Patients Treated by Frequent Opioid Prescribers in ED Often Continue Use Long-Term
February 20th 2017New research indicates that Medicare patients were more likely to continue using opioid painkillers a year after a visit to the emergency department if they had been treated there by a physician that frequently prescribes opioids.
Aetna Becomes Latest Insurer to End Prior Authorization for Opioid Treatment
February 16th 2017Following similar actions by Cigna and Anthem, Aetna has announced it will do away with requirements that force doctors to get approval from the insurer before prescribing medications to treat opioid addiction.
Hearing Testimonies Tout Benefits of Mental Health—Primary Care Integration
February 15th 2017The Senate Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies held a hearing today to discuss mental health treatments and services, as witnesses discussed the progress they had seen and further steps needed to solve the crisis.
New Jersey Poised to Pass Opioid Treatment Mandate - and Health Plans Are Part of the Solution
February 14th 2017The legislature is expected to give final passage to the nation's strictest treatment mandates and a 5-day cap on the initial opioid prescription. Governor Chris Christie's plan has met little resistance, even though the cost is unknown.
AHRQ Initiative to Assess Role of Primary Care in Preventing Readmissions
February 13th 2017The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has conducted numerous initiatives in hopes of preventing hospital readmissions, but a recently proposed project would examine ways to achieve this goal with a focus on the primary care setting.
Community Health Records Offer IT Approach to Improving Population Wellness
February 12th 2017Community health records have the potential to transform the way stakeholders work to improve health at the community level by aggregating local data on the social and physical determinants of health, according to a recent commentary in the American Journal of Public Health.
Self-Management Interventions Could Improve Outcomes for Low-Income Diabetics
February 10th 2017A study assessed the effectiveness of a support intervention delivered by community health workers in the homes of low-income diabetics and found that it may have improved outcomes for those with poor glycemic control.
Safety Nets for Undocumented Immigrants With ESRD Fall Short
February 9th 2017A recent investigation into the experiences of undocumented Hispanic immigrants with end-stage renal disease reveals that their inability to access regular dialysis can have devastating physical and emotional ramifications.
Parity Law Boosted Access to Mental Health Services for Kids With Autism
February 8th 2017After the passage of the 2008 Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, children with autism spectrum disorder used more mental health services and functional therapies while out-of-pocket spending remained level, according to a recent study.
Low-Income Women Less Likely to Keep Jobs After Breast Cancer Treatment
February 7th 2017Women with breast cancer are twice as likely to return to work after treatment if their employer makes accommodations for them, but workplace accommodation and job retention are significantly lower for low-income and minority women.
Population-Level Weight Maintenance Programs Could Help Prevent Diabetes, Study Finds
February 6th 2017A recent study indicated that strategies to promote weight loss or maintenance across an entire population could be more effective in preventing type 2 diabetes than programs specifically targeting obese people at high risk of developing the disease.
Report Commissioned by COA Explores "Murky" World of Pharmacy DIR Fees
February 2nd 2017A white paper commissioned by the Community Oncology Alliance (COA) delved into the practice of “direct and indirect remuneration” fees administered by pharmacy benefit managers and how they could drive up drug prices for Medicare Part D beneficiaries and taxpayers.
More Patients Willing to Switch to Telehealth Providers
January 28th 2017A recent survey of consumers found that 1 in 5 were willing to switch from their current primary care physician to one that offered telehealth visits. Researchers noted a particular interest among the survey respondents in using telehealth to manage a chronic illness or get a prescription refilled.
ACA Draws Support From Physicians, but Also Conservative Medicaid Expansion States
January 26th 2017A pair of commentaries published in the New England Journal of Medicine explored the popularity of the Affordable Care Act among both US physicians and residents of red states that have expanded Medicaid. Legislators preparing to repeal the law will need to contend with the widespread support for some of its components, even in unexpected regions of the nation.
COPD Undertreatment Actually Led to Fewer Exacerbations, Study Finds
January 25th 2017A study of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) treated at a Veterans Administration hospital in New York found an unexpected relationship: the veterans who were undertreated according to treatment guidelines had lower rates of COPD exacerbation events.