Giuliana Grossi

Due to the frequent rejection of claims for noninvasive ventilators by Medicare Advantage plans, individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are experiencing disproportionately high rates of hospital admissions.

New research highlights racial disparities in hemophilia care, revealing that Black and Hispanic patients are significantly less likely to receive immune tolerance induction treatment compared with White patients, even after considering clinical factors.

“The silencing of Black cancer patient voices impacted patients’ health care utilization and had implications for their physical health,” the authors wrote.

Industry stakeholders and patient advocacy groups are raising concerns with CMS due to high denial rates for non-invasive ventilators (NIVs) by Medicare Advantage plans.

Care in the fourth-trimester, when the birth has taken place and the mother and baby return home, is crucial for the well-being of the mother or the birthing person, Takiyah Durham, MBA, explains in an interview.

Phathom Pharmaceuticals' vonoprazan (Voquenza) sets a new standard in erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) therapy.

Poor sleep and insomnia symptoms were both associated with an increased likelihood of elevated emotional exhaustion among emergency health care workers.

“Our findings further reinforce that place is important and that the social, economic, and health care equity context is key to minimizing health care expenditure disparities for Black adults in the US," investigators explain.

The findings from a recent study unveiled notable distinctions in bleeding rates between etranacogene dezaparvovec and the standard prophylactic factor IX (FIX) products among individuals diagnosed with hemophilia B.

The study identified practical instruments for monitoring physical function in people with hemophilia by pinpointing 11 potential markers and establishing performance-based tests for 5 of these activities.

While clinical trials offer controlled data, real-world studies like HEM-POWR bridge gaps, confirming damoctocog alfa pegol’s effectiveness and tolerance, establishing it as a valuable hemophilia A treatment option.

A pair of studies found the common morning ritual of hitting the snooze button doesn't dilute the quality of sleep and can improve cognitive function after awakening.

Margaret Larkins-Pettigrew, MD, and First Steps and Beyond director Takiyah Durham, MBA, explain how the community-centered program ensures pregnant patients are equipped with resources while receiving equitable care.

Individuals with genetic syndromes or neurodevelopmental conditions experienced shorter and poorer quality sleep, while those with heterogeneous intellectual disabilities had comparable duration but lower quality to controls.

“There are things more important than our discomfort, and there are things that are more important than even our fear—inclusion is more important,” said Erica Marsh, MD, MSCI. “Our care of our patients and loved ones is more important, and our existence tomorrow has to be more important than our fears today.”

Valerie Montgomery Rice, MD, FACOG, a distinguished infertility specialist, highlights the pivotal role of cultural humility, diversity, acknowledgment of historical injustices, and collective action in addressing disparities and fostering equitable access to health care.

In the aftermath of the Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization ruling, Anita Allen, PhD, highlights the challenges to abortion rights in the United States, emphasizing disparities faced by marginalized communities, outlining threats to reproductive health care, and calling for collective action and advocacy to defend constitutional privacy and uphold the dignity of all individuals.

"The racial and ethnic distribution of United States sperm donors differs significantly from the United States population, particularly for those of African American or Black descent,” Cassie Hobbs, MD, explained.

Wiyatta Fahnbulleh, PsyD, and Pamela Blackwell, PsyD, LMSW, presented on the cultural limitations of the Personality Assessment Inventory and Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory for assessing individuals for third-party reproduction.

Nearly 50% of pregnancies worldwide are unplanned, leading to significant health, economic, and environmental consequences, Stephanie Page, MD, PhD, explains in her presentation at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine 2023 Scientific Congress & Expo.

Results show engaging in unstructured physical activities, even those of low intensity and carried out in the morning and early afternoon, is linked to reduced average glucose levels throughout the day and night.

Older patients often face financial challenges on fixed incomes with different payer systems like Medicare, Sarah Wall, MD, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, says. Accessing treatment centers far away is difficult due to support system disruptions, leading to increased stress and financial strain.

David Adamson, MD, FRCSC, FACOG, FACS, reproductive endocrinologist, surgeon, founder and CEO of ARC Fertility, and past president of The American Society for Reproductive Medicine, discusses the importance of professional guidelines in reproductive medicine.

The American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) 2023 Scientific Congress & Expo in New Orleans will focus on the latest advancements and challenges in reproductive health, including new treatments and technology, evolving legislation, and the importance of professional guidelines.

Director Takiyah Durham, MBA, and Margaret Larkins-Pettigrew, MD, share how the program is improving maternal and infant care in Pittsburgh, PA, at Highmark Health.

A commentary questions the characterization of cryoprecipitate, which is not pathogen-reduced, as an alternative modality for treating hemophilia, despite its substantial risk of transmitting blood-borne pathogens to patients.

Based on the comprehensive findings of a review, investigators outline several crucial policy implications, each designed to address the complex issue of bias mitigation in clinical algorithms effectively.

The data show the average age of dialysis in the least vulnerable neighborhoods was 68.2 years old, but 59.4 years—almost a decade earlier—in the most vulnerable.

Fresenius Vascular Care's own research reportedly showed these surgeries not only failed to benefit patients with end-stage renal disease, but also potentially damaged their ability to receive essential dialysis treatment.

Madeleine McDowell, MD, hopes these data insights will help change providers' behavior in terms of adopting earlier and more regular screening for chronic kidney disease (CKD).