COPD

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is a comparatively small part of the federal budget, but its research priorities for FY 2016 affect areas that consume huge sums.

This article outlines the frequency of transfers of patients with ambulatory care-sensitive conditions from nursing homes to emergency departments or hospitals, and provides reliable estimates of associated costs.

Substantive outcome improvement and savings to Medicaid may be achieved with small changes in prescribing rates or comorbidity prevalence among patients with heart failure.

Growing up in a smoke-free home is now the overwhelming norm for most Americans, with the share of smoke-free homes nearly doubling in the 20 years that ended in 2011, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said today in a new study. Overall, the prevalence of smoke-free home rules increased from 43 percent during 1992—1993 to 83 percent during 2010—2011, according to the study, which appears in today's Mortality and Morbidity Weekly Report, published by CDC.

Pearson emphasized a coordination of care, between the primary care provider, the pharmacist, and payers, to improve patient care.

Amid two seemingly unrelated trends, the rise of high-deductible health plans and the growing prevalence and burden of chronic diseases, it may time to rethink the concept and regulation of preventive services, argue advocates of value-based insurance.

EBRC takes a special look at Smoking and Health, the 1964 report to the Surgeon General that forever changed how this country thought about cigarettes, on the eve of its 50th anniversary.

A consumer-directed health plan with a health savings account was associated with reduced adherence for 4 of 5 conditions.

Smoking and Health: A Public Health Milestone

Brian Carlin, MD, FCCP, Allegheny General Hospital, discusses the challenges in reducing 30-day readmission rates, specifically as they apply to congestive heart failure, pneumonia, and COPD. The biggest challenge of all is setting up a coordinated team care effort, says Dr Carlin.

Although there has been a concentrated focus on pulmonary vascular diseases at this year's CHEST conference, there have also been a number of studies released that pertain to cardiovascular events, such as congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Here are some of the highlights in these areas.

Early initiation of maintenance medication in patients with moderate to severe COPD exacerbations is associated with reduced risk of future exacerbations and lower costs.

Initiation of fluticasone propionate–salmeterol after a COPD-related hospitalization or ED visit decreased the risk of a recurrent event and reduced COPD-related medical costs.