Population Health

On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we speak with Joanne Armstrong, MD, MPH, vice president and chief medical officer for Women’s Health and Genomics at CVS Health, on the distinct pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease in women and how her own health experiences have influenced her perspective on cardiovascular disease management.

Dermatology specialists were cited by diverse caregivers of children with atopic dermatitis (AD) to provide enhanced care delivery and improved AD disease control compared with primary care providers.

Atopic dermatitis was associated with the greatest burden of disease compared with 2 other types of dermatitis, in which high incidence and disability-adjusted life-years rates corresponded with high sociodemographic index areas.

The Supreme Court may vote to overturn abortion rights; Washington state reaches a $518 million settlement with 3 opioid distributors; a new study finds 7 hours of sleep is the optimal total for people of middle and old ages.

Lifestyle behaviors, such as body mass index and smoking, were shown to have a greater predictive impact regarding development of psoriasis compared with genetic predisposition.

To achieve health equity, experts from CVS Health discuss why we must invest in programs that improve access to health care for historically marginalized communities, address social determinants, boost health education, increase representation in all levels of health care delivery, widen access to clinical trial research, and more.

The US government is increasing access of Pfizer's COVID-19 antiviral pill to all pharmacies nationwide; stark hospitalization rates in unvaccinated children; a steady increase observed in US influenza cases and hospitalizations.

A federal judge revokes the federal mask requirement for public transit; Janssen settles it opioid-related lawsuit with West Virginia for $99 million; states are restricting abortion training for medical students and residents.

Several modifiable lifestyle factors were associated with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis in a patient cohort from the Netherlands, including smoking, alcohol consumption, and stress.

The FDA is increasing oversight of e-cigarettes and similar products that use synthetic nicotine; a lawsuit is brought over Philadelphia's reinstated mask mandate; a study shows drinking water may lower risk of heart failure.

Bristol Myers Squibb settles lawsuit on conspiring to block generic competition to HIV drugs; FDA grants emergency use authorization to a novel breath test that can detect COVID-19 within 3 minutes; health savings accounts (HSAs) are being used less effectively by minority and low-income populations.

Reducing low-value care means saving money, reducing potential harm, and creating room for high-value care to be delivered in the United States.

Panelists touted the ability to pay for items and repairs to keep Medicare beneficiaries healthier at home, avoiding potentially costly hospitalizations and complications.

Without addressing rising costs, the problem of underinsurance in health care coverage will remain, said panelists at the 2022 V-BID Summit, discussing some of the smaller steps that are being proposed or are already in place to try to ease the financial burden.

The Biden administration plans to expand Affordable Care Act (ACA) coverage to more families; new guidelines jointly announced by cardiology organizations for the treatment and prevention of heart failure; World Health Organization estimates that 99% of people worldwide are exposed to poor air quality.

Two abstracts presented at the 2022 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting explored the health-related quality of life (QOL) and mental health impact of psoriasis disease burden by severity and affected body region.

Later school start times are being considered to address youth mental health crises; states are taking action to enact legislation on opioid addiction and fentanyl-related deaths; Unilever recalls 2 Suave aerosol antiperspirant products due to a potential carcinogen.

Democrats and Republicans are near agreement on a $10 billion COVID-19 funding package; scientists perform the first complete, gapless sequence of a human genome; more than a third of high school students reported they experienced poor mental health during the pandemic.

An unprecedented level of detail and robustness around interoperability standards is on its way, and on this episode of Managed Care Cast, we speak with Donald Rucker, MD, the former National Coordinator for Health Information Technology in HHS, about what the opportunities and responsibilities for payers are.

Clinical trial recruitment and management strategies for diverse populations are among the challenges that affect dermatology care quality and access, according to panelists at the 2022 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting.

A panel discussion at the 2022 American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting addressed the association between food and skin manifestations, as well as dietary triggers and recommendations in the management of a myriad of dermatologic conditions.

In Poland, the prevalence of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps was shown to be greater in men, elderly individuals, and those living in urban areas.

From one-stop testing and treatment sites to boosting research and surveillance, Biden administration health officials expanded on the COVID-19 plan the president announced in his State of the Union address Tuesday night, but the plan will require additional funding from Congress.

A study finds that lower-dose vaccines given to children aged 5 to 11 years provides less protection against infection; President Joe Biden will announce a major overhaul of nursing home quality during his State of the Union speech; United Nations report highlights need for drastic action to address climate change.

A webinar by the National Cancer Treatment Alliance discussed current use and diagnostic/therapeutic benefits of comprehensive genomic profiling in oncology, as well as recommendations for employers and benefit consultants considering biomarker testing.

The redesigned accountable care organization (ACO) model is called the Realizing Equity, Access, and Community Health model and is scheduled to begin in 2023.

The representation of Black physicians is alarmingly low, but the opportunities for change are possible and urgent. Health care leaders and human resource departments need to address these disparities, and increasing diversity among their workforce is an excellent place to begin.

Biden administration officials request additional funding from Congress to manage the global COVID-19 pandemic; New York delays its COVID-19 booster vaccine mandate for health care workers amid staffing shortages; study finds racism affected treatment decisions and led to care disparities among Black patients.

Japanese children of parents whose family business was primarily industry, including agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, had a greater risk of atopic dermatitis (AD) development.

A JAMA Dermatology study found that greater exposure to air pollutants, such as carbon monoxide and fine particulate matter, were significantly associated with later psoriasis flares.