Interviews

Early rhythm control was associated with a marked reduction in cardiovascular deaths among at-risk stroke patients, said Paulus Kirchhof, MD, director of the department of cardiology at the University Heart and Vascular Center UKE Hamburg, and professor of cardiovascular medicine at the Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences at the University of Birmingham.

When results from the EMPA-REG OUTCOME trial came out, nobody was expecting empagliflozin to have a particularly robust benefit on heart failure and several questions were raised as a result, said Javed Butler, MD, MPH, MBA, chairman for the Department of Medicine at the University of Mississippi.

Through EVAPORATE, we've been able to show at 18 months that patients taking icosapent ethyl (Vascepa) have less plaque and that there is some atherosclerosis regression, marking mechanisms of benefit for these patients, said Matthew Budoff, MD, professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and investigator at The Lundquist Institute.

Anthony Fauci, MD, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, spoke recently with The American Journal of Managed Care®. During the interview, we asked about health burdens that disproportionately affect Black and other multiracial US communities.

By increasing access and awareness of mental health services, employers can assist in addressing concerns precipitated by pandemic and racial injustice to curb potentially severe and persistent mental illness, said Joe Grasso, PhD, clinical director of partnerships at Lyra Health.

The impact of impaired sleep, which is more frequent among adolescents, was associated with a greater risk of asthma and allergies among this age group, but association does not equal causation. As a result, these associations warrant greater investigation, as well as the potential effects of social determinants of health such as race and socioeconomic status, said Lakiea Wright, MD, practicing physician at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston and the medical director at Thermo Fisher Scientific.

Whether you fit into the older or younger demographic, staying up to date on eye care is key as growing risks of cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and macular degeneration are leading causes of blindness. Moreover, reducing the structural barriers to eye care, which disproportionately affect blacks and Afro Latinos, can assist in advancing the availability of eye health nationwide, said Daniel Laroche, MD, director of Glaucoma Services and president of Advanced Eye Care of New York.

The COVID-19 pandemic spotlighted the lack of preparation and notable disruptions in the US health care delivery system. To optimally transition to delivering high quality and affordable care, findings from a report by the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions and the Council for Accountable Physician Practices (CAPP) suggest that enhanced care coordination, greater investment in delivery systems and primary care, and aligning reimbursement with patient outcomes is warranted, said Norman Chenven, MD, vice chairman of CAPP.

All patients with cancer deserve a fair shot at survival, and this includes access to clinical trials. At present, however, access to these trials is restricted under Medicaid coverage, necessitating a need for change at the federal policy level, noted Fumiko Chino, MD, assistant attending radiation oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, in an interview for ASCO20 Virtual, this year’s annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

In addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, a more active-based approach is warranted among employers to optimize care. Through detailed databases and a greater focus on population health, Paladina Health has promoted this transition to a more informed, value-based health care delivery system, said Kirk Rosin, chief revenue officer of Paladina Health.

The effect of chronic fibrosing ILD with progressive phenotype on personal relationships with friends and family.

Today, The American Journal of Managed Care® is speaking with 2 experts to discuss the root causes of racial inequities in cancer care. Dr John Carpten, professor at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, outlines what needs to happen to improve cancer outcomes for minority populations and support minority scientists, and Dr Russell Ledet, president of The 15 White Coats and medical student at Tulane University School of Medicine, explains the steps to breaking down the barriers to medical school for those from marginalized communities.

Concerns and precautions for a patient living with chronic fibrosing ILD with progressive phenotype during the coronavirus pandemic.

Based on findings from our COVID-19 Reopening the Workplace Survey, employers are increasing focus on safety, enhancing well-being programs, and providing flexibility to accommodate employees who may be at-risk or may shoulder a greater caregiving responsibility, said Regina Ihrke, senior director and wellbeing leader of Willis Towers Watson in North America.

Insurance coverage concerns and difficulties while seeking care for chronic fibrosing ILD with progressive phenotype.

The Affordable Care Act encourages preventive care, like cancer screenings, by eliminating copays, so that additional years will only see the number of lives saved grow, noted Fumiko Chino, MD, assistant attending radiation oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, in an interview prior to ASCO20 Virtual, this year’s annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

The management of chronic fibrosing ILD with progressive phenotype through immunosuppressants and oxygen is examined as well as the effect on lifestyle.

A patient perspective of initial diagnosis of chronic fibrosing ILD with progressive phenotype and the subsequent impact on quality of life.

Dawn Repola recalls her journey to diagnosis of chronic fibrosing interstitial lung disease with progressive phenotype and relays frustrations along the way.

To mark the 25th anniversary of The American Journal of Managed Care®, we spoke with Anthony Fauci, MD, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). Fauci has been at NIAID for 36 years, and he gave a keynote address at the 6th International AIDS Conference in San Francisco in 1990. Here he speaks on progress that has been made in the fight against HIV and AIDS, from AZT to Truvada to undetectable viral loads; why there is no cure just yet; and how the first tumultuous years of the AIDS crisis shaped research for decades to come.

Using electronic health records of patients with cancer can provide a better understanding of which interventions and treatments are possible and can give patients the best outcomes, explained Blythe Adamson, PhD, MPH, principal quantitative scientist at Flatiron Health, in an interview for ASCO20 Virtual, this year’s annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Even before the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the struggle to curb the opioid epidemic in the United States has produced disappointing outcomes. Now that COVID-19 and the resulting social distancing requirements have allowed the opioid epidemic to flourish, authors in the July issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® suggest an alternative approach that emphasizes building resiliency and investing in social support. Marcelina Jasmine Silva, DO, joined us to discuss the current approaches to opioid use and potential lessons to be learned from COVID-19.

The addition of Kynmobi, a discreet, under the tongue treatment of OFF periods in patients with Parkinson disease, adds to the growing market of innovations in care, said Stewart Factor, DO, professor of Neurology and director of the Movement Disorders Program at the Emory University School of Medicine.

Benchmarking, accountability, bilateralism, and scalability are the 4 parameters critical to successful alternative payment models in oncology, said Aaron Lyss, MBA, director of strategy and business development at Tennessee Oncology.

There are a growing number of innovations within treatment of OFF periods in Parkinson disease that seek to address this unmet need in patient care, said Stewart Factor, DO, professor of Neurology and director of the Movement Disorders Program at the Emory University School of Medicine.

In each performance period of the Oncology Care Model for which we've received data, we've seen different aspects of care that we can improve upon in the following 6 months, said Aaron Lyss, MBA, director of strategy and business development at Tennessee Oncology.

Unlike in fee-for-service, we have an amazing opportunity to begin to understand and build in factors that will keep patients healthy and give them the best outcomes possible, said Lili Brillstein, CEO of Brillstein Collaborative Consulting, and former Director for Episodes of Care at Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.

The Oncology Care Model (OCM) has helped practices develop their capacity to use data for continuous quality improvement, said Aaron Lyss, MBA, director of strategy and business development at Tennessee Oncology.

There will never be all mandatory payment models or all value-based models, but we can craft a value-based model around just about anything as long as everybody agrees on what the criteria is, said Lili Brillstein, CEO of Brillstein Collaborative Consulting, and former Director for Episodes of Care at Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.

Forming an action plan to manage treatment of patients with epilepsy, as well as factors such as stress and anxiety that may be intensified amid the COVID-19 pandemic, can assist in lessening the uptick of seizures and emergency department use, said James Wheless, MD, director of the Le Bonheur Comprehensive Epilepsy Program and chief of the Department of Pediatric Neurology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.