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The need for health equity spans the entire health care ecosystem, including the Medicare Advantage (MA) population. Neutralizing social determinants of health (SDOH) barriers, well-informed adherence strategies help MA plans navigate new CMS measurement frameworks, like the Health Equity Index.

On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with the authors of a study published in the February 2024 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® about their findings on how health plans can screen for health literacy, social determinants of health, and perceived health care discrimination.

A ruling against Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America marks victory for efforts to lower health care costs; new guidelines align with flu and respiratory syncytial virus protocols; children and pregnant individuals are burdened with long-term health symptoms in the aftermath of COVID-19.

A single-institution, retrospective cohort study evaluates knowledge gaps in clinical data on Black patients with melanoma.

Consolidation durvalumab led to comparable outcomes among older patients with unresectable stage III non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) vs a younger cohort with the same cancer; this patient population was underrepresented in the PACIFIC trial.

A national single-center observational retrospective study reveals the long-term benefits of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS).

Risankizumab is an effective treatment option for patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), according to a recent meta-analysis.

A real-world comparison of 2 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies—axicabtagene ciloleucel and tisagenlecleucel—suggests the former is associated with better efficacy but higher toxicity.

Over the past 20 years, Medicare physician pay has plummeted by 26% when adjusted for inflation, while hospital reimbursement has surged by 70%, prompting over 100,000 doctors to abandon independent practice for hospital or corporate employment since 2019.

For the first time, investigators found that the replacement of salt with a salt substitute not only reduced hypertension, but did not also increase hypotension, a key factor for older adults.

These modifiable environmental factors were independently associated with asthma severity, according to one study.

Although corticosteroids were found to immediately improve best-corrected visual acuity and central macular thickness, anti–vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapies had significant long-term advantages when treating diabetic macular edema.

Participants in the Risk Assessment and Management Program-Diabetes Mellitus had reduced risks of developing all-cause dementia by 28%, Alzheimer disease by 15%, vascular dementia by 39%, and other or unspecified dementia by 29%.

Overcoming insurance hurdles for critical medications; rising heat and wildfires reverse decades of clean air progress; conflicts between parents and schools arise as teens seek mental health support

The findings follow endorsement of the screening measure from the American Diabetes Association, which recommended the practice to identify patients who have type 1 diabetes (T1D) who could benefit from targeted strategies to prevent symptomatic heart failure (HF).

Catch up on this week's news at the Center on Health Equity and Access.

Research suggests moderate to vigorous physical activity may help improve cognitive function in breast cancer survivors who have undergone chemotherapy and developed cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI).

This retrospective analysis compared molecular testing outcomes among newly diagnosed cases of metastatic non–small cell lung cancer (mNSCLC) from 2 periods: March 2017 to May 2019 and July 2019 to March 2021.

The overall decline was mainly driven by decreased incidences of epithelial cancers in the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or peritoneum, as well as a decrease in the number of patients diagnosed with epithelial cancer, especially in advanced stages.

A cross-sectional comparative study demonstrated the increased prevalence of hearing impairment in children and adults with sickle cell disease (SCD) or sickle cell traits compared with healthy individuals.

Dubbed the FLEX trial, the study will explore whether batoclimab will address important patient needs throughout different phases of the myasthenia gravis (MG).

A longitudinal, observational study found that the choroid plexus, a network of blood vessels in each ventricle of the brain, plays a potential role in the neurodegenerative and chronic inflammatory process experienced by patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (MS).

Patients enrolled in a preventive drug list (PDL) benefit saw an 8.4% reduction in acute, preventable diabetes complication days, and PDL members residing in lower-income areas saw a 10.2% decrease compared with control members.

A wave of drug supply chain problems would occur if the FDA pulled cough and cold medications containing the active ingredient phenylephrine from shelves; lawmakers in 19 states are considering bills allowing medically assisted death; tuberculosis awareness is lagging as state and local health departments lack the resources to keep up with prevention and control efforts.

The data also show how the economic burden of chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) is increasing.

Coverage of our peer-reviewed research and news reporting in the health care and mainstream press.

Meta-analysis results identify high and low associations of various comorbidities like vitamin D deficiencies, ocular diseases, among others in patients with alopecia areata (AA), to promptly manage and improve treatment outcomes.

Circumstantial and direct evidence, including a review of twin and backtracking studies, demonstrate potential prenatal development of acute childhood leukemias.

The mobile intervention teams mark a significant step forward in federal efforts to transform mental health services across the nation, as New Mexico becomes the 15th state to adopt this option under the American Rescue Plan.

A provision in the Inflation Reduction Act will implement a $2000 out-of-pocket cap on Medicare beneficiaries’ prescription drug spending, which could save money for more than 1 million enrollees when it takes effect next year.