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What we're reading, February 5, 2016: new legislation could expand the use of telehealth under Medicare; Massachusetts finds its physicians only screen for depression half the time; and Martin Shkreli pleads the Fifth during most of his testimony before Congress.

The latest piece in HHS’ roadmap to move the healthcare industry to value-based payments is the Accountable Health Communities model. Here are 5 things to know about how this model addresses social determinants of health.

The paper in Cancer Medicine finds that cancer has a devastating and age-specific impact on the finances of young adult survivors.

Data from 2 large studies of patients with metastatic disease who underwent myelosuppressive chemotherapy found that febrile neutropenia occurred in approximately 13% to 21% of patients. Associated costs of febrile neutropenia were found to range from $16,000 to $19,000 per episode for most hospitalized patients.

One of the primary drivers of healthcare waste is administrative inefficiency. While the industry implements remedies and solutions with electronic prescriptions and electronic claims transfer and processing, the gorilla in the room that no one mentions is CMS.

The findings are troubling in light of other recent findings that connect obesity during pregnancy with autism.

The annual Clinical Cancer Advances report from the American Society of Clinical Oncology highlights the accomplishments made in the last year in the fight against cancer.

What we're reading, February 4, 2016: President Obama is proposing changes to the widely disliked Cadillac tax; Florida declares a health emergency in 4 counties over Zika virus; and drug makers are pouring money into efforts to improve medication adherence.

Polling finds that most Americans have not had to switch doctors, but past polling has found that being able to see a doctor of their choice is very important to consumers.

On World Cancer Day, The American Journal of Managed Care would like to acknowledge the determination of cancer survivors and the support provided by various organizations to patients and their families.

Another study that suggests sitting is "the new smoking."

This week, the World Health Organization labelled the Zika virus a public health emergency. Here is a look at the evidence of the relationship between the virus and microcephaly.

While the costs of private Medicare Advantage plans are slightly less, on average, than traditional Medicare, broad determinations can be misleading, a new report finds.

Rising drug prices, the effect on the healthcare system, consumer push-back, and possible solutions were debated by the expert panel.

Researchers from the Urban Institute find UnitedHealth's statements about leaving the exchanges at odds with recent actions.

What we're reading, February 3, 2016: President Obama is asking Congress for $1.1 billion to combat the opioid abuse epidemic; 7 blockbuster drugs with the potential for more than $1 billion in sales each are expected in 2016; and less than half of infants are vaccinated against the flu.

Pediatric oncologists from across the country covened a task force to develop an ethical framework that guides decisions on allocation based on curability, prognosis, and the incremental importance of a drug to a patient’s outcome

CDC is concerned about the effects of alcohol consumed before women know they are pregnant, in light of studies that show women are now drinking almost as much as men.

Among 7 developed countries, the United States has the lowest proportion of deaths that occur in the hospital and the lowest number of days spent in the hospital during the last 6 months of life.

Coordinating mental health and treatment of chronic disease has gained traction since the passage of the Affordable Care Act.

Nearly one-third of national medical malpractice complaints involve some form of communication failure, according to the report “Malpractice Risks in Communication Failures” from CRICO.

What we're reading, February 2, 2016: Aetna joins other major insurers raising concerns over the Affordable Care Act's insurance exchanges; Sanofi announces plans to develop a Zika vaccine; and Martin Shkreli expected to testify despite dismissing the subpoena.

Contrary to popular perceptions that healthcare financing in the US is predominantly private, Americans pay the world’s highest health-related taxes, study finds.

Annual report from the United States Renal Data System reveals positive and negative trends in kidney disease and touches on several topics related to the prevalence, costs, and treatment of the diseases.

The generic manufacturer may try to maximize profits during the initial exclusivity period, says an expert from a leading health plan.

Medication adherence among patients with chronic conditions is estimated to cost $100 billion in North America.

With increasing evidence of comparable efficacy and reduced toxicity of proton beam therapy, payers may have to reevaluate coverage policies.

What we're reading, February 1, 2016: some medical researchers disagree with sharing raw data used in their research; the medical community is torn on whether or not the annual checkup is worthwhile; and Donald Trump vows to extend healthcare coverage to the lower class.

Providing cancer patients with multiple life-threatening conditions with earlier palliative care consultation can be helpful in bringing down healthcare spending in enormous proportions, according to a new study published in Health Affairs.

Each month, The American Journal of Managed Care hosts a Twitter chat (#AJMCchat) with a different expert. This month’s chat covered care pathways and featured Robert W. Dubois, MD, from the National Pharmaceutical Council.