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Some progress and a lot of room for improvement in the latest Hospital Safety Score report.

What we're reading, November 2, 2015: third open enrollment under the Affordable Care Act kicks off; common medical tests are being done inaccurately; and hospitals and the government settle over cardiac device implants.

During the last 5 years of life, the cost of dementia eclipses that of other diseases, like cancer and heart disease, according to a study from the National Institutes of Health.

Healthcare spending for the privately insured increased 3.4% in 2014 despite a decline in the use of healthcare services.

Advocacy groups say it's long past time for Medicare to cover continuous glucose monitoring, which is standard of care and funded by most commercial payers.

A majority of pharmacies are committed to implementing an electronic prior authorization (ePA) solution that sends prior authorization requests electronically to the prescriber.

This week in managed care, The American Journal of Managed Care celebrated 20 years and presented its first Emerging Leader award, plus confusion reigns after study links processed meats to cancer and death rates on the decline.

Novartis' dual combination bronchodilator Utibron Neohaler inhalation powder for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has received FDA approval. It is not indicated to treat asthma or sudden symptoms of COPD.

With the expansion, UnitedHealthcare will bring 5 more oncology practices on board to participate in its bundled program, which will grow the program to 650 oncologists across 7 states.

What we're reading, October 29, 2015: Fewer health plans will be available on HealthCare.gov in 2016; PBMs cut ties with pharmacy connected to Valeant; and emergency departments are dissatisfied with electronic health record interoperability.

Highlights from this week's news about the big transaction between 2 retail pharmacy giants.

Patients who had access to their PCP's progress notes had improved adherence to prescribed antihypertension medications.

More states cover all recommended evidence-based treatments, although many require copayments or put annual limits on care.

Olaparib, a PARP inhibitor approved for treating BRCA1/2-mutated ovarian cancer, has been found effective in treating men with metastatic, castrate-resistant prostate cancer.

The study found subtypes aligned by likelihood to be obese, to have cancer or heart disease, or to have mental illness.

What we're reading, October 29, 2015: Pfizer and Allergan in talks to merge; the House passes a budget deal with implications for Medicare beneficiaries; and autism in children is being overdiagnosed.

The drug significantly delayed recurrence of the cancer in patients treated post surgery.

What we're reading, October 28, 2015: Ben Carson plans to replace the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, and Medicare; a homeless shelter utilizes telemedicine to alleviate emergency department visits; and researchers uncover gender gap in post-heart attack treatment.

A forum presented by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey and The Atlantic casts the debate over a state-level population health plan against national healthcare cost trends.

Twenty-four states have received grants to improve the behavioral health of their citizens by providing community-based mental and substance use disorder treatment.

Experiments with rats showed that specially engineered polymer patches attached to the intestine and delivered insulin.

Consolidation in the healthcare market continues with an announcement that Walgreens has entered into an agreement to purchase Rite Aid for a total of $17.2 billion.

The company says the treatment will cost an average of $65,000.

The ASCO statement emphasizes patient-centered reform that weighs-in the value of the services rendered.

Study finds a "lost opportunity" to reduce overtreatment and potential medication harm among patients with diabetes.

The ADA's Safe at School campaign seeks to highlight the need for personnel other than nurses to learn to help students with type 1 diabetes with insulin and glucagon. The population of students with type 1 is increasing.

While the age-standardized death rate for all causes of death combined, as well as heart disease, cancer, stroke, unintentional injuries, and diabetes, have slowed from 1969 to 2013, the rate for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease actually increased.

What we're reading, October 27, 2015: a much-improved Healthcare.gov website, report says drug prices rose at a much slower rate in 2015, and USPSTF recommends glucose testing in asymptomatic adults who are overweight or obese.

A study shows too much conflicting dietary advice causes some people to tune it all out. Nuances in the report from WHO are lost on most consumers.

The vaccine, approved in Europe last week, is now awaiting approval in the United States.