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The New York Times reported today that the drug store chain Rite Aid will buy Envision Pharmaceutical Services, a pharmacy benefit manager, for $2 billion.

A new approach to caring for patients undergoing colorectal surgery has shown faster recovery times, fewer complications, improved patient satisfaction, and reduced medical costs, according to a team of researchers.

Although this year's enrollment period has gone far smoother compared to the first year, there is much room for improvement particularly when it comes to helping consumers make informed decisions, according to a report commissioned by the National Partnership for Women & Families.

The official measles count is up to 121 cases in 17 states, and while there has been much talk about what an awful disease it is and the ramifications of not vaccinating, only a handful of people have talked about costs. Measles is expensive.

The study evaluated average cost-sharing for those receiving subsidies in Silver Plans in the 37 states that would be affected by King v. Burwell. In that case, plaintiffs argue that the plain language of the Affordable Care Act does not allow consumers to receive subsidies if they live in states using the federal heath insurance marketplace.

If the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee drops cholesterol from the list of "nutrients of concern," it will be consistent with a 2013 task force finding as well as the panel's focus on dietary patterns, or the mix of foods that Americans eat and their effect on population health.

It has a long way to go, but Medicare's Hospital Compare initiative may go a long way in reducing the cost of care, according to the findings of one research study.

Following reports last week of a bid, it has now been confirmed that the Canadian company Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc will buy Provenge-maker Dendreon.

The results published in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology found that the response rate to tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy was significantly higher in classic vs rare EGFR mutations.

Cybersecurity has been at the forefront of people's minds in the wake Anthem's security breach with a new government agency and a new .

In a blog post, David Blumenthal, MD, and David Squire highlight the recent HHS report that showed improved patient care in hospitals between the period 2010-2013. They attribute the success to an increased understanding of safety issues, improved awareness among patients, and value-based payment models that incentivize performance-based payments.

The federal government could save millions of dollars each year if it truly established Medicaid as the "payer of last resort," a new audit has found.

The organization challenging Gilead is Médecins du Monde (MdM), an NGO that provides healthcare for vulnerable people around the world.

Almost 6.5 million individuals using the federally facilitated Marketplace qualify for an average of $268 per person per month in advanced premium tax credits, according to a new report from HHS.

An editorial accompanying the meta-analysis discussed the challenges physicians face when evaluating individual patient needs against guidelines. In the United States, the movement toward reimbursement based on population health measures has raised questions about whether it makes sense for patients to be given multiple medications to achieve small improvements toward targets. Results must be weighed against increased side affects or large out-of-pocket expenditures.

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital investigators have discovered inherited genetic variations associated with rapid hearing loss in young cancer patients treated with the drug cisplatin, as published in Nature Genetics.

Interim analysis during a phase 3 study of Ixazomib in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma found that the drug improved the primary endpoint of progression-free survival.

Despite studies suggesting higher spending levels do not necessarily produce better health outcomes, a new paper to be published in the Journal of Political Economy found the opposite to be true with regard to emergency care.

Achillon's NS5A inhibitor is being evaluated with Gilead's Sovaldi in treatment-naive hepatitis C patients.

Emory University and WellStar Health System are engaged in formal discussions to create a new, unified health system to provide care throughout metro Atlanta, Georgia, and beyond.

A disease management program at the University of Minnesota revealed only some targeted chronic diseases benefitted from the program while others were unaffected.

With a significant increase in their numbers on Capitol Hill, Republicans theoretically have more power to undo President Obama's healthcare overhaul, but they also have more responsibility for the results.

Researchers were not sure whether breast cancer patients were refusing radiation or whether women and their physicians have a lack of awareness of its importance after a mastectomy.

The drug has been approved for treatment-naive patients who are ineligible for transplant.

Sunday marked the beginning of the last week of open enrollment under the Affordable Care Act, and at last count, 9.9 million individuals had signed up for Marketplace covered, according to numbers from HHS.

A governor-appointed panel said expanding Medicaid via an alternative funding plan they developed would save Idaho $173 million over the next 10 years.

In December 2013, New Hampshire began the statewide transition to risk-based managed care in its Medicaid program. A report from the Urban Institute found that initial implementation of managed care went relatively smoothly.

Amid the growing debate about the high price of powerful new drugs in the United States, a recent analysis suggests that breakthrough therapies for blood cancers may, in many cases and with some important caveats, provide reasonable value for money spent.

Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act was dealt 2 swift blows in Republican-led states this week, first in Tennessee and again just a day later in Wyoming.

In a study of 10 large health systems, Dartmouth investigators found that implementation of pilot accountable care organizations did not limit spending on discretionary or non-discretionary cardiovascular treatment for patients.