February 2016

Big Data analyses are observational, raising threats to causal inference. Validity checks help, but we must not let enthusiasm about Big Data obscure the science.

Over a 10-year time frame, longitudinal adherence to current colorectal cancer (CRC) screening guidelines was less than ideal in a large, continuously insured US population at average risk for CRC.

A national survey of health plans shows that price estimator tools available to commercial plan enrollees provide price information for a variety of services at the provider level.

This study identified 4 distinct medication adherence trajectories and found that continuity of care was consistently associated with medication adherence in every trajectory group.

Geisinger Health System’s $0 co-pay drug program for its chronically ill employee population is associated with positive cost savings and a 5-year return-on-investment of approximately 1.8.

Re-analysis of US Preventive Services Task Force colorectal cancer screening guidelines shows that every-3-year screening with multi-target sDNA could address poor performance of recommended annual testing.

Assessment of the timing of histologic and molecular testing indicates that testing occurred prior to treatment initiation for most patients with metastatic non—small cell lung cancer.

This article analyzes use of lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging in a national sample of patients with low back pain.

Medicare Advantage beneficiaries were 1.06 times more likely to receive mammography compared with fee-for-service (FFS) beneficiaries. FFS providers were less likely to recommend mammograms to racial/ethnic groups.

A systematic review of the impact and rationale for the selection of adjustment factors (case-mix factors) used to describe performance in diabetes care.