November 2018

Among veterans in Massachusetts, receipt of opioids from multiple sources, with or without benzodiazepines, was associated with worse opioid-related outcomes.

This pharmacist-led, patient-directed intervention demonstrated a reduction in opioid dispensings in the 90 days following hip replacement but not knee replacement.

The mean 24-week cost per participant was $5416 for extended-release injectable naltrexone (57% detoxification, 37% medication, 6% provider/patient) and $4148 for buprenorphine-naloxone (64% detoxification, 12% medication, 24% provider/patient).

New value frameworks should incorporate real-world evidence that reflects patient treatment behavior, adherence to medication, and equity concerns arising from disparities in care.

This letter argues that an editorial published in the August 2018 issue provides an unduly limited perspective of the impact of Choosing Wisely.

A cancer pain control program for inpatients based on electronic health record–based automatic screening provided effective pain relief and achieved high satisfaction among patients and physicians.

Alzheimer disease and other dementias (ADOD) have a substantial impact on the prevalence and costs of certain comorbid conditions compared with matched beneficiaries without ADOD.

We found race and age disparities not only in who adopted patient portal technology but also in which features were accessed by those who were adopters.

“Frequent flyers” significantly contribute to emergency department (ED) crowding. This study developed a predictive model that can be used to identify high-risk patients and reduce ED revisits.

A community-based care management program for high-risk patients reduced hospital readmissions and also likely reduced admissions and Medicare parts A and B spending.