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 in 2023, where she produces content covering multiple disease states.

She has a BA in journalism from Seton Hall University. You can connect with Brooke on 

Articles

Based on these findings, the investigators encourage further research into this promising combination.

Microwave Ablation Plus Chemotherapy Enhances PFS Without Added Toxicity in Advanced NSCLC

She has a BA in journalism & media studies and Spanish from Rutgers University. You can connect with Rose on 

Patients with mantle cell lymphoma experienced better survival rates when treated at academic centers compared with community facilities.

Treatment Facility Type Impacts Survival in Mantle Cell Lymphoma

Skylar is an associate editor for The American Journal of Managed Care® (AJMC®) and The Center for Biosimilars®, and joined AJMC® in 2020. She is responsible for covering all aspects of the ever-changing global biosimilar industry and produces content that is accessible and informative for all health care stakeholders.

She has a BA in journalism and media studies from Rutgers University. You can connect with Skylar on 

Research reveals a potential link between preeclampsia and increased risks of chronic kidney disease, urging careful monitoring post pregnancy.

History of Preeclampsia Associated With Increased CKD, ESKD Risk

. Her work focuses on disparities and systemic inequities in care and access to the health system, as well as the impacts of health policy on various racial, gendered, and socioeconomic communities. She seeks perspectives from experts in internal medicine, health equity, community outreach, clinical research, mental health, and legislative policy.

, she delved into rare disease coverage at HCPLive

, a sister publication, where she fostered connections that extended beyond the research community into that of health advocacy, paving the way to her current role. Her work has been featured in 

NewsBreak, CHEST Today, Contemporary Pediatrics, Contemporary OB/GYN, Dermatology Times, Drug Topics, Managed Healthcare Executive, RamaOnHealthcare, and CGTLive.

Federal grant terminations by SAMHSA threaten vital mental health and substance use services, risking lives amid rising suicide rates and addiction crises.

Trump Terminates Hundreds of SAMHSA Grants, Threatening Mental Health, Addiction Services Nationwide

The American Journal of Managed Care provides insights into the latest news and research in managed care across multimedia platforms.

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) speaks with Laxmi Patel, chief strategy officer at Savista, about how the proposed federal Budget Reconciliation Act could 

, rural hospital dependence, or provider tax funding could face the most immediate disruptions and what payers can do to prepare.

, this conversation explores how coverage loss, 

, and administrative burdens may evolve if these reforms move forward—and what proactive, 

Listen above or on one of these podcast services:

Laxmi Patel of Savista discusses how the Budget Reconciliation Act could widen Medicaid coverage gaps and strain hospitals across states.

How Medicaid Reforms Could Deepen State Coverage Gaps

, Colleen Ereditario, MPH, RD, LDN, program manager, shares how the “Food as Medicine” approach of 

 (AHN) addresses food insecurity and guides patients to improve their health.

Through its innovative Healthy Food Centers, AHN identifies patients at risk by using a screening tool focused on social drivers of health. Patients are then referred to 1 of 6 centers, where they receive immediate and low-barrier access to nutritious food. What sets these centers apart is that they are staffed by registered dietitians who provide personalized nutrition counseling, taking into account individual health needs and cultural preferences.

When aiming to meet the needs of a community or an individual, taking the time to understand their needs, instead of assuming you already know, should be the priority—one of the first things Ereditario observed when working with AHN in the early era of the program in 2018. “The best way to assess what their needs are is by asking the people that you're serving what they need,” she says. “That's how you're going to provide the most valuable resources: just listening to what they're saying.”

Nutrition is a key factor for health; when access to food is limited to low-quality options or hindered altogether, it has direct consequences on an individual’s health and can easily exacerbate chronic conditions. "Because there is a strong correlation between those who are food insecure and having poor health outcomes, that's why we really address these services within the health care system," Ereditario explains. 

AHN collaborates with local food banks and organizations to ensure a steady supply of fresh produce and essential items. Ereditario also discusses the implications of potential Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit cuts and how these changes can impact demand and resource allocation. When looking to the future of the Health Food Centers, she shares plans to expand services and meet community needs through partnerships and grants.

Learn about how Allegheny Health Network's "Food as Medicine" initiative tackles food insecurity and enhances health through personalized nutrition support.

Frameworks for Advancing Health Equity: Food as Medicine

 is part of the Frameworks for Advancing Health Equity series from the 

, setting the stage for a deep dive into program initiatives across the US dedicated to mitigating health care disparities by closing the accessibility gap.

Elizabeth Warner, MD, FACS, MHCDS, chief medical officer of Capital District Physicians’ Health Plan (CDPHP), delves into the Wellness Way initiative—a collaborative effort between CDPHP and the largest independent physician practice in the region, Community Care Physicians (CCP). The new health care facility was designed to improve access to comprehensive outpatient care and address social determinants of health for a diverse patient population.

Warner discusses how the center's focus on patient experience, community partnerships, and integration of physical and mental health care services sets it apart from traditional hospital-based care.

The Wellness Way facility was designed to improve access to comprehensive outpatient care and address social determinants of health for a diverse patient population.

Frameworks for Advancing Health Equity: Wellness Way

On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with Karen Iapoce, senior director of government products and programs at 

. We discussed CMS's recent Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage final rule and how it affects enrollees and health plans.

 includes various measures, such as the requirements for health equity analysis and behavioral health provider inclusion. It also prioritizes access to accurate information for Medicare enrollees, mandates evidence-based supplemental benefits, and promotes biosimilar substitution. 

On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with Karen Iapoce, senior director of government products and programs at ZeOmega, about the recent CMS final rule on Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage.



CMS Medicare Final Rule: Advancing Benefits, Competition, and Consumer Protection

On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we speak with the lead researcher from a study published in the May 2023 issue of 

 on the uptake and equitable use of expensive orally administered antimyeloma therapy.

Shelley Jazowski, PhD, MPH, is a postdoctoral fellow at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and lead researcher on “Association Between Low-Income Subsidies and Inequities in Orally Administered Antimyeloma Therapy Use." 

The authors compared the initiation of and adherence to orally administered antimyeloma therapy between enrollees receiving and not receiving the Medicare Part D low-income subsidy, and they examined the association between these subsidies and racial and ethnic disparities in the use of these drugs.

On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we speak with the lead researcher from a study published in the May 2023 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® about the impact of low-income subsidies on the uptake and equitable use of expensive orally administered antimyeloma therapy.

Navigating Medicare's Part D Subsidy Program to Achieve Value-Based Care

Established in 2014 as one of the nation’s first programs focused on meeting the complex health needs of 

underserved communities and marginalized populations

 has grown in the Western Pennslyvania region to provide coordinated and compassionate care delivery using evidence-based interventions.

The Center for Inclusion Health provides a myriad of health services that address disparities in access for mental health, homeless care, transgender care, and addiction medicine, as well as social determinants of health such as food insecurity and housing challenges.


On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we speak with the Division Chief of the Center for Inclusion Health, Elizabeth Cuevas, MD, a board-certified internal medicine physician, who speaks on the major health issues affecting patient outcomes in marginalized communities, the importance of community-level partnerships to identify and address these challenges, and opportunities for growth in managing these populations.

Allegheny Health Network

On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we speak with Elizabeth Cuevas, MD,  division chief of Allegheny Health Network’s (AHN) Center for Inclusion Health, on prevalent health inequities facing marginalized communities and strategies to identify and address these issues.

AHN’s Center for Inclusion Health Personalizing Equitable Care Delivery for Marginalized Communities

Mental health issues and substance use disorder are some of the contributing factors to America’s high maternal mortality rates, in addition to poverty, 

, and lack of access to adequate health care. Last year, the CDC reported that suicide accounts for 9% of the maternal mortality rate 1 year postpartum. Anxiety, perinatal and postpartum depression, and birth-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are the most common complications of pregnancy and childbirth, affecting 1 in 5 individuals, and for those affected, 75% do not get treatment. Women of color are both more likely to experience these conditions and less likely to seek help.

On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we speak with Heather Waters, LCSW who leads the maternal health and children’s health services team at Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP), a managed care plan serving more than 1.4 million residents on Medi-Cal in California.

She tells us about a new maternal mental health program at IEHP aimed at supporting 

, both before they give birth and afterward.

Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP)

On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we speak with Inland Empire Health Plan, a managed care plan serving more than 1.4 million residents on Medi-Cal in California, about a new maternal mental health program aimed at supporting new mothers, both before they give birth and afterward.

Addressing Maternal Mortality in Medicaid by Focusing on Mental Health 

At this year’s annual AHIP meeting, Georges C. Benjamin, MD, executive director of the American Public Health Association, participated in a keynote panel discussion on championing health and well-being for all Americans.

On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we caught up with Dr Benjamin after his session to further discuss key policy, investment, and community engagement efforts in promoting health equity, as well as hear his thoughts on the public health implications of the Supreme Court’s recent decision to strike down the concealed gun law in New York.

Listen above or through one of these podcast services:

AHIP Institute & Expo

On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we speak with Georges C. Benjamin, MD, executive director of the American Public Health Association, on the core takeaways of his keynote session at AHIP 2022 on public health policy and other solutions to promote equitable health and well-being.

Promoting Equity in Public Health: Policy, Investment, and Community Engagement Solutions

In January of this year, entrepreneur and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban launched a direct-to-consumer pharmacy called the 

, promising savings by eliminating middlemen and charging cost plus 15% and a pharmacy fee. What if Medicare could do the same? On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we speak with a researcher who coauthored a study out this week that looked at the savings to Medicare Part D if the same model had been employed for some of the most used generic drugs.

Hussain S. Lalani, MD, MPH, an internist and one of the coauthors, discussed the findings of the paper, published Monday in the 

. The analysis compared the price paid by Medicare Part D plans in 2020 with the price of 89 generic drugs sold by the pharmacy in 2022.

The researchers, from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, used the price paid by Medicare Part D plans in 2020 and looked at the price of 89 generic drugs sold by the pharmacy in 2022.

After adjusting for changes in drug costs between 2020 and 2022, the researchers found that Medicare paid more on 77 of the 89 generic drugs: $8.1 billion compared with $4.5 billion. Medicare would have saved as much as $3.6 billion over 1 year.

Listen to an excerpt of the interview above or through one of these podcast services:

How much would have Medicare saved if it had the same ability to purchase generic drugs at the same price as individuals using direct-to-consumer (DTC) pharmacies like the Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company? Billions, as it turns out. 


Generic Drug Savings Possibilities: $3.6 Billion to Medicare Using DTC Pricing

Despite being the leading cause of death among women, cardiovascular disease is largely unrecognized by female patients, with education and awareness around risk factors and symptoms particularly lacking in women of color. Physicians have also been known to underestimate cardiovascular risks in women who present with a different disease course vs men.

On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we speak with Joanne Armstrong, MD, MPH, vice president and chief medical officer for Women’s Health and Genomics at CVS Health, on the distinct pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease in women, applicability of current screening and care delivery guidelines for heart health in regards to minority populations, and how her own health experiences have influenced her perspective on cardiovascular disease management.

On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we speak with Joanne Armstrong, MD, MPH, vice president and chief medical officer for Women’s Health and Genomics at CVS Health, on the distinct pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease in women and how her own health experiences have influenced her perspective on cardiovascular disease management.


For National Women’s Health Week, One Company Emphasizes Cardiovascular Risk Management

Roy Mathew, MD, discusses integrating nephrology and cardiology to bridge the gap in patient adherence and care delivery.

CKM Care Requires Patient Engagement, Lifestyle, and AI: Roy Mathew, MD

"Our Responsibility Should Be to Give You the Closest Thing to a Normal Life"

New treatments, care gaps, and cardiac monitoring were major focuses in cardiovascular news this year.

Health System Barriers, Treatment Disparities Prolong gMG Diagnosis

This study found that certain characteristics in linked electronic health record data across episodes of care can help identify patients with Alzheimer disease and related dementias at high risk of 30-day readmissions.

Linking Data to Determine Risk for 30-Day Readmissions in Dementia

Multidisciplinary care enhances kidney health and cardiovascular outcomes, but more research into models is needed, said Roy Mathew, MD.

Optimizing Cardio-Kidney Care With Multi-Level Coordination: Roy Mathew, MD

Improving clinical outcomes for patients navigating the complex intersection of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cardiovascular (CV) risk requires a shift from traditional siloed treatment toward more holistic, multidisciplinary delivery models, said Roy O. Mathew, MD, associate professor of medicine at the Loma Linda VA Health Care System. He presented on kidney health as a determinant of cardiovascular risk during the 2025 

American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions

, held in New Orleans, Louisiana, November 7-10, 2025.

The current landscape of integrated care is supported by promising, yet limited, data. While multidisciplinary care models have shown success in single-center settings, there need to be more large-scale, multisystem trials to validate these approaches against usual care, Mathews noted. The challenge lies not only in the clinical delivery but also in the “silent” nature of these diseases, which often lack the acute symptoms that drive patients to follow complex medication regimens.

Mathew emphasized that the “human element” of care—specifically patient engagement and the incorporation of community resources—is the missing link in ensuring long-term adherence to new therapeutics. As the health care industry moves toward a more digitized future, the integration of technology and lifestyle management will become central to population health strategies. Often patients are looking for alternatives to therapeutics, like lifestyle management.

“I think they want every opportunity to make themselves better,” he said. “They know that the problem exists; we have to figure out how better to engage our patients. Once we engage them, I think eventually we can show them that these therapeutics work.”

Looking ahead, the next generation of care delivery will likely be defined by a shift toward self-advocacy and the thoughtful application of artificial intelligence. By leveraging technology to provide personalized, actionable information, health systems can better support patients in managing asymptomatic risks before they escalate into high-cost, acute events.

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