Center on Health Equity & Access

Clinical

Health Care Cost

Health Care Delivery

Insurance

Policy

Technology

Value-Based Care

News

All News

Press Releases

Product Approvals and Launches

Video

All Video Types

AJMC TV

Guidelines

Insights

OnLocation

Payer Perspectives

Peer Exchange

Post Conference Perspectives

Stakeholder Summit

Podcasts

Conferences

Conference Coverage

Conference Listing

Journals

All Journals

The American Journal of Managed Care

Population Health, Equity & Outcomes

Evidence-Based Oncology

About Supplements and Featured Publications

Supplements and Featured Publications Issues

Submit a Manuscript

Events

Institute for Value-Based Medicine

Patient-Centered Oncology Care

Resources

Interactive Tools

Formulary Central

Clinical Spotlight

Microsites

About AJMC

AJMC Staff

Anniversary

Seema Sonnad Award

Strategic Alliance Partners

Subscribe

Laura is the vice president of content for 

) and all its brands, including Population Health, Equity & Outcomes; Evidence-Based Oncology™; and The Center for Biosimilars

She has an MA in business and economic reporting from New York University. You can connect with Laura on 

Articles

The former television personality and heart surgeon was confirmed in a 53-45 vote on party lines.

Dr Oz Confirmed by the Senate Along Party Lines to Lead CMS

Rose is an associate editorial director at 

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

Inebilizumab-cdon (Uplizna; Amgen) was approved as the first and only treatment for immunoglobulin G4–related disease (IgG4-RD), a chronic and debilitating immune-mediated inflammatory condition.

Inebilizumab FDA Approved as First Treatment for IgG4-RD

Julia is an associate editor for The American Journal of Managed Care® (AJMC®) and joined AJMC® in 2022. She produces written and video content covering multiple disease states, and assists in the screening process for manuscripts submitted to AJMC®.

She has a BA in English language and literature from Rutgers University. You can connect with Julia on 

The West Health-Gallup Healthcare Indices Study indicates that approximately 29 million people are unable to afford or access quality healthcare, the highest since 2021.

11% of Americans Cannot Access Quality Health Care, Survey Finds

®). She joined the AJMC team in 2021, where she produces written and video content covering multiple disease states.

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

New findings may help patients with low to moderate risk of tumor lysis syndrome while reducing the burden for hematologists.

Pharmacist-Led Model Reduces Tumor Lysis Risk in CLL Venetoclax Therapy

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

About

Contact

Editorial Boards

Advertise

Do Not Sell My Information

Terms & Conditions

Privacy Policy

AJMC - Managed Care News, Research, and Expert Insights

Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

Instagram

Specialty Area

Biosimilars

Cardiorenalmetabolic

Dermatology

Gastroenterology

Hematology

Hepatology

Immunology

Infectious Disease

Mental Health

Neurology

Obesity

Oncology

Ophthalmology

Pulmonology

Rare Disease

Respiratory

Rheumatology

Women's Health

Spotlight

Free In-Person Regional Events Focused on Oncology and Population Health

Topics

Digital Health

Formulary

Gene Therapy

Health Care Administration

Population Health

All Coverage

Event Coverage

Interviews

AJMC Journals

Author Forms

Authors

Nominate a Rising Leader

1rem

Stakeholders

Providers

In this special episode of Managed Care Cast, the executive editor of 

, Mary Caffrey, speaks with Tyler Sandahl, PharmD, of Mayo Clinic, and Michael Byrne, DO, of Tennessee Oncology's Nashville-Midtown Center for Blood Cancers, about the use of bispecific antibodies to treat patients with multiple myeloma, the importance of caregivers for this regimen, how the entire staff plays a role, the common adverse events patients need to be looking out for, and more.

Our conversation keys on themes from the recent article, “Seamless Navigation of Bispecific Therapies: Optimizing Management and Outpatient Access With a Focus on Coordination,”

 led by Zahra Mahmoudjafari, PharmD, MBA, BCOP, FHOPA, who is clinical pharmacy manager for the University of Kansas Health System. Sandahl was a coauthor on the paper and joins us for the first part of today’s podcast.

For the second part, Byrne, who was previously with Vanderbilt University Medical Center, shared why for some patients, the community oncology clinic is the only way to gain access to these life-saving treatments.

Both guests offer practical advice for bringing bispecifics to the community to help fellow physicians, and ultimately, patients.

Mahmoudjafari Z, Ali A, Davis J, Sandahl T, Nachar V, Mancini R. Seamless navigation of bispecific therapies: optimizing management and outpatient access with a focus on coordination. 

https://doi.org/10.6004/jadpro.2024.15.8.15

Listen above or on one of these podcast services:

Tyler Sandahl, PharmD, of Mayo Clinic, and Michael Byrne, DO, of Tennessee Oncology, discuss practical advice for bringing bispecifics to the community.

Operationalizing Bispecifics in Multiple Myeloma

On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with Josie Cooper, BA, executive director of the Alliance for Patient Access.

, "Utilization Management and Physician Burnout," involved a survey that assessed physician experiences with utilization management and burnout, investigating a potential link between the 2.

On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we speak with the author of a study published in the November 2024 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® to explore the link between utilization management and physician burnout. 

Expert Insights on How Utilization Management Drives Physician Burnout

On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with Sreekanth Chaguturu, MD, chief medical officer of CVS Health; Cathy Moffitt, MD, FAAP, CHIE, chief medical officer of Aetna; and Joneigh Khaldun, MD, MPH, FACEP, chief health equity officer of CVS Health.

We discuss various topics, including the current challenges in primary and preventive care engagement, the role of trust in patient-provider relationships, and how community-based approaches and partnerships are improving care access nationwide.

On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with the chief medical officers of CVS Health and Aetna, as well as CVS Health's chief health equity officer, about primary and preventive care engagement, the impact of telehealth, and the role of trust in patient-provider relationships.



Building Trust, Breaking Barriers: Health Care Leaders Tackle Primary Care Challenges

 provider network and development relations team, discusses the new lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) affirming provider designation recognized in the UPMC Health Plan's provider directory.

Zynn explains that this designation helps members easily find providers who are trained to create a safe and welcoming environment for the LGBTQIA+ community. This initiative aims to improve health outcomes and patient satisfaction by addressing barriers to care and building physician-patient trust.

The designation was developed through a collaboration between UPMC Health Plan, internal and external experts, and the National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center at the Fenway Institute in Boston. They created a comprehensive training program that includes modules providers can complete online for continuing medical education credits and is open to everyone.

Frameworks for Advancing Health Equity episodes:

Kim Zynn, vice president of UPMC Health Plan's provider network and development relations team, shares how physicians can become LGBTQIA+ affirming providers, which is designated within the health plan.

Frameworks for Advancing Health Equity: LGBTQIA+ Affirming Provider Designation

Zuranolone (Zurzuvae; Sage Therapeutics/Biogen), the first oral medication approved by the FDA for 

, became available at the end of last year, offering physicians and patients an effective and more convenient treatment option for managing PPD. 

, Douglas Weber, MD, OB-GYN at MomDoc, explained why this therapy has impacted maternal and postpartum care. Previously, treatment for PPD was limited to intravenous (IV) administration of brexanolone (Zulresso) or commonly prescribed antidepressant medications which are not necessarily designed to address the hormonal components of PPD. 

Douglas Weber, MD, explains how zuranolone has changed the landscape for postpartum depression treatment, addressing a gap in care within maternal health.

Maternal Health Inequities: Improving Access to Postpartum Depression Treatment

In celebration of Pride Month, this episode of Frameworks for Advancing Health Equity dives into comprehensive, patient-first care for those in the gender diverse community. 

Despite the many advances made in health care, those in the transgender community have faced a different reality, as their identities were classified as "disordered" until only 10 years ago.

 article, Mandi Pratt-Chapman, PhD, clinical researcher at GW Cancer Center, explained that creating inclusive environments with anti-discriminatory policies, fostering leadership and clinical diversity, and amplifying voices that advocate for evidence-based medical practices to shape legislation are essential steps toward amending these disparities.

In this episode, Charlie Borowicz, the program manager of trans and gender diverse health at 

 program strives to deliver quality care to a population that's often underserved by the US health care system. 

 series, Frameworks for Advancing Health Equity by the 

, spotlights innovative programs implemented within health care that mitigate the pervasive inequities that exist. The goal is to share resources and strategies with others looking to initiate efforts to bridge gaps in health care. 

For more of Managed Care Cast's Pride Month episodes, check out these interviews with 

1. Munz K. The evolution of transgender health care. 

https://www.ajmc.com/view/the-evolution-of-transgender-health-care

Charlie Borowicz, manager of trans and gender diverse health at Allegheny Health Network, shares how the program offers comprehensive patient-first care to those in the LGBTQ+ and gender diverse community.

Frameworks for Advancing Health Equity: Trans and Gender Diverse Health Care

Welcome to the final episode in our special Pride Month series. In this special edition of 

, we speak with Lauren Albrecht, director of advocacy and organizing, and Layla Orlando, director of health equity and wellness, at 

, first founded in 2004 and which has grown to become the largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, plus (LGBTQ+) advocacy organization in New Jersey, at more than 150,000 members.

Racial, economic, and disability justice concerns underpin this advocacy and civil rights organization’s mission to bring full equality to all members of all LGBTQ+ communities in the state. We discuss state- and federal-level legislation, with potential implications on not only LGBTQ+ rights in the state, but reproductive freedom as well; notable achievements for the LGBTQ+ community in New Jersey; and, as with our previous episodes in this limited-edition series, health care policy in this election year.

Please check out our previous episodes with 

In this fifth, and final, special bonus episode of our Pride Month series, we speak with Lauren Albrecht, director of advocacy and organizing, and Layla Orlando, director of health equity and wellness, at Garden State Equality, the largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, plus advocacy organization in New Jersey.

Cultivating Equality in the Garden State

 and the fourth podcast in our series to celebrate Pride Month in 2024. Today we are speaking with Domenico Ruggerio, executive director of 

, in Charleston, South Carolina, which was founded in 1995 and provides life-affirming and life-saving programs for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer plus (LGBTQ+) youth, up to the age of 24, by upholding 5 core values: imagination, celebration, self-determination, intersectional justice, and education of self and others.

In our conversation, we hit on the importance of 

 for LGBTQ+ youth, and how the pandemic and social media have collided to show how necessary these services are; the many other social support and health and wellness programs that We Are Family provides; and, as with our earlier episodes, health care policy priorities for the LGBTQ+ community in this election year.

And please check out our earlier episodes with 

Listen above or through one of these podcast services:

In our fourth Pride Month podcast episode, we are speaking with Domenico Ruggerio, executive director of We Are Family, in Charleston, South Carolina, the state's oldest nonprofit to provide life-affirming and life-saving programs for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, plus (LGBTQ+) youth.

Shining the Spotlight on Queer Joy and Resilience in LGBTQ+ Youth

In this "Frameworks for Advancing Health Equity" episode, Kheir Mugwaneza, the lead project manager of the Immigrant and Refugee Health Program at 

 features a range of innovative programs developed within health care centers and their collaborating partners that are striving to address inequities by bridging gaps in health care.

Kheir Mugwaneza, the lead project manager of the Immigrant and Refugee Health Program at Allegheny Health Network, discusses how the program is working to address gaps in care for this community.

Frameworks for Advancing Health Equity: Immigrant Health

 and the second podcast in our series to celebrate Pride Month in 2024. In this episode, we speak with Perry Halkitis, PhD, MS, MPH, dean and Hunterdon Professor of Public Health & Health Equity at 

, and founder and director of the Center for Health, Identity, Behavior & Prevention Studies at Rutgers, and James F. Dougherty, VMD, MS, Rutgers’ alumnus, former chairman of the Board of Trustees of the university, and current member of its Board of Governors.

In December, Dougherty made a $3 million gift to the Rutgers School of Public Health that will help create the Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health at Rutgers and fund public policy research for the advocacy of, activism for, and attention on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, plus (LGBTQ+) health, health care, and services.

He and Halkitis discuss Rutgers' long track record of advocating for the LGBTQ+ community, the importance of health care providers who are sensitive to the needs of these individuals, why LGBTQ pride should be celebrated year round, and empowering the community to always feel safe.

Rutgers School of Public Health

Continuing with our Pride Month podcast series, in this episode we speak with Perry Halkitis, PhD, MS, MPH, dean of the Rutgers School of Public Health, and James F. Dougherty, VMD, MS, current member of Rutgers' Board of Governors.

Fighting for the Future of LGBTQ Pride at Rutgers

Mobile self-management programs like that offered by Hello Heart can benefit employers and patients alike as they seek to manage and prevent heart disease. 

Digital Solutions Can Transform CVD Care, Prevention

Prior authorizations create substantial administrative and financial burdens on physicians and patients and can disrupt the continuity of care.

Prior Authorizations and the Adverse Impact on Continuity of Care

Strategies to enhance virtual care through quality assurance frameworks, technological innovation, and provider support were laid out in a pair of posters presented at the recent AMGA Annual Conference.


Enhancing Quality in Virtual Care Delivery

Erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) treatment before or early after regular transfusion therapy improved overall survival (OS) In lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), a new study found.

ESA Treatment Improves OS in Lower-Risk MDS

While the overall effectiveness of collaborative care has been well established, this study aimed to determine which specific components had the most impact.

Collaborative Care Approaches Ranked by Depression Outcomes in Primary Care

Orca-T Shows Efficacy, Reduced GVHD Risk in AML, MDS

Allogeneic stem cell transplant (allo-HSCT) is part of the standard treatment paradigm for acute leukemia and 

(MDS). But like most therapies for hematologic malignancies, it carries significant risks, with a main concern being chronic graft-vs-host disease (cGVHD). 

Orca-T, an investigational allogeneic T-cell immunotherapy, improved cGVHD-free survival compared with allo-HSCT in patients with acute leukemia or MDS in the phase 3 Precision-T trial (NCT05316701). The results, 

presented at the 51st Annual Meeting of the EBMT

, demonstrate Orca-T's potential to improve outcomes in this patient population.

Caspian Oliai, MD, MS, medical director of the UCLA Bone Marrow Transplantation Stem Cell Processing Center, discusses findings from the phase 3 Precision-T trial of Orca-T in acute leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). 

Providers

Latest News