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Jared is a freelance writer for The American Journal of Managed Care® (AJMC®), and previously worked as a senior editor for HCPLive® at MJH Life Sciences®.

He has an MA from University of Sioux Falls. You can connect with Jared on 

Articles

A Mendelian randomization study suggests Actinomyces plays a role in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, mediated by circulating inflammatory proteins.

Investigating the Role of Gut Microbiota in IPF

Maggie is a senior editor for The American Journal of Managed Care® (AJMC®) and produces written, video, and podcast content covering several disease states. She joined AJMC® in 2019, and has been with AJMC®’s parent company, MJH Life Sciences®, since 2014, when she started as a copy editor.

She has a BA in English from Penn State University. You can connect with Maggie on 

Videos

Kelley L. Julian, PharmD, BCOP, discusses optimizing myeloma care, addressing barriers in access to intravenous immunoglobulin and innovative therapies at Huntsman Cancer Institute.

Behind the Scenes of Multiple Myeloma Care: A Pharmacist’s View With Kelley L. Julian, PharmD, BCOP

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 

An innovative artificial intelligence (AI) tool enhanced alopecia areata assessment and improved treatment adherence.

AI–Enhanced SALT Score Improves Accuracy in Alopecia Areata Assessment

A 12-year study in China finds that individuals who dine out often face a higher risk of colon and rectal cancers, with obesity playing a mediating role.

Frequent Dining Out Linked to Higher Colorectal Cancer Risk

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 Reuben Daniel, associate vice president of artificial intelligence at 

. Committed to building safe, reliable, and value-driven artificial intelligence (AI) solutions that enhance health care delivery and the member experience, UPMC Health Plan's approach to AI is grounded in strong governance, balancing innovation with critical ethical concerns.

In our conversation, we'll dive into how UPMC Health Plan builds trust with providers and members, discuss challenges of 

, and hear about concrete examples of AI's positive impact. We'll also look ahead to promising developments Reuben anticipates in health care AI over the next 5 years.

Listen above or on one of these podcast services:

UPMC

In this conversation with Reuben Daniel, associate vice president of artificial intelligence at UPMC Health Plan, we dive into how UPMC Health Plan builds trust with providers and members, discuss challenges of scaling AI effectively, and hear about concrete examples of AI's positive impact. 

AI in Health Care: Balancing Governance, Innovation, and Trust

 speaks with Lindsey Leininger, PhD, health policy professor and faculty director of the Center for Health Care at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, and Allister Chang, MPA, co-founder of 

, a social-impact startup that aims to improve community well-being by transforming everyday moments in laundromats into opportunities to build trust, support 

, and connect families with health and social services.

, "Unmet Health Care and Health-Related Social Needs of Laundromat Users," published in this month's issue, identifies laundromats as a promising community-based setting for Medicaid outreach, with Medicaid enrollees comprising the majority of users and facing disproportionately high levels of unmet needs. 

During the conversation, Leininger and Chang highlight how engaging with enrollees at laundromats can help foster trust, address unmet social needs, and strengthen Medicaid engagement. 

Lindsey Leininger, PhD, and Allister Chang, MPA, highlight the potential of laundromats as accessible, community-based settings to support Medicaid outreach, foster trust, and connect families with essential health and social services.

Laundromats as a New Frontier in Community Health, Medicaid Outreach

speaks with Larragem Raines, MS, director of research at the 

She also defines dynamic pricing and explains how it is incorporated into the MDD value model, topics she expands upon in a recent 

Looking ahead, Raines discusses the potential of 

 (AI) to improve diagnosis, treatment, and 

Larragem Raines, MS, of the Center for Innovation & Value Research, discusses the organization's major depressive disorder (MDD) open-source value model, dynamic pricing, and the future role of artificial intelligence in care.

Inside the Center's MDD Value Model and Its Use of Dynamic Pricing

Today, we are bringing you a conversation on the use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology and its transformative potential in diabetes care.

Davida Kruger, NP, a certified nurse practitioner at Henry Ford in the Division of Endocrinology, spoke with:

Jaime Murillo, MD, senior vice president and chief medical officer, medical affairs, United Health Group

Jeremy Wigginton, MD, chief medical officer at a regional Blue plan

Ian Neeland, MD, director of cardiovascular prevention, University Hospitals Harrington Health and Vascular Institute, and associate professor of medicine, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

Ken Cohen, MD, executive director of translational research, Optum Health.

The topics of conversation for today’s podcast include how CGM addresses therapeutic inertia, enhances glycemic control, and drives improvements in patient outcomes and health care efficiency, as well as the barriers to adoption, strategies for expanding access, and the cost-effectiveness of CGM implementation.

While CGM use started with patients with type 1 diabetes, it has transitioned to use in type 2 diabetes, Neeland explained. CGM allows for “more real-time, faster therapeutic interventions,” Wigginton added.

“I think we all know that the CGM in the right patient population with the right physician and the right care team managing that data can absolutely improve clinical inertia to earlier intervention [and] better patient outcomes,” he said. “I think that's a well-known fact that that can happen.”

CGM can provide several metrics beyond just actual glucose, and since the technology provides a 10- to 14-day snapshot of data, it provides average glucose, time in range, the Glucose Management Indicator, and glucose variability. These metrics are now also playing a role in Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set measures and quality targets for accountable care organizations, Cohen noted.

However, there are varying coverage policies for CGM that impact patient access and outcomes.

“Health plans need to standardize more their coverage decisions, and that has to be done based on evidence-based medicine,” Murillo said. “There is this perception out there that health plans make unilateral decisions based on their own convenience. The reality is all those coverage decisions should be based on evidence.”

Listen above or through one of these podcast services:

A group of experts discusses the use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology in diabetes and its transformative potential in managing the disease.

Managed Care Cast Presents: Unlocking the Potential of CGM Technology

On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we speak with George Jones, chief operating officer at UpScript Health, an online pioneer of eprescribing 20 years ago, to learn how telemedicine has progressed from asynchronous conferencing to real-time video consultation, enabling the treatment of complex conditions beyond primary care. Although technology access remains a challenge for some, Jones emphasizes telemedicine’s potential to reduce wait times and improve efficiency, especially for conditions requiring specialist care.

A major theme in the telemedicine space is access to 

 treatments, particularly glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medications like semaglutide, which was recently included on the second 

 under the Inflation Reduction Act. We also discuss how Medicare’s limited obesity coverage may reduce the impact of these negotiations, advocating for policies and step therapy models that can help to lower patient costs, and the regulatory concerns associated with compounded GLP-1s as an alternative, knowing that these medications are prepared outside FDA oversight.

George Jones of UpScript Health discusses telemedicine's evolution from basic e-prescribing to real-time video consultations, expanding treatment beyond primary care.

Telemedicine’s Evolution and Expanding Access to Obesity, Specialty Care

Welcome to the latest episode of Managed Care Cast and our conversation with Jeff Giullian, MD, MBA, chief medical officer with DaVita Kidney Care. In this interview, we dive into 4 important aspects of kidney care: prevention, social support, integrated care, and patient support.

Throughout this conversation, highlights include how to best manage 

 among high-risk populations, community education initiatives from DaVita that focus on kidney health resources, and comorbidity management. Dr Giullian underscores the value of integrated care teams in managing comorbidities and improving patient outcomes, emphasizes the role of technology in enhancing care without replacing the essential human touch, and addresses the need to reduce health disparities.

In our conversation with Jeff Giullian, MD, MBA, chief medical officer with DaVita Kidney Care, we dive into 4 important aspects of kidney care: prevention, social support, integrated care, and patient support.

Engage, Educate, Empower: Transforming Kidney Care

On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with Jason Spangler, MD, MPH, CEO of the Center for Innovation and Value Research, formerly known as the Innovation and Value Initiative (IVI). 


We discuss the strengths and limitations of health technology assessment (HTA),  one major limitation being its lack of equity. We also touch on IVI's recent rebrand to the Center for Innovation and Value Research on July 16 and how people can get involved.

On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with Jason Spangler, MD, MPH, CEO of the Center for Innovation and Value Research on equity challenges within health technology assessment.

Dr Jason Spangler on Enhancing Equity in Health Technology Assessment

On this episode of Managed Care Cast, Emily Goldberg, MS, CGC, genetic counselor at 

 works and why it is so important to increase awareness and education around these screening tools available to patients who may be at risk for cancer.

JScreen's CancerGEN test is a 4-step at-home saliva test for adults to screen for genetic changes that may increase one's risk for cancer and includes genetic counseling for individuals. 

On this episode of Managed Care Cast, Emily Goldberg, MS, CGC, a genetic counselor at JScreen, breaks down how genetic screening for breast cancer works and why it is so important to increase awareness and education around these screening tools available to patients who may be at risk for cancer.

Emily Goldberg Shares Insights as a Genetic Counselor for Breast Cancer Risk Screening

’s 12th annual health IT issue, on this episode of Managed Care Cast, we speak with Christopher M. Whaley, PhD, health care economist at the RAND Corporation, who focuses on health economics issues, including the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on health care delivery. In particular, he examines how existing technology has pivoted to become a backbone for 

 while its ongoing evolvement has highlighted inequities in care delivery, making access and lack thereof divisive issues.

In their article in the health IT issue, “

Differences in Telehealth During COVID-19 Between Commercial and Medicaid Enrollees

,” Dr Whaley and his co-authors compare rates of telehealth and in-person evaluation and management visits between individuals with commercial insurance through the California Public Employees’ Retirement System, or CalPERS, and those with publicly funded coverage through the California Medicaid program, with implications for equitable access to telehealth and development of policies to guide its ongoing and future use.

To mark the publication of The American Journal of Managed Care®’s 12th annual health IT issue, on this episode of Managed Care Cast, we speak with Christopher M. Whaley, PhD, health care economist at the RAND Corporation, who focuses on health economics issues, including the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on health care delivery. 

Examining Telehealth Uptake to Increase Equitable Care Access

An unprecedented level of detail and robustness around interoperability standards is on its way, and on this episode of Managed Care Cast, we speak with Donald Rucker, MD, the former National Coordinator for Health Information Technology in HHS, about what the opportunities and responsibilities for payers are.



The change is precipitated by 2020 rulemaking regarding the 21st Century Cures Act requirement regarding application programming interfaces. The new requirement will enable access to patient-level data across a patient population, allowing for more analysis that can inform clinical decisions, track those decisions to costs, and even influence future policy.

Rucker, who received his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania and also has an MBA in business and an MS in medical computer science and informatics from Stanford University, is currently chief strategy officer at 1upHealth.

An unprecedented level of detail and robustness around interoperability standards is on its way, and on this episode of Managed Care Cast, we speak with Donald Rucker, MD, the former National Coordinator for Health Information Technology in HHS, about what the opportunities and responsibilities for payers are.

What’s Coming Up Next in Interoperability With Dr Donald Rucker

Lindsey Valenzuela, PharmD, explains how pharmacists can prevent drug interactions and improve coordination for women with arrhythmia and chronic disease.

Coordinating Medications for Women With Arrhythmia: Lindsey Valenzuela, PharmD

A self-help app based on cognitive behavioral therapy improved depression, self-esteem, and quality of life in adults with intellectual disabilities.

Smartphone App Reduces Depression in Adults With Intellectual Disabilities

Telemedicine improved the quality of life and inhaler technique among patients with advanced-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Telemedicine Boosts Quality of Life, Inhaler Technique for Severe COPD

A CCS report found that pharmacists lack time for diabetes education as workloads rise, worsening disparities and threatening adherence.

Pharmacists Strained by Time Pressures, Limited Resources in Diabetes Care

Lindsey Valenzuela, PharmD, explains how cost, coverage gaps, and tech literacy hinder women’s access to early arrhythmia detection tools.

Cost, Access Barriers Limit Women’s Use of Heart Monitors: Lindsey Valenzuela, PharmD

High costs and uneven insurance coverage keep 

 out of reach for many women, according to Lindsey Valenzuela, PharmD, APh, BCACP, vice president of population health integration at Desert Oasis Healthcare.

) that women with lower income or education levels often face the greatest barriers to 

. She emphasized that pharmacists, who are among the most accessible health professionals, can help close these gaps by educating patients, coordinating care, and improving follow-up.

, where she highlights the biggest factors preventing women from accessing early arrhythmia detection tools.

This transcript has been lightly edited; captions were auto-generated.

What barriers do women face in accessing early arrhythmia detection technologies, and how might pharmacy teams help bridge those gaps?

 is really inconsistent. Those with a lower income, education, or socioeconomic background may find that they're also less comfortable with technology and aren't 

 in the same way that those in different socioeconomic brackets are accessing. 

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