- Center on Health Equity & Access
- Clinical
- Health Care Cost
- Health Care Delivery
- Insurance
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- Value-Based Care
Sequencing of Immunotherapy in Melanoma
During this segment, Richard W. Joseph, MD, discusses the recent approval of the oncolytic agents pembrolizumab and nivolumab for the treatment of metastatic melanoma and his expectations for a combination agent of ipilimumab and nivolumab that is currently pending approval.
Dr Joseph explains that even with a higher level of toxicity, this new combination therapy option is likely to become a front-line treatment option because its benefits are likely to outweigh its risks. However, there may still be certain patients who are not appropriate candidates for combination therapy, he remarks.
“What’s going to be interesting is how to place these [single-agent therapies vs combination therapy] in the right order,” says Dr Joseph.
To help determine the proper sequence of therapy, additional clinical studies and collaboration with the National Comprehensive Cancer Network will be important, he advises.
AI in Health Care: Balancing Governance, Innovation, and Trust
September 2nd 2025In 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.
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Infertility Coverage Boosts ART Use and Pregnancy Success: Richard A. Brook, MS, MBA
August 26th 2025In this episode, Richard A. Brook, MS, MBA, discusses his study showing that infertility treatment coverage increases assisted reproductive technology (ART) use and improves pregnancy outcomes.
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Health Care Utilization and Cost of Diagnostic Testing for Respiratory Infections
September 17th 2025Syndromic reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction tests for respiratory infections were associated with lower health care resource utilization and costs, implicating potential for improved value in patient care.
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