Researchers link vaccination and reduced asthma symptoms; providers warn against overburdening and security risks; insurers’ practices lead to questionable diagnoses
COVID-19 Vaccination May Shield Children from Asthma Symptoms, Study Suggests
A study led by Nemours Children’s Health suggests that COVID-19 vaccination may help protect children aged 5 years and older from symptomatic asthma, according to Cidrap. By analyzing state-level data from 2018 to 2021, the researchers found that states with higher vaccination rates saw a decrease in parent-reported asthma symptoms among children. The study also noted that the link between vaccination and reduced asthma symptoms warrants further investigation to confirm these potential benefits.
New Cyberattack Reporting Rules Ignite Concerns in Health Care Sector
A proposed rule under the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act is causing controversy in the health care industry, with fears that the new cyberattack reporting requirements may hinder crisis response efforts, according to Axios. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency's (CISA) proposed rules mandate rapid reporting of cyber incidents and ransoms, which health care providers argue could divert critical resources and expose sensitive security details. Health organizations are calling for more flexibility and clarity in the rules, emphasizing the need to balance timely information sharing with practical considerations for handling cyber threats effectively.
MA Misdiagnoses: Misleading Records and Costly Consequences
Medicare Advantage insurers, including UnitedHealth, have issued hundreds of thousands of questionable diagnoses, inflating their payments from the government by billions of dollars, according to an investigation by The Wall Street Journal. These practices include diagnosing conditions such as diabetic cataracts and HIV in patients who do not have these diseases, often without their knowledge or consent. While insurers claim these efforts improve care coordination, critics argue they exploit the system, resulting in significant costs to taxpayers and potential harm to patients.
Laundromats as a New Frontier in Community Health, Medicaid Outreach
May 29th 2025Lindsey 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.
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Inside the Center's MDD Value Model and Its Use of Dynamic Pricing
May 13th 2025Larragem 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.
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Managed Care Reflections: A Q&A With Melinda B. Buntin, PhD
June 2nd 2025To mark the 30th anniversary of The American Journal of Managed Care (AJMC), each issue in 2025 includes a special feature: reflections from a thought leader on what has changed—and what has not—over the past 3 decades and what’s next for managed care. The June issue features a conversation with Melinda B. Buntin, PhD, a health economist and a Bloomberg Distinguished Professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Carey Business School.
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