Opioid Commission Provides Recommendations
The opioid commission, put in place by President Donald Trump to address the growing drug addiction and painkiller crisis, has released a report with recommendations. According to STAT, the commission, chaired by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, released a report with 56 recommendations that Congress, federal departments, and local governments will need to fund and implement. The list includes better education for providers, a media blitz, and an expanded drug court system.
Facilitating ACA Open Enrollment Sign-Ups
The acting secretary of HHS, Eric Hargan, has expressed a commitment to ensuring sign-ups for the Affordable Care Act’s open enrollment period go smoothly. Although the Trump administration is looking to repeal the health law, it still wants open enrollment to be “consumer friendly,” reported The Hill. Hargan mentioned the administration wants to continue working to provide relief for consumers by expanding choices and providing more affordable options.
Enhancing the Image of Aging
Expectations of aging can positively or negatively affect how well a person ages. A new initiative is hoping to change the image of aging and get rid of negative stereotypes that can be a self-fulfilling prophecy of negative experiences, according to Kaiser Health News. Older adults who believe negative stereotypes about aging walk slower, have more memory problems, and recover less fully from a fall or fracture. Emphasizing the positives of aging can benefit seniors—those with a primarily positive view live 7.5 years longer.
New Research Challenges Assumptions About Hospital-Physician Integration, Medicare Patient Mix
April 22nd 2025On this episode of Managed Care Cast, Brady Post, PhD, lead author of a study published in the April 2025 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care®, challenges the claim that hospital-employed physicians serve a more complex patient mix.
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Personalized Care Key as Tirzepatide Use Expands Rapidly
April 15th 2025Using commercial insurance claims data and the US launch of tirzepatide as their dividing point, John Ostrominski, MD, Harvard Medical School, and his team studied trends in the use of both glucose-lowering and weight-lowering medications, comparing outcomes between adults with and without type 2 diabetes.
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Integrated CKD Care Model Cuts ED Visits by 30%, Boosts Specialized Treatment
April 21st 2025An analysis of an interdisciplinary care model for managing chronic kidney disease (CKD) shows hospital admissions dropped by 26% and emergency department (ED) visits decreased by 30% after clinic initiation.
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