ATTR-CM Diagnosis Lags by More Than a Year After HF in Medicare Population
A new JAMA Cardiology study of 7,770 Medicare beneficiaries shows that transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR‑CM) is diagnosed a median of 494 days after an initial heart‑failure (HF) presentation, with delays extending to 840 days when using diuretic use as a symptom proxy. Sixty‑four percent of patients wait six months or longer for a definitive ATTR‑CM diagnosis, and the lag has not improved between 2016 and 2022. Women and patients with comorbidities such as aortic stenosis, COPD, coronary disease, diabetes, or hypertension face higher odds of delayed detection. The findings highlight persistent diagnostic anchoring and underscore the need for heightened clinical suspicion.
MFN Drug Pricing Proposal Raises Questions Around Access, Innovation, and Commercial Coverage
The White House’s most‑favored‑nation (MFN) drug pricing framework projects roughly $600 billion in savings over the next decade, tying U.S. prices to the second‑lowest net price among eight high‑income reference countries. The plan distinguishes prospective launches, which could slash net prices...
Turning Oncology Frustrations Into Quality Improvement Solutions: Eileen Ehret, BS
Eileen Ehret, vice‑president of regulatory and compliance at Navista, spoke at the 2026 Community Oncology Conference about a Care Fresno case study that uncovered a regimen‑scheduling error in its electronic health record. The team built a digital macro checklist embedded directly...
Brolucizumab Superior in Preserving Visual Acuity in Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy
A phase‑3 CONDOR trial of 689 adults with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) showed that intravitreal brolucizumab outperformed panretinal laser photocoagulation (PRP) in preserving visual acuity over 54 weeks. The brolucizumab arm gained a mean BCVA change of +0.2 letters versus...
Study Finds Patients Willing to Use Lower-Cost Treatments to Keep Weight Off, Allowing More Access to GLP-1s
A University of Michigan College of Pharmacy study of more than 700 U.S. adults with obesity found that over 80% support insurer strategies that cover full‑dose GLP‑1 injections during the active weight‑loss phase and then transition patients to lower‑cost maintenance...
COVID-19 Prevention Gaps in Immunocompromised Patients: Muhammed Bilal Abid, MD
Dr. Muhammed Bilal Abid highlighted persistent COVID‑19 prevention gaps for immunocompromised patients, especially those with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). He cited the CANOPY trial, which reported zero symptomatic COVID‑19 cases over six months in a small CLL cohort receiving the monoclonal antibody...
Examining the Distinct Effects of Structural, Financial, and Information-Sharing Integration on Hospital Costs
A recent panel study of 427 California hospitals (2014‑2016) examined three integration dimensions—structural, financial and information‑sharing—and their impact on hospital spending. Using hospital fixed‑effects regressions, the authors found that higher financial integration, measured by the share of revenue under shared‑risk...
IV Ketamine Shows Rapid Benefits for Suicide Risk, Depression in Major Depressive Episodes
A new meta‑analysis of 26 randomized trials involving 1,166 patients shows that intravenous ketamine rapidly alleviates both suicidal ideation and depressive symptoms in major depressive episodes. Single infusions cut suicidal scores by an SMD of –0.69 within 24 hours and depressive...
Breaches in Cybersecurity Could Disrupt, Affect Patient Care: Tarun Sondhi
Accenture’s cybersecurity lead Tarun Sondhi warned that the growing reliance on electronic devices and interconnected vendor platforms is expanding the attack surface in health care. Breaches can cripple systems, delay access to patient records, and disrupt scheduling, directly affecting treatment...
Can the 988 Crisis Lifeline Keep Up With Demand Amid Ongoing Staffing Shortages?
The national 988 suicide‑prevention Lifeline has logged more than 18 million calls since its July 2022 launch, a volume that has nearly doubled and contributed to an 11 % decline in youth suicides. A new JAMA Network Open study of 159 crisis centers...
Letter Regarding “The Relationship Between Preventive Dental Care and Overall Medical Expenditures”
A new quasi‑experimental study by Taylor et al. examined whether preventive dental visits lower overall medical and pharmacy spending for Medicaid enrollees and found no statistically significant cost reduction. The analysis highlights that many prior studies linking preventive services to...
25 Years of Community-First Work Prepares BCBSNC Foundation for a Strained Health System: Colleen Briggs, MBA
The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation celebrated its 25th anniversary, highlighting a legacy of deep community partnerships built on a 90‑year Blue Cross presence. President Colleen Briggs said the foundation is expanding beyond traditional philanthropy by...
ADAPT OCULUS Trial Shows Promising Results in Treatment Efficacy for Ocular MG: Carolina Barnett-Tapia, MD, PhD
The ADAPT OCULUS Phase III trial evaluated efgartigimod alfa (VYVGART) in patients with ocular myasthenia gravis (oMG). In a double‑blind, placebo‑controlled arm, participants receiving the drug showed statistically significant reductions in ptosis and diplopia versus placebo. An open‑label extension confirmed continued...
5 Key April FDA Approvals Signal Momentum Across Rare, Chronic Diseases
April 2026 saw five FDA approvals spanning HIV, type 1 diabetes, chronic spontaneous urticaria, genetic hearing loss, and systemic lupus erythematosus. Merck’s Idvysno introduced the first tenofovir‑free, non‑INSTI two‑drug HIV regimen, while Sanofi’s teplizumab received clearance for children as young as...
Emphasis on Cybersecurity in Medical Practices Could Protect Both Patients and Health Care
Healthcare providers are increasingly targeted by cyberattacks as digital workflows expand, raising the risk of data leaks and service disruptions. The February 2024 Change Healthcare ransomware incident exposed the records of roughly 192.7 million Americans and highlighted the vulnerability of even large...
Obesity as a Neurobiological Disease: Fatima Cody Stanford, MD, MPH
In a May 2, 2026 interview with AJMC, Harvard‑affiliated physician Fatima Cody Stanford explains that obesity is rooted in neurobiological pathways, chiefly the anorexigenic POMC and orexigenic AgRP circuits. She highlights how GLP‑1 receptor agonists and dual GIP/GLP‑1 agents modulate these pathways to promote...
Systemic Inflammation Tied to Worse Outcomes in CKD, AMI
New research presented at the AMCP 2026 meeting shows that chronic systemic inflammation, measured by high‑sensitivity C‑reactive protein (hsCRP) levels of 2‑10 mg/L, independently predicts worse outcomes in two high‑cost disease areas. In a veteran cohort with chronic kidney disease (CKD)...
Health Equity & Access Weekly Roundup: May 1, 2026
A House Ways and Means hearing exposed deep flaws in Medicare’s fraud‑prevention system, prompting calls for stricter provider verification and monthly claim statements. The Commonwealth Fund’s 2026 report highlighted persistent racial and ethnic health disparities, warning that Medicaid work‑requirement rollouts...
Breast Cancer in Young Women: Rani Bansal, MD, Discusses Subtypes, Disparities, and the Importance of Self-Advocacy
In a recent AJMC interview, Duke oncologist Dr. Rani Bansal highlighted that breast cancer rates are climbing fastest among women under 50, driven primarily by estrogen‑receptor‑positive tumors. She noted that African‑American patients disproportionately develop aggressive triple‑negative disease, which limits targeted...
Accountable Care Leaders Spotlight Next Phase of AI at NAACOS 2026 Spring Meeting
At the NAACOS Spring 2026 meeting in Baltimore, leaders highlighted the transition of AI from pilot projects to operational tools across accountable care organizations. CMS announced a voluntary health‑tech ecosystem that standardizes identity‑verified data exchange and links patient‑facing AI apps...
CAQH Index Finds $20 Billion in Cost Savings Opportunities
The 2025 CAQH Index, which surveys 600 provider organizations covering 63% of insured lives, estimates over $20 billion in cost‑saving opportunities if automation of medical and dental workflows is expanded. Electronic prior‑authorization adoption rose to 40%, while other electronic processes remained...
AJMC® in the Press, May 1, 2026
The CDC paused diagnostic testing for mpox and rabies as part of a strategic laboratory downsizing, shifting initial confirmation duties to state and local public‑health labs. This change raises concerns about treatment delays, especially for post‑exposure prophylaxis. The pause was...
GLP-1s Reduce Heavy Drinking Days in Patients With Obesity, Alcohol Use Disorder
A randomized, double‑blind trial in Copenhagen found that once‑weekly semaglutide 2.4 mg significantly reduced heavy‑drinking days in patients with alcohol use disorder and obesity. Over 26 weeks, the semaglutide group saw a 41.1‑percentage‑point drop in heavy‑drinking days versus 26.4 points for...
The Future of Medicaid Pediatric Care and Value-Based Partnerships: Chris Johnson, MBA
Bluebird Kids Health is rolling out retail‑based pediatric clinics that sit inside grocery‑anchored shopping plazas, targeting Medicaid families in underserved areas. The model pairs convenient, bright spaces with a suite of digital tools for scheduling, 24/7 mobile access, and automated...
Driving Value-Based Practice Transformation Through Care Management
Community oncology practices are turning to care‑management models such as Principal Care Management, Transitional Care Management, and Principal Illness Navigation to deliver patient‑centric, value‑based care without assuming full financial risk. Real‑world examples—from cCARE in Fresno addressing food insecurity to Rocky...
Phoenix IVBM Spotlights Oncology Innovation, Access Barriers, and Partnerships
The Institute for Value‑Based Medicine gathered oncology leaders in Phoenix on March 19, 2026 to examine how cutting‑edge therapies move from academic centers to community practices. Panels showed that private‑practice ownership can speed drug adoption, while payer denials and pathology...
Unmet Needs and Efficacy Benchmarks in Nail Psoriasis
Nail psoriasis remains a difficult-to-treat manifestation, with topical agents offering little benefit and systemic options historically limited by toxicity. A phase 3b trial of tildrakizumab specifically enrolled patients with nail involvement and achieved the primary endpoint of mNAPSI 75 at week 28, with...
FIT-DNA Shows Modest Advantage Over FIT for CRC Screening in Community Health Centers
A pragmatic cluster‑randomized trial in eight community health centers found that mailed FIT‑DNA kits modestly outperformed standard FIT kits, achieving 27.9% screening participation at 90 days versus 22.6% for FIT. The advantage persisted at 180 days, especially among Hispanic, Spanish‑speaking,...
Payment Models Taking Shape for Advanced Therapies: Fran Gregory, PharmD
Advanced therapies priced up to $4 million are prompting a rethink of how they are funded. Fran Gregory of Cardinal Health says the gap between limited launch data and payer expectations can be bridged with robust real‑world evidence. The company is...
Patients Treated for Common Cancers in Community Settings Live Longer, COA Study Finds
A COA‑commissioned study using Flatiron Health and SEER data shows patients with metastatic breast cancer and metastatic NSCLC treated in community oncology practices have longer overall survival than national benchmarks. Median survival for metastatic breast cancer was 48 months versus...
Wastewater Surveillance Supports COVID-19 Screening in Hospitals
A retrospective study at University Hospital Basel linked SARS‑CoV‑2 concentrations in municipal wastewater to COVID‑19 positivity among asymptomatic patients screened on admission. The analysis of 75,667 PCR tests showed a 1.2% positivity rate, with stronger correlations during periods of high...
BCBSNC Foundation Marks 25 Years, With Local Health Priorities Mirroring National Trends
To mark its 25th anniversary, the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation highlighted its three priority areas—expanding access to care, leveraging food as medicine, and improving youth mental health. Over the past quarter‑century the Foundation has deployed...
Enhanced Cost Messaging Yields Minimal Change in Primary Care Clinic Selection: Tim McDonald, PhD, MPP, and Bryan E. Dowd, PhD
Researchers Tim McDonald and Bryan Dowd found that reducing information barriers about costs had only a marginal impact on how consumers chose primary‑care clinics within a tiered network. The randomized trial showed that most patients already followed the tiered benefit...
Multiple Myeloma Sequencing Evolves With CAR T, MRD Insights: Sylvester Homsy, MD
At an Institute for Value‑Based Medicine event in Charlotte, Sylvester Homsy, MD highlighted how CAR‑T cell therapy and bispecific antibodies are reshaping multiple myeloma treatment sequencing. The emergence of B‑cell maturation antigen‑targeted agents is prompting clinicians to consider these high‑efficacy...
US Pricing Reform Reshapes Drug Launch Strategies: Dee Chaudhary
U.S. drug‑pricing reforms, especially the Most Favored Nation (MFN) rule, are forcing manufacturers to align American prices with the lowest prices offered abroad. As a result, firms are pulling back from launches in France, Germany and the Nordic region to...
How Price Transparency Could Fix the Abandoned Rx Issue: Laura Jensen
GoodRx’s chief commercial officer Laura Jensen argued that greater drug‑price transparency could dramatically cut the roughly one billion annual abandoned prescriptions in the United States. Speaking at Asembia’s AXS26 conference, she highlighted how transparent, consumer‑facing platforms can deliver easier‑to‑access discounts for...
Human-Centered Digital Transformation in Specialty Pharmacy
At the AXS26 Summit, AcariaHealth executives outlined a human‑centered digital transformation for specialty pharmacy that streamlines workflows while keeping personal clinician contact. They showcased a secure‑messaging onboarding process that trims a typical 45‑minute intake call to a brief exchange and...
Cutting Cancer Care Costs, Rethinking ACA Policy: Justin Favaro, MD
At the Institute for Value‑Based Medicine conference in Charlotte, oncologist Justin Favaro highlighted how independent oncology practices can dramatically lower chemotherapy costs and deliver care at roughly $1,000 per Medicare patient in annual savings. He noted that health‑care now accounts...
AI Learning Model Predicted Cognitive Status in Patients With MS
A multimodal artificial‑intelligence model achieved 90% validation accuracy in forecasting cognitive decline among multiple sclerosis patients. The study followed 224 MS patients for a median of 3.4 years, finding that 12% experienced worsening neurocognitive status. Explainable AI pinpointed brain regions...
Oncology Care Model Tied to Reduced Chemotherapy, Lower Medicare Spending in Poor-Prognosis Cancers
The CMS Oncology Care Model (OCM) was linked to reduced chemotherapy initiation and lower Medicare spending for poor‑prognosis cancers, according to a JAMA Internal Medicine study. Participants received a $160 per‑patient‑per‑month care‑coordination payment, and episode savings grew from $297 after...
Allo-HCT Achieves Durable Remission in Complex Multiple Myeloma Case
A recent eJHaem case report details an allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (allo‑HCT) that achieved durable remission in a patient with highly refractory multiple myeloma (MM) complicated by therapy‑related myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia (MDS/AML). The transplant used umbilical cord...
Community Oncology Is Fighting Back, and Winning: Nicolas Ferreyros
Community oncology clinics, responsible for about 60% of U.S. chemotherapy infusions, are confronting pressure from pharmacy‑benefit managers and health‑system consolidation that threaten their independent, patient‑centric model. The Community Oncology Alliance (COA) has partnered with Flatiron Health to benchmark care quality,...
Innovation and Collaboration Drive Community Oncology Forward: Christine Pfaff, RPh, MBA
Christine Pfaff, director of clinical initiatives at the Community Oncology Alliance (COA), highlighted that this year’s pharmacy‑track sessions at the Community Oncology Conference focus on both cutting‑edge therapies and the operational hurdles of implementing them in community practices. She stressed...
Deuruxolitinib Demonstrates Consistent Efficacy, Early Hair Regrowth in Severe Alopecia Areata
Deuruxolitinib (Leqselvi), an oral JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor from Sun Pharma, demonstrated robust efficacy in two pooled Phase 3 trials (THRIVE‑AA1 and THRIVE‑AA2) involving 867 adults with severe alopecia areata. At 24 weeks, 31% of treated patients achieved a SALT score of 20...
MASH Cirrhosis Trials Lack Consistent End Points
A new systematic review of phase 2 and 3 trials for metabolic dysfunction‑associated steatohepatitis (MASH) cirrhosis finds that endpoint selection is highly variable, with most studies relying on histologic improvement and few incorporating patient‑centered outcomes. The analysis identified only nine eligible...
CAR Therapies Could Offer New HBV, HIV Treatments
A new systematic review in Frontiers in Medicine evaluates 43 studies of virus‑directed CAR‑T and CAR‑NK therapies for chronic hepatitis B and HIV. Preclinical data show significant reductions in HIV p24 antigen, HBV surface antigen, and viral DNA, while early...
Exercise Linked to Lower Mortality Risk in CKD
A new systematic review and meta‑analysis of 82 randomized trials involving 4,192 chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients found that regular physical exercise markedly lowers all‑cause mortality, cutting risk by 46% overall and by 55% among dialysis‑dependent patients. The analysis also...
Age and Genetics Drive Real-World CLL Treatment Choices
A French real‑world study of 282 treatment‑naive CLL patients shows clinicians split between fixed‑duration venetoclax‑based combos and continuous BTK inhibitors. Patients under 70 with mutated IGHV predominantly receive obinutumab‑venetoclax, while those over 75 with TP53 or 17p lesions favor second‑generation...
Inhaled Treprostinil Improves FVC in IPF Phase 3 Trial: Steven D. Nathan, MD
A phase 3 double‑blind trial (TETON‑2) evaluated inhaled treprostinil in 539 idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients and demonstrated a statistically significant preservation of forced vital capacity versus placebo. At 52 weeks, the treprostinil arm showed a median FVC decline of –49.9 mL compared with...
How The US Oncology Network Is Taking a New Approach to Physician Burnout
The US Oncology Network is confronting a mounting physician burnout crisis that now affects nearly 60% of oncologists, threatening cancer care quality. By deploying AI‑driven ambient scribes, streamlining EHR workflows, and promoting self‑care practices, the network aims to alleviate administrative...