Employers Can Now Save by Comparing Health Care Prices
Employers can now tap Hospital Price Transparency (HPT) and Transparency in Coverage (TiC) data to compare actual negotiated rates across carriers and facilities. A pilot by the Purchaser Business Group on Health (PBGH) and Milliman showed that Aetna’s rates for a common CT scan were up to 30% lower than Anthem’s, despite similar discount percentages. The analysis combined price, quality, and claims data to produce custom reports for five large purchasers, prompting them to renegotiate contracts or switch carriers. Broad adoption could translate into billions of dollars saved for both private firms and public entities like New York City.
Esketamine Nasal Spray Shows Rapid, Durable Effectiveness in Treatment-Resistant Depression
New real‑world evidence from the ECHO study confirms that esketamine nasal spray delivers rapid and durable symptom relief for adults with treatment‑resistant depression. In a European‑Israel cohort of 570 patients, average treatment lasted nine months, producing mean MADRS reductions of ‑10.3...
Lambert–Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome: Early Recognition, Diagnostic Precision, and Therapeutic Advances in Small Cell Lung Cancer
Lambert‑Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome (LEMS) is increasingly recognized as a prodromal marker for small‑cell lung cancer (SCLC), prompting clinicians to screen earlier. Recent advances in auto‑antibody assays and electrophysiological testing have sharpened diagnostic precision, allowing treatment to begin before overt tumor...
Dual-Target Strategy Shows Promise in Overcoming Drug Resistance in MCL
A recent preclinical study identified BIRC5 and MCL‑1 as co‑drivers of survival in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) and demonstrated that simultaneous inhibition with YM155 and S63845 produces strong synergistic killing of cancer cells. The combination was effective across both treatment‑naïve...
Machine Learning Model Improves Prediction of Heart Failure Risk in CKD
A multicenter study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association introduced a machine‑learning model that predicts five‑year heart‑failure risk in chronic kidney disease patients with higher accuracy than existing tools. Using routine clinical data, the XGBoost algorithm achieved...
Wearable Technology Use Low in MS Despite High Intention of Use
A recent Frontiers in Digital Health study examined wearable technology adoption among 64 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Although intention to use wearables was comparable to patients with other chronic conditions, only 34% of MS patients wore devices regularly, with 34%...
Low Serum IgE Levels Independently Associated With Increased CLL Risk
A retrospective cohort of 118,740 Israeli adults found that serum IgE levels below 25 IU/mL were associated with almost double the hazard of developing chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) over a seven‑year follow‑up. The multivariable Cox model adjusted for age, sex, obesity,...
Off-the-Shelf CAR T-Cell Therapy Granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation for Aggressive T-Cell Cancers
Soficabtagene geleucel (WU‑CART‑007), an off‑the‑shelf CRISPR‑engineered CAR‑T therapy, received FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation for relapsed or refractory T‑cell leukemia and lymphoma. In a phase 1/2 trial of 28 patients, the drug achieved a 91% overall response rate and a 73% complete...
Frailty, Innovation, and the Future of Myeloma Treatment With Joseph Mikhael, MD
Joseph Mikhael, MD, highlights a dramatic shift in multiple myeloma care for older adults, driven by refined frailty assessments and the rise of targeted immunotherapies such as CAR‑T cells and bispecific antibodies. These advances have translated into higher survival rates...
Expanding ACCESS: Transplant Strategy Boosts Survival in Blood Cancers, Offers Potential Savings
The phase 2 ACCESS trial demonstrated that post‑transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) combined with tacrolimus and MMF enables high‑survival outcomes for patients receiving mismatched unrelated donor peripheral blood stem cell transplants. One‑year overall survival reached 86% for donors mismatched at less than 7/8...
MicroShunt Offers Sustained Reduction in IOP in Patients With Glaucoma
A six‑year, single‑center study of 1,001 eyes shows the PreserFlo MicroShunt dramatically lowers intraocular pressure (IOP) and medication use in glaucoma patients. IOP fell from a baseline 24.8 mmHg to 9.6 mmHg one day after surgery and remained around 13.7 mmHg through four...
Combined Diagnostic Approach Improves Accuracy in Differentiating Eczema From Psoriasis
A recent European dermatology study of 73 skin‑biopsy samples shows that pairing traditional dermatopathology with PCR‑based molecular testing markedly improves the ability to distinguish eczema from psoriasis. While pathology alone achieved 76.9% accuracy, the integrated method resolved ambiguous cases and...
Bone Health in Oncology: Closing Gaps, Reducing Costs, and Unlocking Biosimilar Value
At the MASCC/ISOO 2025 meeting in Seattle, experts highlighted persistent gaps in bone health management for oncology patients, especially those with breast and prostate cancer. They emphasized that underuse of bone‑modifying agents leads to preventable skeletal‑related events, increased mortality, and...
Emerging Therapies, Innovations Highlight the Evolving Dermatology Treatment Landscape
At the 2026 AAD Annual Meeting in Denver, experts highlighted rapid advances across core dermatology areas, including hair loss, itch, skin cancer, and artificial intelligence. New oral minoxidil formulations and the JAK inhibitor deuruxolitinib are expanding therapeutic options for androgenetic...
Tralokinumab Shows Strong Real-World Efficacy in Atopic Dermatitis for Patients With Skin of Color: April Armstrong, MD, MPH
At the American Academy of Dermatology 2026 meeting, researchers presented TRACE, a real‑world study of tralokinumab in atopic dermatitis. The trial enrolled over 800 patients, with roughly 16% representing skin‑of‑color individuals (Fitzpatrick types 4‑6). After 12 months, 80% of this subgroup achieved...
Topical Immunotherapy Remains Valuable in Alopecia Areata
Topical immunotherapy using contact allergens such as diphenylcyclopropenone (DPCP) or squaric acid dibutyl ester (SADBE) remains an effective, affordable option for alopecia areata, even as high‑cost JAK inhibitors dominate headlines. A recent Frontiers in Medicine case series of five chronic...
Deeper Insights Into RT Could Help Spark New CLL/SLL Therapies
Researchers report that Richter transformation (RT) can be identified years before clinical onset in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic leukemia (SLL) patients through multi‑omics profiling of tiny subclones. Current anthracycline‑based chemoimmunotherapy delivers median overall survival under one year,...
New Advances in Diabetes Drugs Are Transforming Treatment of Liver Disease
Emerging diabetes therapies are reshaping treatment of metabolic dysfunction‑associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), especially its severe form MASH. GLP‑1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide and dual‑action agents like tirzepatide have shown significant liver‑fat reduction and histologic improvement. SGLT2 inhibitors and...
PCP Support, Community Outreach Help Close Rural Dermatology Access Gaps
Rural America faces a stark dermatology shortage, with 68% of counties lacking a specialist, leading to long travel distances and delayed skin‑cancer diagnoses. Experts at the 2026 AAD meeting highlighted that teledermatology, primary‑care provider (PCP) support, and mobile clinics are...
Icotrokinra Delivers Complete Skin Clearance Through Week 52 With Strong Safety Profile: Linda Stein Gold, MD
FDA approval of icotrokinra introduces a new oral therapy for moderate‑to‑severe psoriasis. In the ICONIC‑ADVANCE trials, 100 % of patients achieved complete skin clearance through week 52, outperforming the oral benchmark deucravacitinib. The drug’s safety profile matched placebo, with fewer infections and...
Teledermatology Expands Patient Access, Reimbursement Opportunities
Teledermatology usage remains steady, with 63% of dermatologists adopting it in 2022 and about 60% continuing virtual care in 2025, primarily via live video. Experts at the 2026 AAD Annual Meeting highlighted telehealth as a revenue‑protective tool amid Medicare’s 2.5%...
Adjuvant Pembrolizumab Maintains Benefit-Risk Profile for High-Risk Stage II Melanoma in KEYNOTE-716 Analysis
Adjuvant pembrolizumab (Keytruda) continued to show a strong recurrence‑free survival (RFS) advantage in resected stage IIB/IIC melanoma, with median RFS not reached versus 59.2 months for placebo (hazard ratio 0.65). The 48‑month RFS rates were 68.7% with pembrolizumab compared with...
TKI Outcomes in AML Similar Across Racial, Ethnic Groups
New real‑world analysis of 482 acute myeloid leukemia patients shows tyrosine kinase inhibitors produce comparable overall survival and event‑free survival across racial and ethnic groups. The study, using the Flatiron Health Research Database from 2015‑2023, captured patients treated with FLT3,...
Improving Remote Dermatology Care, Diagnosis, and Clinical Trial Diversity: James Song, MD
Teledermatology is emerging as a core component of skin‑care delivery, especially for patients requiring frequent monitoring such as those on isotretinoin. Virtual visits excel at follow‑up appointments, safety checks, and prescription renewals, but current imaging technology cannot reliably diagnose pigmented...
Obesity Associated With Later CSU Onset, Reduced Therapy Response
A new World Allergy Organization Journal report finds that obesity is associated with a later onset of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) and a reduced response to the anti‑IgE drug omalizumab. Patients with isolated angioedema experience more severe attacks and respond...
Mobile Population-Based CKD Screening Could Help Close Care Gaps
Wayne State University researchers deployed mobile health units across Detroit from July 2022 to August 2025, evaluating 5,128 adults in 5,973 encounters. The screening revealed that 44.7% had mildly decreased eGFR and 11.3% met criteria for stage‑3 or worse chronic...
Tapinarof Shows Early, Sustained Gains in Moderate to Severe Atopic Dermatitis: Linda Stein Gold, MD
At the 2026 American Academy of Dermatology meeting, phase 3 ADORING 1 and 2 trials demonstrated that once‑daily tapinarof cream significantly improves rash and itch in moderate to severe atopic dermatitis, with effects evident by week 1 and sustained through eight weeks. The studies...
Ruxolitinib Cream Improves Repigmentation, QOL in Vitiligo, but Better Patient Education, Guidance Are Needed
Ruxolitinib cream (Opzelura) demonstrated significant facial repigmentation and quality‑of‑life gains in vitiligo patients, especially those reaching F‑VASI75/90 thresholds, according to post‑hoc analyses of the TRuE‑V trials presented at the 2026 AAD meeting. Real‑world survey data revealed that just over one‑fifth...
The Expanding Role of Checkpoint Inhibitors in CSCC Management
The NCCN has revised its guidelines to place checkpoint inhibitors at the forefront of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) treatment, extending their use beyond metastatic disease to neoadjuvant and adjuvant settings. PD‑1/PD‑L1 agents such as cemiplimab, cosibelimab and pembrolizumab are...
IRA Drug Provisions Linked to Significant Drop in Medicare Medication Nonadherence
New research shows the Inflation Reduction Act’s 2024 Medicare drug caps and expanded low‑income subsidies have materially reduced cost‑related medication nonadherence. A JAMA Internal Medicine study found a 4.9‑percentage‑point drop overall, rising to 7.8 points among beneficiaries with multiple chronic...
Industry Payments to Cardiologists Are Linked to Increased Medicare Spending: Michael I. Ellenbogen, MD, and Yubin Park, PhD
A new AJMC study examined more than 26,000 U.S. cardiologists and found that industry payments are linked to higher Medicare costs. Every $10,000 in payments corresponded with an additional $14.10 in spending per beneficiary. The research, presented on the Managed...
Medicare Advantage Linked to Higher Hospice Use in Advanced Cancer Patients
A JAMA Network Open study of 196,536 Medicare decedents with advanced cancer found that continuous enrollment in Medicare Advantage (MA) produced the highest hospice use (74.8%) compared with traditional Medicare (TM) at 68.5%. Switching between MA and TM added 2‑3...
Priority Health Appoints Brian Steele, DO, as Chief Medical Officer
Priority Health announced the appointment of Brian Steele, DO, as senior vice president and chief medical officer, effective April 6, 2026. Steele will oversee the health plan's clinical, pharmacy, and population‑health programs, aiming to deepen value‑based care and improve member...
Retinal Conditions Present Significant Health Care Burden in US
A new meta‑analysis in JAMA Ophthalmology estimates that 21.9 million Americans live with age‑related macular degeneration (AMD), 10 million with diabetic retinopathy (DR), 1.1 million with diabetic macular edema (DME) and 0.9 million with retinal vein occlusion (RVO) as of 2022. Prevalence varies sharply...
Hyperpolypharmacy and Readmission Risk Among Medicare Beneficiaries: The Role of Postdischarge Care
Researchers analyzed Medicare fee‑for‑service claims from 2016‑2019 to assess how hyperpolypharmacy influences 30‑day hospital readmissions and whether postdischarge ambulatory care mitigates this risk. The study found that patients taking ten or more medications at admission had a modestly higher odds...
Contributor: How Much? Addressing Medicines’ Cost and Value
The article argues that drug pricing debates must focus on aligning prices with the full value medicines deliver to patients and society. It critiques current health technology assessment (HTA) practices for using narrow benefit definitions, which can depress prices and...
CLL/SLL Treatment Choices Based on Various Factors
A population‑based study of 148 first‑line CLL/SLL patients in Alberta found that time‑limited venetoclax‑obinutuzumab was used in 51% of cases, while continuous BTK inhibitor therapy accounted for 44%. Patients with del(17p) or TP53 mutations chose BTK inhibitors in 84% of...
Predicting Severe Diabetes Complications Using Administrative Claims Data in Maryland
A Maryland‑wide predictive model using Medicare fee‑for‑service claims and publicly available social‑determinant data generated risk scores for 346,614 beneficiaries, released on June 7 2024. The model retained 95 statistically significant factors out of 219 candidates and produced a mean score of 0.0124,...
Noteworthy Studies on JAK Inhibitors, Skin-Gut Relationship in Alopecia Areata: Maria Hordinsky, MD
Maria Hordinsky, MD highlighted the rapid evolution of alopecia areata therapy, noting three FDA‑approved Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors launched in the last five years. She discussed the efficacy of agents such as dupilumab and baricitinib, while emphasizing emerging research on...
Higher-Dose Semaglutide Approved Under New FDA Accelerated Review Process
The FDA granted accelerated approval to Wegovy HD, a 7.2 mg weekly semaglutide injection, marking the fourth product cleared under the National Priority Voucher pilot. Phase 3 STEP UP data showed a mean 20.7% weight loss, with nearly one‑third of participants shedding 25% or...
Survival Gains in AML Shadowed by Lasting Morbidity
A new international study of 225 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) survivors, with a median follow‑up of 8.8 years, reveals that long‑term physical health remains significantly compromised despite rising survival rates. Survivors scored 8‑11 points lower on SF‑36 physical functioning and...
Review Highlights Multiple Treatment Options Available in DLBCL
A new review in Frontiers in Immunology outlines the expanding arsenal against diffuse large B‑cell lymphoma (DLBCL), the most common aggressive non‑Hodgkin lymphoma. While R‑CHOP still achieves durable remission in about 60% of patients, the authors detail how CAR‑T cells,...
Female Reproductive Cancers Are Narrowing the Sex Gap in Life Expectancy
New research analyzing 264 million deaths in 20 high‑income countries finds that women aged 35‑60 experience higher mortality from breast and other reproductive cancers than men, eroding their overall longevity advantage. The authors introduced the Truncated Cross‑Sectional Average Length of Life...
FAQs on IPF Therapies: Current, Emerging, and Combination Strategies
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) treatment now includes three FDA‑approved antifibrotic drugs—nerandomilast, nintedanib, and pirfenidone—each shown to slow forced vital capacity decline. Nerandomilast, approved in 2025, marks the first new IPF therapy in over a decade, while cost‑effectiveness analyses favor nintedanib...
5 Things to Know About Pediatric Health Coaching and the Obesity Care Gap
Pediatric health coaching is being promoted as a workforce‑driven strategy to bridge the gap between clinical guidelines and real‑world behavior change for childhood obesity. Experts from the Pediatric Health Coach Academy argue that intensive, family‑based programs are proven effective yet...
FAQs About AI in Radiology: Legal Risks, Liability, and Malpractice
Artificial intelligence is rapidly entering radiology, yet U.S. malpractice law still places physicians at the center of liability, even when AI tools err. Recent studies show jurors are more likely to hold radiologists responsible if they contradict an AI system,...
Income Associated With Health System Performance Disparities in US, South Korea
A new JAMA Health Forum analysis compares income‑related health system performance disparities in the United States and South Korea. Using MEPS, NHANES, KHPS and Korean NHANES data for over 400,000 adults, researchers examined spending, utilization, access, health status, risk factors...
FDA Approves Linerixibat for Cholestatic Pruritus in Primary Biliary Cholangitis
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted approval to GSK’s linerixibat (Lynavoy) for treating cholestatic pruritus in patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). The decision rests on the GLISTEN phase‑3 trial, which demonstrated a statistically and clinically significant reduction...
Biosimilar CT-P43 Matches Ustekinumab in Treating Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis
A phase‑3, double‑blind trial of over 500 patients showed the ustekinumab biosimilar CT‑P43 achieved equivalent PASI75 response at week 12 and maintained comparable PASI50/75/90 rates through week 52. Safety, adverse‑event profiles, and antidrug‑antibody incidence mirrored those of reference ustekinumab. Patients who switched...
Balancing Efficacy, Equity, and Shared Decision-Making in MS Care: Fred Lublin, MD
In a recent AJMC interview, Dr. Fred Lublin highlighted how high‑efficacy disease‑modifying therapies have shifted multiple sclerosis treatment toward earlier use, raising new questions about therapy sequencing and de‑escalation. He emphasized that patient preference should guide decisions between infusible and...