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The technology infrastructure of many health plans today could be described as costly, fragmented and siloed. Rather than focusing on the customer experience, growth and transformation, these plans are responding reactively to business needs and market shifts.

In this latest episode of MHE Talks: Improving Patient Access podcast, Dennis Bourdette, M.D., professor emeritus of neurology in the School of Medicine at the Oregon Health & Science University, spoke with Peter Wehrwein, senior editor of MHE. Bourdette, a nationally recognized expert on multiple sclerosis, discussed step therapy, tiers, insurance approvals and the need for greater communication between physicians and insurers.

Democrats will need to commit to campaign promises to make the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace coverage more affordable since winning control of the Senate.

At 5:28 p.m. EST, the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center shows a cumulative U.S. death total of 500,071.

American Heart Association comments on President Biden’s nomination for Secretary of Health and Human Services, Xavier Beccera, who will appear in a hearing before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions and the Senate Committee on Finance on February 23.

February is American Heart Month and the perfect time to think about our cardiovascular health. Cardiovascular diseases are those that affect the heart and blood vessels and include stroke, coronary artery disease (CAD), heart failure, and other poor heart and vascular health outcomes.

For several years, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) has presented data showing that the United States faces a shortage of physicians in almost every specialty. In June 2020, the association issued its sixth annual report on the shortage, predicting that in just over a decade, the U.S. healthcare system would face a shortage of between 54,100 and 139,000 physicians in primary and specialty care.

Application to the FDA is based on results from a placebo-controlled trial showing a 15% decrease in body weight among those who are obese or overweight.

Connecting physical and mental health delivers better engagement, outcomes, and lowers costs.

The Covid-19 pandemic remains to leave challenges on our economies, well-beings and more. After a year of battling rising Covid-19 cases, other behavioral epidemics such as the tobacco, obesity and mental health epidemic seem to be sky-rocketing.

NCI Director Norman Sharpless discussed deferred care, missed screening and his future at the institute in an interview with Managed Healthcare Executive.

A favorable Supreme Court ruling has improved the financial outlook of the three nonprofit health insurers.

New research based on data from the H1N1 Pandemic was used to model a pathway to achieve faster vaccination and stem COVID-19 crisis.

Now more than ever, dental providers are on the front lines of chronic disease. How? Before the pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that older adults were more likely to visit a doctor than a dentist. Even though older adults with chronic conditions were more likely to have severe tooth loss than persons without chronic conditions, national data showed dental visits lagged behind medical.

Having specialty pharmacies fill prescriptions may lower costs, but critics of the practice see safety issues and other drawbacks.

Her selection leaves the FDA commissioner's post as the only top healthcare job for which Biden hasn't made a pick.

In this latest episode of the Meet the Board series on Tuning In to the C-Suite podcast, Managed Healthcare Executive's Peter Wehrwein and Briana Contreras speak with Rodrigo Cerda, vice president of clinical care transformation at Independence Blue Cross in Philadelphia. Rodrigo is a newer member of MHE's Editorial Advisory Board and in the discussion he shared a bit about himself such as what his personal goals were. The focus of the discussion highlighted a pipeline of clinical care and what's to come, as well as looking at virtual care.

Adjustments to payment models are beginning to take social determinants into account.

CEO Karen Lynch says the market has stabilized. CVS received a $307 million ACA risk corridor payment last year.

Novartis says the drug may be appropriate for five out of six Americans with chronic heart failure.

Healthcare non-profit makes first-ever outside investment in Nashville-based company that’s transforming care for patients with chronic kidney and end-stage renal disease.

COVID-19 is the biggest one, but other twists and turns await.

Woodcock is seen as more pro-industry and favored by patient advocacy groups. Sharfstein's supporters say he would restore integrity to the agency. Sharfstein has proposed reforms to the FDA approval process.

Caring for seniors means attending to both their physical and emotional health. Unfortunately, the mental health of older patients is rarely evaluated and treated. Multiple barriers to care exist, including availability and access to mental health practitioners, as well as the stigma associated with psychological conditions that may prevent patients from seeking help.

Enforcement of rules to encourage the freer flow of healthcare data were delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. They are now scheduled to go into effect this year.

A survey conducted by Nationwide Retirement Institute® highlights the challenges Black caregivers overcome during COVID-19.