MCOs expand strategies to keep healthcare affordable

Topical steroids remain first-line for chronic hand eczema, but long-term use can thin the skin and leave patients with poorly controlled disease.

Laura Ferris urges risk-based melanoma screening and highlights earlier immunotherapy, selective imaging, vaccine limits and new post–PD-1 options.

Patients with HS should get three to four months on a biologic before a switch, says a dermatologist who sees promise in oral JAK inhibitors.

With three FDA-approved biologics for hidradenitis suppurativa, Jennifer Hsiao, M.D., said patient preference and access often decide which comes first.

A structured approach grounded in implementation science and supported by a culture that values continuous improvement can enable organizations to identify barriers, align stakeholders and sustain new practices over time.

New unattended sleep testing codes take effect Jan. 1, 2027 — but a dispute over how CMS values them could shape access to the cheaper alternative to in-lab sleep studies.

A session at AAO 2026 explained how Medicare, Medicare Advantage and commercial coverage policies differ in ophthalmology, and how practices can document and code to stay compliant

Presenters at AAO 2026 examined hospital eye coverage gaps, workforce strain and how ophthalmology can gain influence within health systems.