Healthcare Strategies

Headlines: Change Healthcare Cyberattack, AI App for Ears

A cyberattack at Change Healthcare has crippled large segments of the healthcare industry. Also, a new AI app might detect a certain pediatric ear infection better than humans.

Breaking Down the Relationship Between Payers, Pharmacy Benefit Managers

Pharmacy benefit managers and payers have a lot of influence over prescription drug affordability, but does their traditional working model actually benefit health plan members? Alison Lum, vice president of pharmacy services at Blue Shield of California, shares what needs to change about the PBM-payer relationship to improve prescription drug costs and access to care.

Using Risk Stratification to Drive Suicide Prevention Efforts

The mental health crisis in the United States has contributed to an increase in suicide deaths in recent years. Kimberly Roaten, PhD, ABPP, professor in the Department of Psychiatry at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and associate chief quality and safety officer for Behavioral Health - Parkland Health, and Jacqueline Naeem, MD, senior medical director at Parkland Center for Clinical Innovation (PCCI), share how health systems can help prevent suicides in their populations using a data-informed risk stratification approach.

Exploring Male Birth Control Development in a Post-Dobbs World

In this episode, Stephanie Page, MD, PhD, Co-Director of the University of Washington Medicine Diabetes Institute, Robert B. McMillen Professor of Medicine in Lipid Research and head of the Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Nutrition, discusses the role of male birth control in the global unplanned pregnancy epidemic. Page describes existing and developing male contraceptive methods with Healthcare Strategies.

Headlines: Cigna Sells Medicare Plans, Sickle Cell Therapy Access Grows

Cigna is shedding its Medicare plans, selling them to HCSC. Meanwhile, the White House is eyeing sickle cell therapies and their high price tags.

Using RPM Tools to Bring Cancer Care into Patient Homes

Remote patient monitoring tools are increasingly used to deliver cancer care in patient homes. However, the success of these programs depends on various factors, including patient engagement. Glen Peterson, NP, an associate professor of hematology at the University of Colorado Medicine, discusses study findings on the efficacy of an RPM-based outpatient care model for high-risk cancer patients and the implementation strategies to ensure success.

Headlines: Medicare's Shared Savings Program Grows, Surprise Billing Falls

Large payer organizations reported around 10.1 million averted surprise bills and accountable care organizations are flocking to Medicare's Shared Savings program.

Headlines: CMS Okays Prior Auth Policies, Provider Burnout Progress

CMS has finalized prior authorization policies that please most major provider organizations and a new survey shows that EHR transformation is one key strategy for reducing provider burnout.

Checking the Pulse of Progress in the Life Sciences, Pharma Sector

In this episode, Alivia Kaylor, MSc, senior editor, and Veronica Salib, associate editor at Xtelligent Healthcare Media, provide in-depth insights into the revolutionary strides defining the landscape of the life sciences and pharmaceutical industry in 2024. Unveiling transformative breakthroughs — including pioneering achievements in gene therapy, advancements in targeted oncology treatments, and cutting-edge progress in male birth control options — the discussion explores how these innovations are reshaping the healthcare landscape and carrying immense promise for the future.

Maintaining Access to Rural Healthcare Amid Closures

The cost of delivering quality care is higher than ever, while payers are looking to downsize reimbursement rates as much as possible. As a result, many rural hospitals have closed or are on the brink of closure, exacerbating access to care challenges. Our editors discuss what is causing rural hospitals to shutter their doors and what some providers are doing to prevent it.