Managed Care News and Research

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Legal promise of equal mental health treatment often falls short

Amanda Bacon's eating disorder was growing worse. She had lost 60% of her body weight and was consuming about 100 calories a day.

7 Jun 2019

Sociodemographic factors, polysubstance use linked with opioid-related overdose deaths

A new study led by Boston Medical Center's Grayken Center for Addiction shows that opioid-related overdose deaths involving another substance is now the norm, not the exception, in Massachusetts.

30 May 2019

Embedding child psychiatric care in urban clinic improves access and treatment

A novel method of embedding child psychiatric care in an urban pediatrics clinic was found to be feasible and a promising way to increase access to and engagement in psychiatric care among a primarily Latino population, according to new study from Boston Medical Center researchers.

23 May 2019

Widespread HCV testing and treatment strategy in U.S. prisons improves outcomes

At current drug prices, testing all persons entering prison for Hepatitis C, treating those who have at least 12 months remaining in their sentence, and linking individuals with less than 12 months in their sentence to care upon their release would result in improved health outcomes.

22 May 2019

BMC develops EHR-based screener to address patients' unmet social needs

Boston Medical Center has implemented a social determinants of health screener for primary care patients in order to better identify and address patients' unmet social needs.

18 May 2019

Study shows more aggressive treatment may be needed for many patients taking statins

A new study shows more aggressive treatment may be needed for a large number of patients taking statin medications, and that treatment could help reduce cases of cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in the U.S.

10 May 2019

First milk expression within 8 hours related to lactation success for very low-birth-weight infants

A study led by physician researchers at Boston Medical Center has shown that first milk expression within eight hours of giving birth is associated with the highest probability of mothers of very low-birth-weight infants being able to provide milk throughout hospitalization in the neonatal intensive care unit.

10 May 2019

Study shows high incidence of herpes zoster ophthalmicus among older adults

More Americans are being diagnosed with eye complications of shingles, but older adults can call the shots on whether they are protected from the painful rash that can cost them their eyesight.

3 May 2019

Emerging new type of oral cancer linked to HPV appears to increase in men

An emerging new type of oral cancer in men has increased over the last 15 years. The culprit is human papillomavirus, and key social factors are contributing to its growth.

25 Apr 2019

Suicide risk grew after Missouri Medicaid kids shifted to managed care, hospitals say

After more than 2,000 Missouri children diagnosed with mental illness were shifted from traditional Medicaid into three for-profit managed-care companies, the state's hospitals noticed an alarming trend: a doubling in the percentage who had thoughts of suicide or attempted suicide.

2 Apr 2019

Patients suffer when health care behemoths quarrel over contracts

David Lerman, a Berkeley, Calif., lawyer, changed health plans this year only to learn that his new insurer has no contract with the dominant medical provider in his community.

1 Feb 2019

Virtual video visits can replace office visits without compromising quality of care

A team of researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) reports in the American Journal of Managed Care that virtual video visits, one form of telehealth visit used at the hospital, can successfully replace office visits for many patients without compromising the quality of care and communication.

14 Jan 2019

Medicaid plans cover doctors’ visits, hospital care — and now your GED

Emilia Ford became pregnant at 15 and, after her daughter was born, dropped out of high school.

7 Jan 2019

Community Health Choice helps manage complex and chronic care conditions

Texans often face crucial health-related decisions without training or guidance. How do we decide when to seek emergency care? What are the warning signs of diabetes? Should we go to a clinic or can we reach someone on the phone?

14 Dec 2018

Study: Chronic opioid therapy associated with increased healthcare spending and hospital stays

Using data from commercial insurance claims of working-aged adults, new research published in the December issue of The American Journal of Accountable Care found that chronic opioid therapy for noncancer pain is associated with increased healthcare spending as well as hospital stays.

14 Dec 2018

Chronically ill, traumatically billed: The $123,000 medicine for MS

Shereese Hickson's multiple sclerosis was flaring again. Spasms in her legs and other symptoms were getting worse.

28 Nov 2018

In health insurance wastelands, rosier options crop up for 2019

In recent years, places such as Memphis and Phoenix had withered into health insurance wastelands as insurers fled and premiums skyrocketed in the insurance marketplaces set up by the Affordable Care Act. But today, as in many parts of the country, these two cities are experiencing something unprecedented: Premiums are sinking and choices are sprouting.

23 Nov 2018

MCO places increasing emphasis on helping people find and access healthy food

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, one out of every eight U.S. households experiences food insecurity. Access to healthy food is an important socioeconomic factor, or social determinant, in one's health, and for millions of Americans, it remains elusive.

16 Nov 2018

Food insecurity during pregnancy linked to severity of neonatal abstinence syndrome

A new study shows that food insecurity in pregnant women being treated for opioid use disorder may be associated with increased risk for their infants receiving pharmacologic treatment for neonatal abstinence syndrome.

13 Nov 2018

Billions in ‘questionable payments’ went to California’s Medicaid insurers and providers

California's Medicaid program made at least $4 billion in questionable payments to health insurers and medical providers over a four-year period because as many as 453,000 people were ineligible for the public benefits, according to a state audit released Tuesday.

1 Nov 2018