Poorva M Nemlekar, Katia L Hannah, Courtney R Green, Thomas Grace, Peter M Lynch, Jessica R Castle, Gregory J Norman
{"title":"Combined effect of continuous glucose monitoring and semaglutide: analysis of administrative claims.","authors":"Poorva M Nemlekar, Katia L Hannah, Courtney R Green, Thomas Grace, Peter M Lynch, Jessica R Castle, Gregory J Norman","doi":"10.37765/ajmc.2025.89719","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.37765/ajmc.2025.89719","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study evaluated whether the combined use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, was associated with larger hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) improvements compared with use of semaglutide alone.</p><p><strong>Study design: </strong>Using US health care claims data from the Optum Clinformatics database, this retrospective analysis identified adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) using semaglutide.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The CGM cohort had at least 1 CGM-related claim between January 1, 2019, and September 30, 2022. Random index dates were used in the control (non-CGM) cohort. At least 1 laboratory HbA1c value was required during baseline and follow-up periods. Outcomes included change in HbA1c and the proportion of people who reached American Diabetes Association (ADA) or Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) HbA1c targets of less than 7.0% or less than 8.0%, respectively.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 21,247 people with T2D were identified, with 18,488 in the control group and 2759 using CGM. Overall, a significantly greater reduction in HbA1c was observed in the CGM cohort compared with the control group (difference-in-differences, -0.55%; 95% CI, -0.64% to -0.47%; P < .0001). Among CGM users, the proportion meeting the ADA target of HbA1c less than 7.0% nearly doubled, and the proportion achieving the HEDIS target of HbA1c less than 8.0% increased by more than 50%.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The results suggest that CGM provides an additive benefit to semaglutide, leading to greater decreases in HbA1c. Expanded use of these complementary therapies in the primary care setting could enable more people with T2D to achieve their glycemic goals.</p>","PeriodicalId":50808,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Managed Care","volume":"31 4","pages":"183-188"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144049675","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Making PIN and telehealth work together-it can be done.","authors":"Grace Showalter","doi":"10.37765/ajmc.2025.89728","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.37765/ajmc.2025.89728","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":50808,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Managed Care","volume":"31 Spec. No. 4","pages":"SP238-SP239"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144051352","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Managed care reflections: a Q&A with Hoangmai H. Pham, MD, MPH.","authors":"Hoangmai H Pham, Christina Mattina","doi":"10.37765/ajmc.2025.89716","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.37765/ajmc.2025.89716","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>To mark the 30th anniversary of The American Journal of Managed Care® (AJMC®), each issue in 2025 will include a special feature: reflections from a thought leader on what has changed-and what has not-over the past 3 decades and what's next for managed care. The April issue features a conversation with Hoangmai H. Pham, MD, MPH, a member of AJMC's editorial board and the president and CEO of the Institute for Exceptional Care (IEC).</p>","PeriodicalId":50808,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Managed Care","volume":"31 4","pages":"159-160"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144048188","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
David G Marrero, Christopher G Parkin, Grazia Aleppo, Irl B Hirsch, Janet McGill, Rodolfo J Galindo, Davida F Kruger, Carol J Levy, Anders L Carlson, Guillermo E Umpierrez
{"title":"The role of advanced technologies in improving diabetes outcomes.","authors":"David G Marrero, Christopher G Parkin, Grazia Aleppo, Irl B Hirsch, Janet McGill, Rodolfo J Galindo, Davida F Kruger, Carol J Levy, Anders L Carlson, Guillermo E Umpierrez","doi":"10.37765/ajmc.2025.89725","DOIUrl":"10.37765/ajmc.2025.89725","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To discuss the current state of diabetes care in America, the value and utility of innovative diabetes technologies, barriers to access to quality diabetes care and technologies, and how a value-based model of diabetes care can improve outcomes and reduce costs.</p><p><strong>Study design: </strong>Narrative review of the current state of diabetes care in America and use of diabetes technologies such as continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and automated insulin delivery (AID) systems.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An internet search of relevant studies and government reports was conducted.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Numerous studies have shown that use of CGM and AID improves glycemia, diabetes-related events, and health care resource utilization and lowers overall health care costs. Despite these demonstrated benefits, the majority of individuals with diabetes are not achieving their glycemic goals. Although many of these individuals have limited access to these technologies due to restrictive coverage eligibility criteria, significant disparities exist in technology use within racial/ethnic minority populations and communities of lower socioeconomic status. Transitioning to a value-based approach to diabetes care supports the Quintuple Aim framework.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Shifting our current health care delivery paradigm from the traditional volume-based, fee-for-service model to a value-based model that takes a proactive approach could improve patient outcomes and overall quality of life while helping to reduce the long-term costs of diabetes care.</p>","PeriodicalId":50808,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Managed Care","volume":"31 4","pages":"e102-e112"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12232999/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144046651","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Galen Shearn-Nance, Rishi R Sachdev, Long Vu, Weichuan Dong, Alberto J Montero, Siran M Koroukian, Johnie Rose
{"title":"Comparing breast cancer treatment outcomes between fee-for-service and Medicare Advantage.","authors":"Galen Shearn-Nance, Rishi R Sachdev, Long Vu, Weichuan Dong, Alberto J Montero, Siran M Koroukian, Johnie Rose","doi":"10.37765/ajmc.2025.89720","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.37765/ajmc.2025.89720","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Medicare Advantage (MA) enrollment has increased over the past 2 decades. We compare receipt of standard treatment, time to treatment initiation (TTI), and overall survival (OS) between fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare and MA for women in Ohio with breast cancer.</p><p><strong>Study design: </strong>Retrospective cohort.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We used Ohio cancer registry data linked with Medicare enrollment files to identify women diagnosed between 2011 and 2016 with local- or regional-stage breast cancer. We evaluated the association between FFS or MA and each outcome, adjusting for age, race, marital status, county type, neighborhood poverty level, stage, hormone receptor status, and dual Medicare-Medicaid enrollment. Standard treatment was mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery plus radiotherapy; chemotherapy for regional disease; and hormone therapy if hormone receptor positive.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 12,349 patients met inclusion criteria (6801 FFS; 5548 MA). No difference was found in receipt of standard treatment between FFS and MA patients (adjusted OR [AOR], 0.99; 95% CI, 0.91-1.08) or between Black and White patients (AOR, 1.14; 95% CI, 0.94-1.40); however, Black patients with FFS had lower odds of standard treatment (AOR for interaction, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.57-0.99). We detected no difference in TTI (adjusted HR [AHR], 0.98; 95% CI, 0.94-1.01) or OS (AHR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.92-1.15) between FFS and MA patients, and we found no significant interaction between MA status and race for OS or TTI.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>MA enrollment was not independently associated with standard treatment, TTI, or OS after cancer diagnosis. Further work is needed to understand why Black patients with FFS Medicare were less likely to receive standard treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":50808,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Managed Care","volume":"31 4","pages":"190-196"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144040193","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Cost-effectiveness of the MiniMed 780G system for type 1 diabetes.","authors":"Mallika Kommareddi, Kael Wherry","doi":"10.37765/ajmc.2025.89722","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.37765/ajmc.2025.89722","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Advances in diabetes technology have led to improved glycemic control. However, no study has evaluated the economic impact of advanced hybrid closed-loop (AHCL) technology in the US compared with older and less expensive treatments. We assessed the cost-effectiveness of the MiniMed 780G system (MM780G) with AHCL technology vs multiple daily injections of insulin (MDI) with intermittently scanned continuous glucose monitoring (isCGM) among patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in the US.</p><p><strong>Study design: </strong>A 6-month randomized controlled trial compared MM780G against MDI with isCGM among patients with T1D. Outcomes included changes in hemoglobin A 1c and quality of life.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We used the IQVIA Core Diabetes Model to simulate direct costs and quality of life separately over a 4-year horizon and a lifetime horizon. Treatment effects were sourced from the randomized controlled trial, and utilities and disutilities for diabetes-related complications came from the literature. We generated incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) and cost-effectiveness acceptability curves for the base case and 5 one-way sensitivity analyses.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>At a willingness-to-pay threshold of $100,000, MM780G is cost-effective in the base case, with an ICER of $68,402 per quality-adjusted life-year over a 4-year horizon and $38,842 per quality-adjusted life-year over a lifetime horizon. Sensitivity analyses varying the rates of short-term complications, pricing, and assumptions about treatment-related utilities show cost-effectiveness at a threshold of $100,000 in all but 1 case.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>MM780G is likely to be cost-effective vs MDI with isCGM in patients with T1D in the US at a willingness-to-pay threshold of $100,000.</p>","PeriodicalId":50808,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Managed Care","volume":"31 4","pages":"e79-e86"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143993482","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Prior authorizations and the adverse impact on continuity of care.","authors":"Jay S Pickern","doi":"10.37765/ajmc.2025.89721","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.37765/ajmc.2025.89721","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This commentary discusses the current prior authorization (PA) process and the negative impacts it can have on patient care. According to the American Medical Association, 94% of patients experience delays in care and 78% abandon treatment altogether. These delays in care are often for lifesaving treatments and can result in adverse events. Additionally, PAs place an extensive administrative and financial burden on both patients and providers, often requiring several hours of seeking approval from insurance companies or requiring patients to try one or more other therapeutic avenues before an insurance company will approve the original course of treatment. This is all while insurance companies are making record profits each year. Frustrations with this system are leading to a rise in the number of physician practices switching to a cash-only business model, which increases autonomy, enables price transparency, and benefits both physicians and patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":50808,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Managed Care","volume":"31 4","pages":"163-165"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144007422","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Care coordination engagement patterns in long-term patients.","authors":"Nicolas M Oreskovic, Zachary A Allon, Ann E Erwin","doi":"10.37765/ajmc.2025.89718","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.37765/ajmc.2025.89718","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Health care networks are increasingly turning to programs that provide office-based care coordination to high-cost, high-need patients to control preventable health care costs. Although care coordination programs have been shown to result in shorter-term cost benefits, little is known about patients who remain in such programs beyond 2 years. This study sought to assess the amount of care coordination engagement over time in patients enrolled for more than 2 years in an office-based care coordination program.</p><p><strong>Study design: </strong>Cohort study with 9 years of follow-up data.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study population was adult patients enrolled for 2 or more years as of November 2023 in an office-based care coordination program at a major academic medical center in Boston, Massachusetts. The association between patient length of enrollment in an outpatient care coordination program and amount of care coordination engagement was assessed using linear regression, with differences between cohorts compared by t test and analysis of variance. Engagement patterns in 5 sequential study cohorts based on date of enrollment were compared.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among all 2258 patients enrolled, care coordination engagement increased linearly over time, with a mean increase of 0.2 care coordination encounters per patient per year. Similar increasing engagement patterns over time were observed across all study cohorts.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Length of time enrolled in an office-based care coordination program predicted care coordination engagement, with care coordination services increasing the longer patients remained in the program.</p>","PeriodicalId":50808,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Managed Care","volume":"31 4","pages":"166-171"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144054910","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Technology, partnerships, data, and culture are keys to bringing precision medicine to community oncology.","authors":"Mary Caffrey","doi":"10.37765/ajmc.2025.89727","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.37765/ajmc.2025.89727","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":50808,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Managed Care","volume":"31 Spec. No. 4","pages":"SP230-SP232"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144055764","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Erin Weber, Kristine Burnaska, Robert Bowman, Samantha Holvey
{"title":"AI in health care: closing the revenue cycle gap.","authors":"Erin Weber, Kristine Burnaska, Robert Bowman, Samantha Holvey","doi":"10.37765/ajmc.2025.89717","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.37765/ajmc.2025.89717","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This commentary explores the current state, challenges, and potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in health care revenue cycle management, emphasizing collaboration, data standardization, and targeted implementation to enhance adoption.</p>","PeriodicalId":50808,"journal":{"name":"American Journal of Managed Care","volume":"31 4","pages":"161-162"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144039207","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}