Health Policy and Management News
Prostate cancer care for older men estimated to cost Medicare $1.2 billion
September 14, 2018
Dr. Justin Trogdon led a study estimating that screening for and treatment of prostate cancer in men ages 70 years or older, which is not recommended by national guidelines, cost Medicare more than $1.2 billion over a three-year period.
Leatherman contributes to National Academy of Sciences report on health care around the globe
September 12, 2018
Sheila Leatherman, professor of health policy and management, served on a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine study committee whose recent report identified possible pathways for widespread improvement to global quality of health care issues. In low- and middle-income countries, between 5.7 and 8.4 million deaths occur each year from poor quality of care.
Law intended to increase access to behavioral health care had little impact, study finds
September 8, 2018
A 2008 law that required insurance plans to offer mental health and addiction benefits at the same level as physical health benefits did not significantly reduce out-of-pocket spending on outpatient behavioral health services or increase their use, according to new research.
Health Scholars fill leadership roles at UNC Hospitals
August 28, 2018
“Minority leaders are underrepresented in health care, and we wanted to change that.” Jeffrey Simms smiled as he recalled the origins of the UNC Health Scholars program.
A new threat to immigrants’ health: The ‘public charge’ rule
August 3, 2018
Drs. Krista Perreira and Jonathan Oberlander are co-authors of an article about a proposed federal plan that could have major life and health consequences for millions of immigrant families. Photo by Rutgers School of Nursing.
Oberlander in NEJM: Opposition to ‘Obamacare’ has resulted in promises to repeal, but no proposals to improve policy
July 31, 2018
Dr. Jonathan Oberlander has written about the Affordable Care Act for nearly a decade. His new article in The New England Journal of Medicine describes the Act as being ‘in purgatory’ — impossible to destroy as a result of its popularity and the purpose it serves, but made less effective through partisan dismemberment and defunding. Photo by Max Englund.
Aaron Williams honored by RTI International for distinguished career and public service
July 25, 2018
Adjunct professor Aaron Williams was honored July 25 by RTI for his long and distinguished career in public service. Williams served as director of the Peace Corps, worked with RTI in international program management, policy reform, government relations and communications, and served as a foreign services officer.
HPV screening found more effective than Pap test at identifying cervical cancer
July 25, 2018
Cervical cancer screening with cytology – commonly known as a Pap test – is one of the most widely used cancer control interventions in high-income settings. A recent study demonstrated, however, that HPV testing detects cervical dysplasia earlier and more accurately than cytology.
By sending tests in the mail, researchers boost colorectal cancer screening
July 19, 2018
Recent research found that mailing colorectal cancer screening tests to people insured by Medicaid increased the likelihood that they would undergo the cancer screening. Dr. Stephanie Wheeler is senior author of the study.
Study finds policy changes increase access to drug that reverses opioid overdoses
July 6, 2018
A new study found that laws to improve naloxone access increase access to naloxone among Medicaid beneficiaries, a group that experiences a risk of overdose death several times higher than the general population. Naloxone is a life-saving prescription medication used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. Photo by Tom Wolf.