Notes

Improvement associated with stableness and in vivo anti-oxidant aftereffect of individual glutathione peroxidase mutant through PEGylation.
Total drug spending steadily increased over time, particularly after the ACA, with the largest increase seen in those reaching the catastrophic threshold; however, out-of-pocket spending significantly decreased.

Although this study provides support for reductions in financial barriers to prescription drugs under the ACA, substantial increases in both total drug spending and the proportion of high-cost beneficiaries in the Part D program indicate a growing burden of Part D spending on the Medicare program, which is expected to continue to grow in the future.
Although this study provides support for reductions in financial barriers to prescription drugs under the ACA, substantial increases in both total drug spending and the proportion of high-cost beneficiaries in the Part D program indicate a growing burden of Part D spending on the Medicare program, which is expected to continue to grow in the future.
To better understand patients' and pharmacists' preferences for and experiences with changes in pill appearance (size, shape, color, and markings).

Cross-sectional.

We conducted independent national surveys of patients 50 years and older taking generic drugs for depression, diabetes, epilepsy, HIV, hyperlipidemia, or hypertension and of licensed pharmacists practicing in chain, franchise, or independent pharmacies. check details Responses were collected between January and April 2016.

Of 1000 patient respondents (30% response rate), most reported experiencing changes in pill appearance (51%) and preferred to be notified about them (82%), but less than half recalled being notified (verbally 36%; via sticker 45%). Among patients who reported experiencing a change, 12% reported stopping their medication or using it less frequently. Of 710 pharmacist respondents (33% response rate), many reported changes in pill appearance occurring frequently in their pharmacies (47% reported that changes occurred 6 or more times per month) and more than three-fourths reported notifying patients about them often (verbally 88%; via sticker 77%).

Our findings reveal opportunities to improve patients' experiences with pill appearance changes through better notification practices and patient education.
Our findings reveal opportunities to improve patients' experiences with pill appearance changes through better notification practices and patient education.
Monitoring care and treatment for persons with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is essential for demonstrating progress in achieving national elimination goals. We sought to evaluate insurance claims data as a source for monitoring progression along the CHB care cascade.

Longitudinal evaluation from diagnosis to treatment among commercially insured enrollees with CHB.

We used standardized procedure and diagnosis codes to identify enrollees (≥ 18 years) with CHB in large insurance claims databases to describe the CHB care cascade from 2008 to 2016. Linkage to care was defined as procedure codes for liver fibrosis assessment (alanine aminotransferase in conjunction with either hepatitis B virus DNA or hepatitis B e-antigen) more than 12 months after CHB diagnosis. Treatment was defined as a claim for any CHB prescription. We analyzed factors associated with linkage to care and treatment using unadjusted logistic regression and evaluated rates of diagnosis, linkage to care, and treatment over time.

Of 16,644 individuals with CHB, 6004 (36%) were linked to care and 2926 (18%) were treated. Persons coinfected with HIV (odds ratio [OR], 0.46; 95% CI, 0.36-0.59) or hepatitis C (OR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.34-0.73) were less likely to be linked to care, and persons coinfected with HIV (OR, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.19-0.44) were less likely to be treated. From 2009 to 2015, there was a significant decrease in CHB diagnoses but no change in the proportion linked to care and treatment.

We identified gaps in linkage to care and treatment in commercially insured adults with CHB.
We identified gaps in linkage to care and treatment in commercially insured adults with CHB.In the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) era, clinical registries and innovative virtual care delivery tools should be leveraged to engage populations in effective chronic disease management.
To determine whether patients are deferring necessary care for urgent conditions during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and, if so, to what extent.

Cross-sectional study.

Using billing data from 8 acute care hospitals, we identified 9 principal medical diagnoses from International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes across 4 medical specialties (cardiology, gastroenterology, neurology, and urology). In addition, we defined a combined obstetrical falsification end point. We compared daily admission rates during the pandemic period (3/1/2020-4/30/2020) with the same dates in 2019 (3/1/2019-4/30/2019). As a reference, we also compared a prepandemic period in the same years (1/1/2019-2/28/2019 and 1/1/2020-2/29/2020). We compared admission rates between years using t tests.

There were 3219 admissions for the conditions of interest during the study period in 2019 and 2661 in 2020. There was no difference in prepandemic daily admission rates in 2020 compared with 2019 (29.04 vs 27.63 admissions per day; -4.9%; P = .50). During the pandemic period, there was a 33.7% decrease in admission rates for all conditions combined in 2020 compared with 2019 (24.68 vs 16.37; -33.7%; P = .03). By specialty, the combined gastroenterology (10.22 vs 7.20; -29.6%; P = .02) and cardiovascular (2.34 vs 1.29; -44.7%; P = .05) end points demonstrated reduction in daily admission rates.

Daily admission rates during the COVID-19 pandemic were lower for these acute medical conditions. Public awareness campaigns are urgently needed to reassure the public about the safety of presenting for care.
Daily admission rates during the COVID-19 pandemic were lower for these acute medical conditions. Public awareness campaigns are urgently needed to reassure the public about the safety of presenting for care.To mark the 25th anniversary of the journal, each issue in 2020 will include an interview with a health care thought leader. The August issue features a conversation with Mandy K. Cohen, MD, MPH, secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
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