The American journal of managed care
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To assess the capacity of Medicaid providers to take on new patients during a time of unprecedented growth in program enrollment due to Medicaid expansion and the COVID-19 public health emergency. ⋯ Our results suggest that the health care system in Missouri can accommodate even historic growth in Medicaid enrollment and patient loads without compromising access to care as perceived by providers. Further research is needed from the patient side and focused on rural areas.
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Multicancer early detection (MCED) testing could result in earlier cancer diagnosis, thereby improving survival and reducing treatment costs. This study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of MCED testing plus usual care (UC) screening while accounting for the impact of clinical uncertainty and population heterogeneity for an MCED test with broad coverage of solid cancer incidence. ⋯ Under a range of likely clinical scenarios, MCED testing was estimated to be cost-effective, improving survival and reducing treatment costs.
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The US is facing a growing epidemic of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), with over 2.5 million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis reported in 2021 and again in 2022. This public health crisis disproportionately affects youth and racial and ethnic minority communities, exacerbating barriers to accessing sexual health services. Untreated STIs can lead to severe health consequences, including infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease, and increased risk of HIV transmission and acquisition. ⋯ It presents a set of opportunities to enhance STI prevention, including incentivizing syphilis screening during pregnancy through existing perinatal and maternal health efforts, leveraging extended postpartum coverage for sexual health education, integrating STI services with substance use disorder programs, supporting community-based organizations that serve relevant communities, training community-facing workers in STI care and sexual health, coordinating with local health departments, and providing enrollee access to condoms and home STI tests. Implementing these strategies could reduce STI rates and improve health outcomes, particularly among vulnerable populations. Although this commentary draws on research focused on Medicaid MCOs, a coordinated approach that includes commercial plans and coordination with health departments could ultimately enhance the consistency and quality of STI services and sexual health care across the health care system.
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The question of what providers one has access to under their insurance coverage is crucial for patients in managed care. This study sought to examine information displayed in online provider directories and whether this information matched consumer preferences. ⋯ Lack of attention to usability in provider directories may hinder the national goal of ensuring care accessibility for all.
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The authors evaluate features of the Transforming Episode Accountability Model and discuss its benefits and limitations.