Comparing Rural and Urban Cervical and Breast Cancer Screening Rates in a Privately Insured Population.

Low preventive screening varies by region and contributes to poor outcomes for breast and cervical cancer. Previous comparative urban and rural research on preventive screening has focused on government programs. This study quantified and compared rural and urban preventive cancer screening rates for women who were privately insured.

Growth of molecular diagnostics and genetic testing in the USA, 2008-2011: analysis and implications.

Aims: Advances in genomics and molecular diagnostic testing are expanding, but national data on which to base clinical, regulatory and reimbursement policies in the USA are lacking. The study objective is to provide current estimates of utilization/spending trends for private and public payers.

Patients & Methods: Healthcare utilization/expenditure claims data for 32 million individuals across the USA in 2008-2011 were analyzed.

A coordinated national model for diabetes prevention: linking health systems to an evidence-based community program.

Background: Twenty-six million U.S. adults have diabetes, and 79 million have prediabetes.

Health plans' strategies for managing outpatient specialty pharmaceuticals.

Balancing increased spending for specialty pharmaceuticals while providing affordable and equitable coverage for consumers is a key issue for public and private payers. Health plans rely on an array of strategies, including both medical management and those used for more traditional pharmaceuticals. To explore specific management strategies for outpatient specialty pharmaceuticals, a survey was administered to thirty-eight Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans, focused on identifying core strategies.

Emergence of a new national health services research alliance.

Although underrepresented to date, PPOs have the potential to become major contributors to health services research. However, policy and health plan decision makers must be informed about the unique features and contributions of PPOs. The authors describe a unique health services research coalition established among 13 Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans nationwide and the Kerr L.

Recent tax changes may assist treatment of obesity.

The U.S. Surgeon General's Call to Action on Overweight and Obesity 2001 proposes inclusion of health care providers in prevention efforts and suggests classification of obesity as a disease category for reimbursement coding.

Promoting physical activity: a profile of health plan programs and initiatives.

A study was conducted to capture information on health plans' initiatives to promote physical activity among members and in community settings. This investigation was based on a descriptive nationwide study of American Association of Health Plans- and Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association-member plans conducted from October 2001 to February 2002. Sixty individuals with responsibility for health-promotion programs were surveyed, and 24 provided in-depth interviews.