Enrollment in health plans through the Affordable Care Act is slightly higher than at this time last year, with almost 5.8 million people signing up within the first 29 days, according to the CMS. This increase comes despite the impending expiration of enhanced tax credits, which could at least double premiums for many subscribers.

Regulatory decisions must balance compliance, operational impact, and payment integrity risk. Attend our webinar on December 18 as Cotiviti legal and FWA experts explore upcoming regulatory proposals and the trending FWA schemes that may be affected.

Vaccination rates for US adults have dropped significantly, with only 34% having received a flu shot, 25% a COVID-19 vaccine, 8% a pneumococcal vaccine and 6% an RSV vaccine, according to a National Foundation for Infectious Diseases survey. IQVIA data show a 34% decline in RSV vaccinations, a 27% drop in COVID-19 vaccinations and a 6% reduction in flu shots over the past year, while pneumococcal vaccinations rose by 27% after the CDC lowered the eligible age to 50.

About 1 million children in the US developed obesity during the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing the obesity rate from about 21% to 23%, according to a study in the journal Pediatrics. Researchers found that minority and disadvantaged youth, as well as those already overweight, were particularly affected.

A survey published in JAMA Network Open found that while most adults ages 50 and older are willing to travel up to an hour to see a primary care physician, potentially vulnerable groups such as urban residents, people identifying as ethnic or racial minorities, and those with lower incomes are less likely to do so. The survey, which included 4,046 adults, found that 82.2% currently travel 30 minutes or less for care.

Hospital-level care at home in rural areas improved patient experiences and physical activity without increasing costs compared with conventional hospital care, according to a study in JAMA Network Open. The randomized clinical trial included 161 adults across three US and Canadian sites. Patients receiving home care needed fewer blood tests and were more active, and readmission rates and safety events were similar to those for hospital patients.

A study in Clinical and Translational Gastroenterology found disparities in the availability of gastroenterologists across the US, with rural and high-poverty areas having fewer specialists. The Midwest and Southwest were particularly undersupplied relative to the number of patients with inflammatory bowel disease, and 130 three-digit ZIP code tabulation areas had no gastroenterologists per 100 patients. "This study shows that despite the burden of IBD in the US, the geographic distribution of gastroenterologists varies widely," study authors wrote.

ADHD diagnosis has increased substantially over time in the US, climbing from around 8% of children in 2003 to over 11% in recent data. This upward trend raises questions about the potential causes and implications of such a rise, with experts examining the broader diagnostic criteria and societal factors that might be influencing these numbers.