Congress can eradicate hepatitis C and reduce the deficit at the same time

STAT – By Neeraj Sood and Jagpreet Chhatwal July 14, 2023 Congress faces a historic opportunity to stamp out a disease that kills thousands of Americans each year and save billions of dollars to boot. In March, the Biden administration proposed an initiative to eliminate hepatitis C in the United States — a plan that should make sense to both … Read more

As Mass. sets a new record for opioid overdose deaths, Chhatwal shared his insights with WBUR.

WBUR Martha Bebinger Massachusetts sets a new record for opioid overdose deaths in 2022. Jagpreet Chhatwal, Director of MGH Institute of Technology Assessment, talked with WBUR (Boston’s NPR station) regarding his recent study published in JAMA Network Open that evaluates policies for reducing overdose deaths. Massachusetts has set another record, one no one will celebrate. … Read more

Deaths from alcohol-related liver disease soared during COVID

Liver Image

The Harvard Gazette – by MGH Communications.   American Indian and Alaska Native populations particularly affected, finds study. During the pandemic, deaths from alcohol-associated liver disease for American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) populations was six times higher than that of white people, according to a study by Massachusetts General Hospital. The study was published in … Read more

‘Concerning’ study finds Black, Hispanic patients get shorter treatment for opioid addiction

person taking pills

Adrianna Rodriguez, USA Today Research has shown people of color are disproportionately impacted by drug overdose deaths and access to treatment is limited. But even if they do find treatment, a new study found white patients receive care for an opioid use disorder longer than Black and Hispanic patients. Researchers at Harvard Medical School randomly sampled a … Read more

Medication Treatment for Addiction Is Shorter for Black and Hispanic Patients, Study Finds

person holding package of buprenorphine

The analysis of 15 years of prescription data showed that the racial disparities are widening. By Emily Baumgaertner, New York Times November 9, 2022 Researchers have long known that racial and ethnic minorities are less likely to be prescribed lifesaving addiction treatment options than white people. But even when Black and Hispanic patients start a … Read more

Cunningham named Associate Director of ITA

Dr. Jag Chhatwal has announced Dr. Carrie Cunningham (nee Lubitz) is the Associate Director of the Institute for Technology Assessment (ITA). Dr. Cunningham is an Associate Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School, Section head of the Massachusetts General Hospital Endocrine Surgery Unit, and has been a Senior Scientist at the ITA since 2013. Dr. Cunningham matriculated … Read more

Wrist-Worn Devices are Shown by MGH Researchers to be Cost-Effective for Screening of Atrial Fibrillation

A study simulating a population of 30 million people 65 and older found that wrist-wearable devices are more cost-effective than traditional electrocardiograms and pulse palpation for atrial fibrillation (AF) screening, and that they are associated with a reduction in stroke incidence. August 24, 2022 —  Screening individuals for atrial fibrillation (AF) using wearable devices is more cost-effective than screening … Read more

Researchers track crisis over 2 decades to better understand its stages, help guide policy response

Overview of key transitions and feedback effects in the model. See SI Appendix, section S2 for full structure.

A data-driven simulation model designed to help policymakers to better understand and address the nation’s rampant opioid crisis has been developed by a team of scientists at Massachusetts General Hospital. In a study in the journal PNAS, researchers report that the model, known as SOURCE (Simulation of Opioid Use, Response, Consequences, and Effects), presents the … Read more

Knudsen received Celebration of Science Recognition Award

Amy Knudsen, PhD, senior scientist at the MGH ITA and Assistant Professor of Radiology at Harvard Medical School, received a Celebration of Science Recognition Award from the MGH Executive Committee on Research (ECOR) for her work that informed colorectal cancer screening recommendations in the U.S. The award comes with a $1,000 honorarium and an opportunity … Read more

Chhatwal Named Director of the ITA

On February 20th, Dr. James Brink, Radiologist-in-Chief at Massachusetts General Hospital announced that Jagpreet Chhatwal, PhD, will succeed Pari Pandharipande, MD, MPH, FACR, as Director of the ITA following her transition to the Ohio State University College of Medicine as Chair of Radiology. Jagpreet Chhatwal’s research is centered in decision science, data analytics, outcomes research, … Read more