More than a third of veterans with cancer are prescribed high-risk medications, increasing the risk of frailty, unplanned hospitalizations and death, according to a study in the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. Researchers found that 38% of veterans received at least one high-risk medication at the time of a cancer diagnosis, and the proportion was higher among those who had moderate to severe frailty.

Open enrollment for Tricare will begin on Nov. 9, during which beneficiaries can make changes to their coverage for 2021. Open enrollment will run until Dec. 14.

The House and Senate versions of the National Defense Authorization Act include provisions that would ease restrictions on the Pentagon's use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. The House bill would delay the phaseout of PFAS in military firefighting foam until 2026, while the Senate bill would lift a ban on PFAS incineration and allow the purchase of products containing the chemicals.

The Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System has once again achieved a five-star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This prestigious rating reflects the hospital's exceptional performance in key areas such as mortality, safety, readmission rates, patient experience, and timely care.

The Roudebush VA Medical Center in Indianapolis, Indiana, is set to receive several upgrades as part of an $800 million nationwide funding program for the VA system. The improvements include elevator upgrades, roof repairs, fire alarm system upgrades and the purchase of a new CT scanner.

Health care organizations increasingly rely on unstructured data, which comprises 80% to 90% of organizational data, posing significant challenges in management, security and compliance, writes Steve Leeper, vice president of product marketing at Datadobi. Modernizing data infrastructure is crucial to handle unstructured data, and organizations can enhance data visibility, governance and storage efficiency by using vendor-neutral management platforms, Leeper writes.

About 10.6% of veterans with early-stage cancer had developed new persistent opioid use by 90 to 180 days after curative-intent surgery, according to a study in the journal Cancer. Risk factors for persistent use included receiving adjuvant chemotherapy, having stage I to III disease, and being aged 45 to 64.

Early Bird Registration: Early Bird Registrants get all of the benefits our Annual Meeting has to offer, at a reduced price! As a reminder our 2026 AMSUS Annual Meeting, Federal Healthcare: Leading the Way to a Healthier Future, is from 2 to 5 March 2026.

Poster, Plenary, and Breakout Abstracts: Mark your Calendars as ALL abstract submission sites are now open! The deadline to submit your abstracts for the upcoming 2026 Annual Meeting is 16 October 2025. For more information on how to submit an abstract please visit our 2026 Annual Meeting page.

Exhibits and Sponsorships: Booth space & Sponsorship opportunities are now available to our members, past sponsors, and federal agencies. All SMs receive a discount and early access to securing prime booth space at the AMSUS 2026 Annual Meeting.  Visit our Exhibit & Sponsorship webpage for details. If you are interested in securing a booth and/or pursuing a sponsorship at the 2025 AMSUS Annual Meeting please contact Stacie McArdle to receive additional information.

AMSUS Awards Program: AMSUS honors the contributions of outstanding federal healthcare professionals each year through the AMSUS Awards Program. 15 awards are available in different categories.  Nominations are open to any federal healthcare worker, and anyone can submit a nomination! The awards are presented during the AMSUS Annual Meeting. Nomination details and guidance can be found at the link below. Don't miss out on the chance to recognize a deserving healthcare professional! Submit an Award Nomination Today!