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Verma unveils state Medicaid scorecard but refuses to judge efforts

The Trump administration Monday released a Medicaid "scorecard" intended to show how the nation's largest health program is performing. But the nation's top Medicaid official didn't want to draw any conclusions.

5 Jun 2018

Study: Shifting to bilevel PAP can save 56% of patients from therapy termination

A new study reveals that shifting patients who are struggling with adherence to positive airway pressure therapy to a more advanced bilevel device in the first 90 days of treatment is an effective tool for achieving adherence in well more than half of such cases.

5 Jun 2018

A hospital ER charges an ‘after-hours’ fee. Who has to pay it?

This week, I responded to readers who were unhappy with their health plan's decision not to pay an emergency department surcharge for after-hours care and concerned about difficulties getting Medicare to cover claims unrelated to a workers' compensation injury.

5 Jun 2018

Redaction of substance abuse data could result in long-term implications

Due to a change in federal regulation, from 2013-2017, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services redacted any health care encounter that included a diagnosis or procedure code related to substance abuse from the Medicare and Medicaid identifiable files.

5 Jun 2018

Chemotherapy may provide no benefit for breast cancer in some cases

In a new study a team of researchers have found that chemotherapy can be completely skipped in early stage breast cancer patients provided certain genetic tests of the tumours are made to assess the risk.

5 Jun 2018

Study: Most hospitals push workers to get vaccinated against influenza, except VA hospitals

In just a few short months, hospitals across the country will start their annual push to make sure their workers get vaccinated against influenza, to protect themselves and others. Memories of the last flu season – one of the worst in years – still linger.

4 Jun 2018

Outsiders swoop in vowing to rescue rural hospitals short on hope — and money

Beau Gertz faced a crowd of worried locals at this town's senior center, hoping to sell them on his vision for their long-beloved — but now bankrupt — hospital.

4 Jun 2018

Study: People taking immunosuppressant drugs less likely to develop Parkinson's disease

People who take drugs that suppress the immune system are less likely to develop Parkinson's disease, according to a study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

31 May 2018

Virtual colonoscopy can help jump-start the transition to screening Americans starting at age 45

Virtual colonoscopy shown to increase colorectal cancer screening rates at a lower cost than standard colonoscopy -can help jump-start the transition to screening Americans starting at age 45 as new American Cancer Society Screening guidelines recommend.

31 May 2018

Depression symptoms can get worse without proper treatment

While it is common for everyone to feel down or sad at times, a person whose symptoms last for more than two weeks may be having a major depressive episode, according to The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

31 May 2018

Another cause of doctor burnout: Being forced to give immigrants unequal care

One patient’s death changed the course of Dr. Lilia Cervantes’ career. The patient, Cervantes said, was a woman from Mexico with kidney failure who repeatedly visited the emergency room for more than three years. In that time, her heart had stopped more than once, and her ribs were fractured from CPR.

31 May 2018

Many older adults do not use online systems to communicate with doctors, poll finds

These days, Americans can manage many facets of their lives through the Internet. But a new poll suggests that many older adults still aren't using online systems to communicate with the doctors and other health care providers they rely on – despite the widespread availability of such systems.

30 May 2018

Delayed lactate measurements in sepsis patients increase risk of in-hospital death

The rising incidence of sepsis, a leading cause of in-hospital death, has prompted the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to issue protocols known as care bundles to standardize and improve sepsis care.

25 May 2018

Study: Breast cancer survivors do not receive recommended level of screening after surgery

Breast cancer survivors are not getting the recommended level of screening, post-surgery, according to a newly-published study in JNCCN – Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.

24 May 2018

Pfizer settles kickback case related to copay assistance for $24m

Pfizer will pay the government nearly $24 million as part of a settlement to resolve allegations that it funneled money through a foundation resulting in illegal kickbacks.

24 May 2018

Study: Poor older adults with Medicaid insurance more likely to die after hospital discharge

A first-of-its-kind study has found that seniors who are insured by Medicaid are less likely to survive in a nursing home after an ICU stay than seniors covered by Medicare and commercial insurance. The study was presented at the 2018 American Thoracic Society International Conference.

24 May 2018

Seniors' air pollution exposure linked to hospitalization for ARDS

In a new study, researchers found significant associations between seniors' long-term exposure to two types of air pollution and hospitalization for acute respiratory distress syndrome. The study was presented at the 2018 American Thoracic Society International Conference.

23 May 2018

Drugmakers blamed for blocking generics have milked prices and cost U.S. billions

Makers of brand-name drugs called out by the Trump administration for potentially stalling generic competition have hiked their prices by double-digit percentages since 2012 and cost Medicare and Medicaid nearly $12 billion in 2016, a Kaiser Health News analysis has found.

23 May 2018

IHI hosts representatives to develop a national action plan for patient safety

Aiming to relaunch the nation's patient safety agenda with renewed energy and focus, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement today hosts representatives from 24 organizations to begin work on a national strategy for reducing harm in the delivery of health care.

22 May 2018

Middlemen who save $$ on medicines — but maybe not for you

Guess who's back grabbing headlines? Pharmacy benefit managers — those companies that serve as middlemen in the prescription drug pipeline.

21 May 2018

Medicare News and Research

Verma unveils state Medicaid scorecard but refuses to judge efforts

Study: Shifting to bilevel PAP can save 56% of patients from therapy termination

A hospital ER charges an ‘after-hours’ fee. Who has to pay it?

Redaction of substance abuse data could result in long-term implications

Chemotherapy may provide no benefit for breast cancer in some cases

Study: Most hospitals push workers to get vaccinated against influenza, except VA hospitals

Outsiders swoop in vowing to rescue rural hospitals short on hope — and money

Study: People taking immunosuppressant drugs less likely to develop Parkinson's disease

Virtual colonoscopy can help jump-start the transition to screening Americans starting at age 45

Depression symptoms can get worse without proper treatment

Another cause of doctor burnout: Being forced to give immigrants unequal care

Many older adults do not use online systems to communicate with doctors, poll finds

Delayed lactate measurements in sepsis patients increase risk of in-hospital death

Study: Breast cancer survivors do not receive recommended level of screening after surgery

Pfizer settles kickback case related to copay assistance for $24m

Study: Poor older adults with Medicaid insurance more likely to die after hospital discharge

Seniors' air pollution exposure linked to hospitalization for ARDS

Drugmakers blamed for blocking generics have milked prices and cost U.S. billions

IHI hosts representatives to develop a national action plan for patient safety

Middlemen who save $$ on medicines — but maybe not for you

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