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Medical responses to opioid addiction vary by state, analysis finds

Location, location, location. That mantra may apply even when it comes to how opioid addiction is treated.

12 Jun 2017

Study shows benefits of CGM in adults with diabetes who take multiple daily injections

DexCom, Inc., the leader in continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) for people with diabetes, is presenting important clinical data for patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, at the American Diabetes Association's 77th Scientific Sessions, June 9-13 in San Diego, California.

9 Jun 2017

As Delaware insurance options shrink, families are ‘holding our breath’

Andy and Serena Ryan get their health coverage through the state's Affordable Care Act insurance exchange and are increasingly anxious about it.

9 Jun 2017

New prediction tools could identify patients at risk of inappropriate prescription opioid use

New prediction tools to help health-care providers identify patients at risk of inappropriate prescription opioid use, while allowing safe administration of legitimate pain management to those not at high-risk, are being developed by University of Arizona College of Pharmacy researcher Jenny Lo-Ciganic, PhD.

8 Jun 2017

Study compares health outcomes of older adults who use PCPs and those who see specialists

Your primary care provider (PCP) is usually your first medical contact when you're ill. Beyond taking care of you when you're sick, PCPs help coordinate your health care and make sure you're up-to-date with your check-ups, tests, and immunizations.

7 Jun 2017

Customary drug dose for treatment of lung cancer may be higher than needed, study shows

A new study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute indicates that the customary pembrolizumab dose for treatment of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer may be higher than is needed for effective treatment.

6 Jun 2017

Feds to waive penalties for some who signed up late for Medicare

Each year, thousands of Americans miss their deadline to enroll in Medicare, and federal officials and consumer advocates worry that many of them mistakenly think they don't need to sign up because they have purchased insurance on the health law's marketplaces.

6 Jun 2017

Many COPD patients struggle to pay for each medicinal breath

After a lifetime of smoking, Juanita Milton needs help breathing. She's tethered to an oxygen tank 24/7 and uses two drug inhalers a day, including Spiriva, which she called "the really expensive one."

5 Jun 2017

TMS therapy offers hope for senior adults with depression

Late-life depression (LLD) is a frequent complication of the aging process, occurring in up to 5% of senior adults and in a higher proportion of subjects with coexistent medical illnesses.

1 Jun 2017

Many cancer patients' ED visits could be avoided with better symptom management, timely care

As many as 53 percent of cancer patients' Emergency Department visits that do not require admission could be avoided with better symptom management and greater availability of outpatient care tailored to their needs, according to a new study from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

31 May 2017

California’s new single-payer proposal embraces some costly old ways

Three of the dirtiest words in health care are "fee for service." For years, U.S. officials have sought to move Medicare away from paying doctors and hospitals for each task they perform, a costly approach that rewards the quantity of care over quality. State Medicaid programs and private insurers are pursuing similar changes.

31 May 2017

Study finds opioid dependence and overdose rates after urologic surgery

About 1 in 1,111 patients who undergo urologic surgery for conditions such as prostate cancer and kidney stones experience opioid dependence or overdose (ODO), a Loyola Medicine study has found.

30 May 2017

Two Medicare Advantage insurers settle whistleblower lawsuit for $32 million

Two Florida Medicare Advantage insurers have agreed to pay nearly $32 million to settle a whistleblower lawsuit that alleged they exaggerated how sick patients were and took other steps to overbill the government health plan for the elderly.

30 May 2017

Study finds ER price gouging to be worst for minorities and uninsured patients

An analysis of billing records for more than 12,000 emergency medicine doctors across the United States shows that charges varied widely, but that on average, adult patients are charged 340 percent more than what Medicare pays for services ranging from suturing a wound to interpreting a head CT scan.

30 May 2017

Drug rebates reward industry players — and often hurt patients

Medicare and its beneficiaries aren't the winners in the behind-the-scenes rebate game played by drugmakers, health insurers and pharmacy benefit managers, according to a paper published Tuesday in JAMA Internal Medicine.

30 May 2017

Target of Medicare insider trading case boasted he was unstoppable ‘beast’

In his prime, consultant David Blaszczak bragged that he made millions for his hedge-fund clients when he predicted important Medicare funding changes.

30 May 2017

Prolaris becomes first genetic test to receive Medicare coverage for favorable intermediate and low-risk prostate cancer

Myriad Genetics, Inc., a leader in molecular diagnostics and personalized medicine, today announced that Palmetto GBA, a Medicare Administrative Contractor that assesses molecular diagnostic technologies, has issued a positive final Local Coverage Determination to expand Medicare coverage of the Prolaris test.

29 May 2017

Medicare News and Research

Medical responses to opioid addiction vary by state, analysis finds

Study shows benefits of CGM in adults with diabetes who take multiple daily injections

As Delaware insurance options shrink, families are ‘holding our breath’

New prediction tools could identify patients at risk of inappropriate prescription opioid use

Study compares health outcomes of older adults who use PCPs and those who see specialists

Customary drug dose for treatment of lung cancer may be higher than needed, study shows

Feds to waive penalties for some who signed up late for Medicare

Many COPD patients struggle to pay for each medicinal breath

TMS therapy offers hope for senior adults with depression

Many cancer patients' ED visits could be avoided with better symptom management, timely care

California’s new single-payer proposal embraces some costly old ways

Study finds opioid dependence and overdose rates after urologic surgery

Two Medicare Advantage insurers settle whistleblower lawsuit for $32 million

Study finds ER price gouging to be worst for minorities and uninsured patients

Drug rebates reward industry players — and often hurt patients

Target of Medicare insider trading case boasted he was unstoppable ‘beast’

Prolaris becomes first genetic test to receive Medicare coverage for favorable intermediate and low-risk prostate cancer

Aggressive care in final days of life for advanced cancer patients not linked to better outcomes

Interpretation of initial ED ultrasound by radiologist reduces follow-up imaging

Researchers shed light on variations in care and complications across bariatric surgery centers

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