Medicare News and Research

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Hospitals may be unfairly penalized for readmission of heart attack patients, study suggests

A program that penalizes hospitals for high early readmission rates of heart attack patients may be unfairly penalizing hospitals that serve a large proportion of African-Americans and those with more severe illness, a study by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers suggests.

26 Apr 2017

Higher spending for cancer surgery may indicate worse patient care

Higher costs for complex cancer surgery may be an indicator for worse -- rather than better -- quality of care, according to new research by experts at Rice University and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

26 Apr 2017

NCCN Radiation Therapy Compendium adds nine new clinical practice guidelines in oncology

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network continues to build its NCCN Radiation Therapy Compendium with the publication of radiation therapy (RT) recommendations from an additional nine NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology

19 Apr 2017

Researchers explore use of free Annual Wellness Visit among Medicare patients

In 2011, through the Affordable Care Act, Medicare introduced the Annual Wellness Visit (AWV), the first annual health check-up offered by Medicare at no cost to patients.

19 Apr 2017

Periodic check-ups are essential to maintain health and longevity of baby boomers

For some baby boomers, getting ready for a routine visit with their doctor is like training for a marathon. Some patients want to be in the best shape possible before stepping on that scale and getting those lab results.

19 Apr 2017

Medicare's Hospital Compare portal underestimates AMI mortality rates, study finds

New analysis of Medicare's Hospital Compare portal shows the statistical methodology used to rate and compare hospitals underestimates mortality rates of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) at small hospitals.

19 Apr 2017

Thyroid cancer patients with bone metastases have worse survival, study finds

When cancer metastases, bone unwittingly offers a friendly place for tumor cell growth--only to have its hospitality betrayed by pathologic fractures, spinal cord compression, the need for bone surgery or irradiation, and an increased risk of death.

17 Apr 2017

Study finds increasing trends in use of CVI treatment procedures in Medicare population

A new study by the Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute found that utilization of procedures to treat chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) in the Medicare population increased markedly from 2005 through 2014.

12 Apr 2017

Different therapies for early-stage breast cancer show wide variations in cost-effectiveness

A new study published today in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute indicates that different therapies for early-stage breast cancer have very different relative values.

10 Apr 2017

Study offers new hope for early attack against Alzheimer's

Catch it early. Those are watchwords in the battle against a host of illnesses, from heart disease to cancer to Type 2 diabetes.

7 Apr 2017

New study reveals link between drought and adverse health risks among older adults

A new Yale-led study reveals a distinct connection between drought exposure and adverse human health among older adults.

5 Apr 2017

Study shows promising results for real-world massage in treating chronic low back pain

In the first study of its kind, researchers found real-world massage therapy to be an effective treatment for chronic low back pain.

3 Apr 2017

ACR outlines health policy priorities to improve access to arthritis care and treatments

The American College of Rheumatology today announced its 2017 health policy priorities, providing detailed policy recommendations to improve access to care and treatments for the 54 million Americans living with arthritis and other rheumatologic diseases.

31 Mar 2017

Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare commends CMS for stopping pre-claim review demonstration

The Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare — a coalition of home health providers dedicated to improving the integrity, quality, and efficiency of home healthcare for our nation's seniors — today commended the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for stopping the planned implementation of a Pre-Claim Review Demonstration in Florida, which would have applied new, mandatory regulatory requirements on all home health agenciesoperating across the state on April 1.

31 Mar 2017

Cleveland-based study to explore how childhood obesity can be prevented before conception

A Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and MetroHealth System researcher, along with Cleveland Clinic's director of metabolic research, have received federal funding to determine if childhood obesity can be prevented before women become pregnant.

29 Mar 2017

Hospital grading system may put too much weight on wrong things, study finds

When a child brings home a report card from school, part of their grade comes from how often they made it to class or turned in homework. But the larger part comes from how they did on tests, in class and on take-home assignments. In other words, how much they've learned, or how hard they're trying.

28 Mar 2017

Hospitals with certified WOC nurses have lower rates of pressure injuries, study shows

Hospitals that employ nurses who have specialty certification in wound, ostomy, and continence (WOC) care have lower rates of hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs), reports a study in the Journal of Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing.

25 Mar 2017

Endocrine Society praises CMS decision to extend access to therapeutic CGMs

The Endocrine Society praised the decision to extend access to therapeutic continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) to older Americans on intensive insulin therapy for diabetes.

25 Mar 2017

Study finds minimal differences in intensity of hospice services across different settings

A new study from the Indiana University Center for Aging Research and the Regenstrief Institute has found only minimal differences in the intensity of hospice services provided in nursing homes as compared to hospice services provided to patients in assisted living facilities or their homes. However the mix of services did vary by site type.

24 Mar 2017

New analysis reveals high rate of colon cancer screening among dialysis patients

A new analysis reveals a relatively high rate of colon cancer screening among US patients on dialysis, even though they rarely stand to benefit from such screening. The findings appear in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

24 Mar 2017

Medicare News and Research

Hospitals may be unfairly penalized for readmission of heart attack patients, study suggests

Higher spending for cancer surgery may indicate worse patient care

NCCN Radiation Therapy Compendium adds nine new clinical practice guidelines in oncology

Researchers explore use of free Annual Wellness Visit among Medicare patients

Periodic check-ups are essential to maintain health and longevity of baby boomers

Medicare's Hospital Compare portal underestimates AMI mortality rates, study finds

Thyroid cancer patients with bone metastases have worse survival, study finds

Study finds increasing trends in use of CVI treatment procedures in Medicare population

Different therapies for early-stage breast cancer show wide variations in cost-effectiveness

Study offers new hope for early attack against Alzheimer's

New study reveals link between drought and adverse health risks among older adults

Study shows promising results for real-world massage in treating chronic low back pain

ACR outlines health policy priorities to improve access to arthritis care and treatments

Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare commends CMS for stopping pre-claim review demonstration

Cleveland-based study to explore how childhood obesity can be prevented before conception

Hospital grading system may put too much weight on wrong things, study finds

Hospitals with certified WOC nurses have lower rates of pressure injuries, study shows

Endocrine Society praises CMS decision to extend access to therapeutic CGMs

Study finds minimal differences in intensity of hospice services across different settings

New analysis reveals high rate of colon cancer screening among dialysis patients

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