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Comfortable living conditions, independence can help elderly Chinese immigrants feel at home in the U.S.

Having comfortable living conditions and independence from their adult children can help elderly Chinese immigrants find a sense of home and life satisfaction in the United States, but the inability to speak fluent English makes them feel unsettled, according to a research study.

26 Oct 2016

ERAS programs help patients better prepare for surgery and recover faster, studies reveal

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programs, an important component of the Perioperative Surgical Home (PSH), are helping patients better prepare for surgery and recuperate faster afterward, according to two new studies being presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY 2016 annual meeting.

24 Oct 2016

Better treatment for diabetic foot disease could save billions for Australia, finds QUT research

Australia could save billions of dollars in healthcare costs by investing in proven treatments for people with diabetic foot disease, according to QUT research.

20 Oct 2016

Pennsylvania hospitals reduce mortality rates for ten common health conditions, new report reveals

Pennsylvania hospitals continue to improve quality and drive down mortality and readmission rates according to a new report released today by the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4).

20 Oct 2016

Home-based palliative care program delivers quality treatment at lower cost, study shows

A home-based palliative care (HBPC) program for individuals with advanced illnesses was associated with a $12,000 reduction in the mean total cost of care per person, fewer hospital admissions and emergency room visits, and greater use of hospice during the final three months of life, as reported in a study published in Journal of Palliative Medicine, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers.

18 Oct 2016

ACR issues statement regarding CMS final rule on MIPS and APMs

Today, the Department of Health and Human Services finalized its policy implementing the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System and the Advanced Alternative Payment Model incentive payment provisions in the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015, collectively referred to as the Quality Payment Program.

17 Oct 2016

MSHS introduces online patient experience star ratings for its physicians

Mount Sinai Health System today began posting patient experience ratings for its doctors, becoming the largest academic health system in New York City to do so.

17 Oct 2016

New amfAR report highlights role of health plans, health care purchasers in curbing domestic HIV epidemic

Today, amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research released a new report, “Curbing the HIV Epidemic by Supporting Effective Engagement in HIV Care: Recommendations for Health Plans and Health Care Purchasers,” which highlights the critical role of health plans and health care purchasers, including Medicaid and Medicare programs, marketplaces, and employers, in moving the nation toward ending the domestic HIV epidemic.

14 Oct 2016

30-day readmission rate does not accurately measure hospital quality

The 30-day window for hospital readmissions -- used by the federal government to penalize hospitals believed to provide lower-quality care because patients return to the hospital following discharge -- should be reduced to a week or less to more accurately measure factors within a hospital's control, new research from UC Davis has found.

7 Oct 2016

High out-of-pocket costs may delay Medicare patients' access to novel targeted treatment for cancer

Significant out-of-pocket costs that cancer patients can face before Medicare insurance drug benefits kick in may delay the patients' treatment with a novel class of targeted therapies, according to a University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center-led study.

4 Oct 2016

Experts lay out key steps to change 'one-size-fits-all' consumer cost-sharing approach

If you've tried to see a doctor, fill a prescription or get a diagnostic test lately, you've probably had to pay more out of your own pocket than you would have even a few years ago. Most insurance plans have increased their co-pays and deductibles, to keep monthly premiums from rising even faster.

30 Sep 2016

NCDR provides data to study appropriate use of oral anticoagulant therapy

The American College of Cardiology's National Cardiovascular Data Registry was the source of data for research published throughout 2016, including a study examining if atrial fibrillation patients are being prescribed oral anticoagulants, how appropriate use criteria correlates to angioplasty rates and the variation among racial groups for revascularization procedures.

30 Sep 2016

Interruptions to rehab program after stroke or brain injury may be preventable, study reports

Patients in inpatient rehabilitation after a stroke, brain injury, or spinal cord injury have significant rates of interruptions of their rehab program—often including being transferred back to the hospital for treatment of complications, reports a study in the American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, the official journal of the Association of Academic Physiatrists. The journal is published by Wolters Kluwer.

28 Sep 2016

Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline recommends CGMs for Type 1 diabetes patients

The Endocrine Society today issued a Clinical Practice Guideline recommending continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) as the gold standard of care for adults with Type 1 diabetes.

26 Sep 2016

Study suggests babies born to women with hearing loss more likely to be premature and have low birth weight

Hearing loss is a marginalizing and disabling condition, resulting in various adverse social and health outcomes. Babies born to women with hearing loss were significantly more likely to be premature and have low birth weight, according to a new study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

26 Sep 2016

Veracyte announces new data suggesting ability of Afirma GEC in thyroid cancer diagnosis

Veracyte, Inc.today announced new data suggesting the potential to enhance the performance of the Afirma Gene Expression Classifier in thyroid cancer diagnosis by combining the test's proven RNA expression-based capabilities with gene variant and fusion information – all on a single, robust RNA sequencing platform.

24 Sep 2016

Higher proportion of CKD patients receive renal replacement therapy in the U.S. than other countries

A new study indicates that a much higher proportion of patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD)—even those ≥85 years of age—receive renal replacement therapy (RRT) such as maintenance dialysis or kidney transplantation in the United States than in other developed countries.

23 Sep 2016

New mobile health app may help manage hydroxyurea treatments in sickle cell patients

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health, has awarded a 6-year, $4.4 million grant to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and collaborators to improve the use of prescribed medication by sickle cell patients.

21 Sep 2016

Study looks at how incentives in Medicare Shared Savings Program may influence radiology practices

A new study by the Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute examines how the incentives in an alternative payment model (APM) - the Accountable Care Organization Shared Savings Program - might influence cost, quality, utilization and technological investment for radiology practices.

20 Sep 2016

U-M study finds increase in health insurance coverage for justice-involved individuals

Every year, millions of people in prison or jail struggle with mental health issues and substance use disorders. And after they get out, those issues can increase their chances of another arrest if they don't receive treatment.

19 Sep 2016