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'Avoidable' emergency department visits caused by alcohol abuse, dental conditions, and mood disorders

A recent study published in the International Journal for Quality in Health Care found that 3.5% of all emergency department visits analyzed were 'avoidable'. Of these, the top 3 discharge diagnoses were alcohol abuse, dental disorders, and mood disorders such as anxiety or depression.

31 Aug 2017

UCLA professor offers 10 tips for college students to ensure good gynecologic health

For young women heading off to college, it can be a time filled with the excitement of living away from home. This new sense of independence should also include taking charge of one's own health, says Dr. Aparna Sridhar, an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

30 Aug 2017

LGB older adults found to be in poorer health than heterosexuals

Lesbian and bisexual older women are more likely than heterosexual older women to suffer chronic health conditions, experience sleep problems and drink excessively, a new University of Washington study finds.

24 Aug 2017

Oregon, Texas are latest states to put down markers on abortion coverage

Federal health insurance rules are a moving target, and it's unclear whether Republicans will take another run at replacing the Affordable Care Act. In the meantime, some states are staking out strong positions on coverage of abortion, cementing their position regardless of how the federal landscape changes.

22 Aug 2017

Childhood cancer survivors experience financial burden due to high out-of-pocket health care costs

Adult survivors of childhood cancer face an increased likelihood of financial difficulties compared with adults not affected by childhood cancer.

22 Aug 2017

Children need to be up-to-date on immunizations before heading back-to-school

While we prepare our children to go back to school, parents should check and make sure their children are current on all vaccinations before the start of the school year or they may not be able to start on the first day.

17 Aug 2017

Often missing in the health care debate: Women’s voices

Women, in particular, have a lot at stake in the fight over the future of health care. Not only do many depend on insurance coverage for maternity care and contraception, they are struck more often by such diseases as autoimmune conditions, osteoporosis, breast cancer and depression.

17 Aug 2017

Frequent e-cigarette use may play vital role in smoking cessation

Among U.S. adults who were established smokers in the past five years, those who use e-cigarettes daily were significantly more likely to have quit cigarettes compared to those who have never tried e-cigarettes.

17 Aug 2017

Insurers can bend out-of-network rules for patients who need specific doctors

The Affordable Care Act has so far survived Republican attempts to replace it, but many people still face insurance concerns. Below, I answer three questions from readers.

16 Aug 2017

Healthcare, medical experts to come together for mHealth Israel conference in Jerusalem

More than 500 healthcare and medical experts and entrepreneurs from more than 20 countries are set to come together for the mHealth Israel conference, to take place in Jerusalem, September 14, 2017.

16 Aug 2017

CBO: Killing cost-sharing subsidies would hike silver plan premiums and deficit

If President Donald Trump were to follow through on his threats to cut federal cost-sharing subsidies, health insurance premiums for silver plans would soar by an average of 20 percent next year and the federal deficit would rise by $194 billion over the next decade, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said Tuesday.

16 Aug 2017

People with opioid use disorder 50% more likely to get treatment after implementation of ACA

Once the Affordable Care Act was fully implemented in 2014, people who struggled with misusing opioids were 50 percent more likely to get treatment and twice as likely to have that treatment paid for by insurance than before, according to a new Drexel University study.

10 Aug 2017

Researchers find racial and gender disparities in survival of patients with anal cancer

Over the past 30 years, squamous cell carcinoma of the anus (SCCA) is one of the few cancers with steadily rising incidence in the United States, with the most rapid increase seen in black men.

9 Aug 2017

New payment formula recommends allocating health insurance dollars for vulnerable populations

A first-of-its kind payment formula developed at the University of Massachusetts Medical School recommends allocating some health insurance dollars for patients in vulnerable communities and for those subject to social risks, in addition to their medical issues.

8 Aug 2017

Genetic testing benefits youngest epilepsy patients, study finds

Because of genetic testing, Orion Maynard's parents knew the cause of his epilepsy weeks after he was born.

3 Aug 2017

Anthem’s retreat leaves Californians with fewer choices, more worries

Bill Daitchman got some bad news this week: His insurer is breaking up with him. Daitchman and his wife, who own a graphic design business in Santa Cruz County, each pays $350 a month for a health insurance plan from Anthem Blue Cross on the Covered California exchange.

2 Aug 2017

Despite insurers’ tactical win on ACA’S cost-sharing payments, uncertainty lingers

Health insurers have won powerful allies in a fight over federal subsidies that President Donald Trump has threatened to cancel for millions of people who buy insurance through the Affordable Care Act.

2 Aug 2017

Covered California expects 12.5% average rate rise in 2018

Covered California said Tuesday that premiums on its health insurance plans would rise by an average of 12.5 percent statewide next year, amid continuing uncertainty over the future of the Affordable Care Act.

1 Aug 2017

Mount Sinai and Contessa Health join hands to extend hospital-level care at home program

The Mount Sinai Health System announced today that it has partnered with Contessa Health, an innovative health care company that manages acute-care services at home through prospective bundled payment arrangements, to extend Mount Sinai's existing hospital-level care at home program, known as the Mobile Acute Care Team, to new markets.

1 Aug 2017

CCO model significantly improves timeliness of prenatal care

Pregnant women on Medicaid are more likely to receive timely prenatal care following Oregon's implementation of coordinated care organizations, or CCOs, which are regional networks of health care providers who work together to treat patients, a new study has shown.

31 Jul 2017

Health Insurance News and Research

'Avoidable' emergency department visits caused by alcohol abuse, dental conditions, and mood disorders

UCLA professor offers 10 tips for college students to ensure good gynecologic health

LGB older adults found to be in poorer health than heterosexuals

Oregon, Texas are latest states to put down markers on abortion coverage

Childhood cancer survivors experience financial burden due to high out-of-pocket health care costs

Children need to be up-to-date on immunizations before heading back-to-school

Often missing in the health care debate: Women’s voices

Frequent e-cigarette use may play vital role in smoking cessation

Insurers can bend out-of-network rules for patients who need specific doctors

Healthcare, medical experts to come together for mHealth Israel conference in Jerusalem

CBO: Killing cost-sharing subsidies would hike silver plan premiums and deficit

People with opioid use disorder 50% more likely to get treatment after implementation of ACA

Researchers find racial and gender disparities in survival of patients with anal cancer

New payment formula recommends allocating health insurance dollars for vulnerable populations

Genetic testing benefits youngest epilepsy patients, study finds

Anthem’s retreat leaves Californians with fewer choices, more worries

Despite insurers’ tactical win on ACA’S cost-sharing payments, uncertainty lingers

Covered California expects 12.5% average rate rise in 2018

Mount Sinai and Contessa Health join hands to extend hospital-level care at home program

CCO model significantly improves timeliness of prenatal care

Industry Focus eBook - Neurology/Neuroscience - 2nd edition eBook

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

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