Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Geriatrics for August 2018. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
Medical Bills in Collections Decrease With Patient Age
FRIDAY, Aug. 31, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Medical collections decrease substantially with age, possibly because of increased health insurance coverage and incomes, according to a study published in the August issue of Health Affairs.
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14.6 Percent of U.S. Adults Used Marijuana in Past Year
FRIDAY, Aug. 31, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Overall, 14.6 percent of U.S. adults report marijuana use in the past year, according to a research letter published online Aug. 28 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Vascular Risk Factors for Brain Calcification in Seniors Identified
THURSDAY, Aug. 30, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Diabetes and smoking are vascular risk factors associated with hippocampal calcification in older patients with memory issues, according to a study published in the September issue of Radiology.
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Medicare, Med Advantage Health Care Use Differs Regionally
THURSDAY, Aug. 30, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Geographic variation in the Medicare Advantage population exceeds that of traditional Medicare for use of skilled nursing facility and hospital care, according to study published in the August issue of Health Affairs.
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No Meaningful Increase in Physician Compensation Last Year
THURSDAY, Aug. 30, 2018 (HealthDay News) — There was no meaningful increase in physician compensation in 2017, and a decline in productivity was noted, according to the results of a survey conducted by AMGA Consulting.
Press Release
Survey (subscription or payment may be required)
In Stroke Survivors, Cost-Related Non-Adherence Down After ACA
THURSDAY, Aug. 30, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Among adult survivors of stroke, health insurance coverage increased and cost-related non-adherence (CRN) decreased after implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), according to research published online Aug. 27 in JAMA Neurology.
Radn Tx Alone May Be Adequate for Stage I Anal Cancer in Elderly
THURSDAY, Aug. 30, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For older patients with stage I squamous cell carcinoma of the anus, radiation alone is associated with outcomes that do not differ significantly from those of chemoradiation, according to research published in the July issue of Diseases of the Colon & Rectum.
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U.S. Opioid Use Not Declining, Despite Focus on Abuse
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 29, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Rates of opioid use in the United States do not appear to be declining, according to a study published online Aug. 1 in The BMJ.
Label Mix-Up Spurs Recall of Accord Blood Pressure Meds
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 29, 2018 (HealthDay News) — One lot of high blood pressure medication is being recalled after a labeling mix-up, Accord Healthcare Inc. has announced.
light orange to peach colored, round, biconvex tablets debossed with H on one side and 1 on another side
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Marketplace Premiums Increase More With Monopolist Insurers
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 29, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Affordable Care Act Marketplace premiums increase more in areas with monopolist insurers, according to a study published in the August issue of Health Affairs.
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Medical Practices Should Address Negative Online Reviews
TUESDAY, Aug. 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Medical practice staff can effectively handle negative online reviews by staying calm and positive, looking for solutions, apologizing, and thanking the reviewers, according to an article published in Physicians Practice.
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Poor Shared Decision-Making for Lung Cancer Screening
TUESDAY, Aug. 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The quality of shared decision-making (SDM) about the initiation of lung cancer screening (LCS) is poor, according to a study published online Aug. 13 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
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Artificial Intelligence Holds Promise in Medicine
TUESDAY, Aug. 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Artificial intelligence (AI) in health care offers opportunities for early detection and triage, diagnostics and personalized medicine, and medical decision-making, according to an article published in Managed Healthcare Executive.
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Alcohol Is Leading Risk Factor for Global Disease Burden
TUESDAY, Aug. 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Globally, alcohol use is a leading risk factor for disease burden, according to research published online Aug. 23 in The Lancet.
Experts Address Loss of the National Guideline Clearinghouse
TUESDAY, Aug. 28, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The demise of the National Guideline Clearinghouse (NGC) in July 2018 is likely to impact evidence-based health care around the world, according to an Ideas and Opinions piece published online Aug. 28 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Most Research Participants Not Concerned About Data Sharing
MONDAY, Aug. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Few participants in clinical trials have strong concerns about the risks of data sharing, according to a special article recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Care Coordination Strategies Aid in Multiple Chronic Diseases
MONDAY, Aug. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Care coordination strategies can be beneficial for older patients with multiple chronic diseases, according to a review published in the Aug. 27 issue of CMAJ, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association.
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Editorial
AMA Adopts Policy Promoting Health Equity As a Goal
FRIDAY, Aug. 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates has adopted a policy that sets health equity as a goal for the U.S. health care system, according to a report published in the organization’s AMA Wire.
Medicaid Expansion Linked to Increase in Diabetes Rx Fills
FRIDAY, Aug. 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Expansions in Medicaid eligibility are associated with an increase in Medicaid diabetes prescriptions filled, according to a study published in the August issue of Health Affairs.
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Decline in Hospital-Acquired Conditions Continues
FRIDAY, Aug. 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The rate of hospital-acquired conditions (HACs) continued its decline from 2014 to 2016, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) National Scorecard on Hospital-Acquired Conditions.
Cardiovascular Health Tied to Dementia Risk in Older Adults
FRIDAY, Aug. 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For older adults, increased numbers of optimal cardiovascular health metrics are associated with reduced risk of dementia, according to a study published in the Aug. 21 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Living in Deprived Area Is Risk Factor for Cognitive Dysfunction
FRIDAY, Aug. 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Area-level deprivation is an independent risk factor for cognitive dysfunction in older adults, according to a study published in the July issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
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Education RE: Herd Immunity Can Up Readiness to Be Vaccinated
FRIDAY, Aug. 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Educating adults about herd immunity can increase the proportion willing to be vaccinated for influenza, according to a study recently published in Vaccine.
Lower Post-Op Mortality With Hip Fx Surgery on Day of Admission
FRIDAY, Aug. 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Postoperative mortality is lower for medically stable older patients who undergo surgery for hip fracture on the day of admission or the following day, according to a study published in the Aug. 7 issue of CMAJ, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association.
Frailty in Middle-Aged With Multimorbidity Tied to Mortality
THURSDAY, Aug. 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For middle-aged individuals with multimorbidity, frailty is significantly associated with mortality, according to a study published in the July issue of The Lancet Public Health.
Long-Term PPI Use Linked to Pneumonia Risk in Older Adults
THURSDAY, Aug. 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Among older adults in primary care, use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) is associated with greater risk of pneumonia in the second year of treatment, according to a study published in the July issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Sodium Intake, BP Linked in Communities With Highest Intake
THURSDAY, Aug. 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Mean systolic blood pressure is increased with increasing sodium intake only in communities in the highest tertile of sodium intake, according to a study published online Aug. 9 in The Lancet.
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Time to Stop Cancer Screenings: What Do Patients Want to Hear?
THURSDAY, Aug. 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Older adults prefer explanations about stopping cancer screening that emphasize the shift to focus on other health issues, according to a research letter published in the August issue of JAMA Oncology.
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Small Practices Also at Risk for Data Breaches
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 22, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Data breaches can happen to small medical practices, but staff can take steps to prevent them, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
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Strategy Outlined for Shooter Incident in Health Care Facility
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 22, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Adhering to a “secure, preserve, fight” strategy is recommended for health care professionals working with a vulnerable patient population, according to a Medicine and Society piece published in the Aug. 9 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
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Paramedic-Led Intervention Cuts Ambulance Calls
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 22, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For low-income older adults who live in subsidized housing, the Community Paramedicine at Clinic (CP@clinic), a paramedic-led, community-based health promotion program to prevent diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and falls for residents 55 years of age and older, lowers the number of ambulance calls and improves quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), according to a study recently published in CMAJ, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association.
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Lower Long-Term Survival for In-Hospital Cardiac Arrests in Blacks
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 22, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Older black survivors of in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) have worse long-term survival than whites, according to a study published online Aug. 17 in Circulation.
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National Provider Identifiers Are Vulnerable to Theft
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 22, 2018 (HealthDay News) — National Provider Identifiers (NPIs) are vulnerable to identity theft, according to an article published in Physicians Practice.
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Advantages for HDHP Enrollees in Large Versus Small Firms
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 22, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Workers in small firms are more likely to have higher deductible levels and lack employer contributions to help pay for out-of-pocket expenses compared to workers in larger firms, according to a study published in the August issue of Health Affairs.
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Doctors Often Not Discussing Risk Factors With Patients
TUESDAY, Aug. 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Patients report that doctors are routinely not discussing known risk factors for common causes of death, according to a survey conducted by ImagineMD.
Plan to Relax Coal-Fired Power Plant Rules Could Up Mortality
TUESDAY, Aug. 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The Trump administration’s plan to relax pollution rules for coal-fired power plants will increase carbon emissions and cause up to 1,400 premature deaths a year, according to details released Tuesday.
The New York Times Article
EPA News Release
Pennsylvania Case Could Affect Evidence for Malpractice Defense
TUESDAY, Aug. 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case that could affect what evidence physicians may present in defense during medical malpractice suits, according to an article published in the American Medical Association’s AMA Wire.
WPSI Recommends Annual Urinary Incontinence Screening
TUESDAY, Aug. 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The Women’s Preventive Services Initiative (WPSI) recommends annual urinary incontinence screening for women and referral for further evaluation and treatment if indicated, according to a clinical guideline published online Aug. 14 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Evidence Review (subscription or payment may be required)
Clinical Guideline (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Side Effects of Biologics for Rheumatic Dz May Up Anxiety
TUESDAY, Aug. 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Potential side effects of biological agents may increase anxiety in patients with rheumatic disease, according to research published in the June issue of the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases.
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Amount of Physical Exercise Affects Mental Health Burden
TUESDAY, Aug. 21, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Physical exercise is associated with self-reported mental health burden in the past month, according to a study published online Aug. 8 in The Lancet Psychiatry.
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Experts Offer Tips for Provider Appeal of Denied Medical Claims
MONDAY, Aug.20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Knowing payer policies and regulatory requirements is critical to appealing denials, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
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NYU Becomes First Medical School to Cover All Tuition
MONDAY, Aug. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The NYU School of Medicine has announced that it is offering full-tuition scholarships to all current and future students in its M.D. degree program, regardless of need or merit.
Wildfire Smoke Causing Poor Air Quality in U.S. Pacific Northwest
MONDAY, Aug. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Smoke from wildfires will cause poor air quality in parts of the U.S. Pacific Northwest this week, officials warn.
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Tobacco Content Still Common on U.K. Prime-Time Television
MONDAY, Aug. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Audiovisual tobacco content remains common in prime-time U.K. television programs and is virtually unchanged from 2010, according to a study published online Aug. 13 in Tobacco Control.
Cognitive Disability Most Prevalent Type in Young Adults
MONDAY, Aug. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Cognitive disability is the most prevalent disability type among young adults, while middle-aged and older adults have the highest prevalence of mobility disability, according to a report published in the Aug. 17 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Novel hs-cTnT Protocol Better Rules Out Myocardial Infarction
MONDAY, Aug. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A novel high-sensitivity (hs) cardiac troponin T (cTnT) protocol for ruling out myocardial infarction (MI) rules out more patients than the existing protocol, according to a research letter published online Aug. 6 in Circulation.
Heat-Driven Air Conditioning May Contribute to Additional Deaths
MONDAY, Aug. 20, 2018 (HealthDay News) — In what can be described as a vicious catch-22, approximately 5 to 9 percent of exacerbated air-pollution-related deaths will be due to increases in power sector emissions from the extra air conditioning use resulting from climate change, according to a study published online July 3 in PLOS Medicine.
EHR Review Can Measure Diagnostic Uncertainty
FRIDAY, Aug. 17, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Retrospective review of clinician documentation in the electronic health record (EHR) can help identify diagnostic uncertainty with moderate reliability, according to a study published in the June issue of the Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice.
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Comments Open on End of NIH Review for Gene Therapy Studies
FRIDAY, Aug. 17, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A U.S. National Institutes of Health oversight panel will no longer review all applications for gene therapy experiments. Instead, the panel will assume an advisory role, while the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will assess gene therapy experiments and products as it does with other treatments and drugs. The proposed change will take effect after a public comment period which runs through Oct. 16.
AP News Article
NIH Statement
Comment on Regulations
VAT Score Improves Predictive Value of MMSE for Dementia
FRIDAY, Aug. 17, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Administering the Visual Association Test (VAT) improves the predictive value of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score for dementia, according to a study published in a recent issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
Residents’ Sleep Deteriorates During Training
FRIDAY, Aug. 17, 2018 (HealthDay News) — First-year residents experience worsening sleep duration and quality as well as daytime sleepiness, according to a study published in the June issue of the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
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Practice Names, Logos Should Be Carefully Designed
THURSDAY, Aug. 16, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Practice names and logos should be carefully designed to emphasize what is unique about a practice, according to a blog post published in Physicians Practice.
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NIH Panel Will No Longer Review Gene Therapy Experiments
THURSDAY, Aug. 16, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A U.S. National Institutes of Health oversight panel will no longer review all applications for gene therapy experiments, according to a perspective piece published online Aug. 15 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Abstract/Full Text
NIH Statement
Steps Provided for Discharging Patient From Practice
THURSDAY, Aug. 16, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Certain steps should be taken when discharging a patient for failure or inability to meet financial obligations, according to an article published in Physicians Practice.
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Patient Portals Don’t Appear to Have Much Traction
THURSDAY, Aug. 16, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Patient portals have not taken off as expected, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
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ACA Coverage Gains Include Workers Without Insurance
THURSDAY, Aug. 16, 2018 (HealthDay News) — After the expanded coverage provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) were implemented in 2014, self-employed individuals and wage earners without employer-sponsored health coverage offers had coverage gains equal to or greater than those of people not employed, according to a report published in the August issue of Health Affairs.
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DNR Orders Linked to Increased Mortality in Older Adults
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 15, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For hospitalized older patients, the presence of a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order is associated with poor short-term clinical outcomes, including mortality, according to a study recently published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
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Many Americans Not Being Assessed for Depression
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 15, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Many Americans aged 35 and older are not being assessed for depression, according to a study recently published in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine.
Peer Comparisons Can Decrease Risky Prescribing Patterns
TUESDAY, Aug. 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Letters targeting high prescribers of quetiapine (Seroquel), an antipsychotic with potentially harmful side effects in the elderly, significantly reduces the number of prescriptions for patients in the Medicare program, according to a study published online Aug. 1 in JAMA Psychiatry.
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6 Factors Related to Inclusion in Health Care Workplace ID’d
TUESDAY, Aug. 14, 2018 (HealthDay News) — There are six broad factors that can affect inclusion within health care organizations, according to a study published online Aug. 3 in JAMA Network Open.
Four Pros to Integrating EHR, Practice Management Software
MONDAY, Aug. 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Consolidating electronic health records and practice management software allows practices to save time and money, make fewer mistakes, and reduce the risk of privacy breaches, according to an article published in Physicians Practice.
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Sedation Level Doesn’t Impact Delirium Risk After Hip Fx Repair
MONDAY, Aug. 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For older patients undergoing hip fracture repair, the level of sedation does not impact delirium risk overall, according to a study published online Aug. 8 in JAMA Surgery.
Review Addresses Nutritional Hype for Popular Foods
FRIDAY, Aug. 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — While many dietary patterns, foods, and nutrients receive substantial media attention and are hyped as having cardiovascular benefits, some have evidence for these benefits and others do not, according to a review published in the July 31 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Cardiac Profiles Up With Exercise, Less Sitting in Early Old Age
FRIDAY, Aug. 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For adults aged 60 to 64 years, greater light physical activity (PA) and moderate-to-vigorous intensity PA and less sedentary time are associated with more favorable cardiovascular profiles, according to a study published online Aug. 8 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
AMA Adopts Policy on Augmented Intelligence
FRIDAY, Aug. 10, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates has adopted a policy on augmented intelligence, according to a report published in the association’s AMA Wire.
AMA Adopts Policy to Advance Gender Equity in Medicine
THURSDAY, Aug. 9, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates has adopted a new policy to study, act for, and advocate to advance gender equity in medicine, according to a report published in the association’s AMA Wire.
Feeling Young May Be Reflected in Brain Structure
TUESDAY, August 7, 2018 (HealthDay News) — People who feel younger than their age show fewer signs of brain aging than those who feel their age or older than their age, according to a small study published recently in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience.
AHA: A Diverse Diet May Not Promote a Healthy Weight
THURSDAY, Aug. 9, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The long-standing recommendation to eat a variety of foods may not be a sound way to promote healthy eating patterns and a healthy body weight, according to an American Heart Association science advisory published online Aug. 9 in Circulation.
USPSTF: Insufficient Evidence to Screen for Atrial Fibrillation
THURSDAY, Aug. 9, 2018 (HealthDay News) — There is insufficient evidence to support screening for atrial fibrillation (AF) with electrocardiography (ECG) in older, asymptomatic patients, according to a U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) final recommendation published in the Aug. 7 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Final Recommendation
Evidence Report
Perspectives on USPSTF A-Fib Screening Recommendation
THURSDAY, Aug. 9, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Preventive Service Task Force published a final recommendation on Aug. 7 citing insufficient evidence to assess the benefits and harms of screening for atrial fibrillation (AF) with electrocardiography (ECG) in asymptomatic, older adults. A series of editorials published in the JAMA network journals offer additional perspectives, with recognition of the need to develop a national screening strategy.
USPSTF Final Recommendation
Editorial – JAMA
Editorial – JAMA Cardiology
Editorial – JAMA Internal Medicine
Few Older Homeless Adults Make Advance Care Plans
THURSDAY, Aug. 9, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The majority of older homeless-experienced adults have a potential surrogate for health care decisions, but few have discussed or documented their advance care planning (ACP) wishes, according to a study published in the June issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
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Cyber Insurance Recommended for All Physician Practices
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 8, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The growing threat of hacking is increasing the number of physicians buying cyber insurance, according to an article published in Medical Economics.
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Most Antipsychotics Prescribed in Nursing Homes Initiated There
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 8, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Antipsychotic therapy prescribed to nursing home residents is mostly initiated in nursing homes rather than hospitals or outpatient settings, according to a study published in the June issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
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Walking Tied to Better QoL in Those With/at Risk for CVD
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 8, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Walking is associated with improved quality of life (QoL) among those at risk for or living with cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to a study published in PLOS ONE.
Steps Taken to Increase Use of Electronic Tools in Medicine
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 8, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Additional codes have been approved by the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Editorial Panel for chronic care remote physiologic monitoring and internet consultations, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
AMA Proposes Policy Opposing Medicaid ‘Lockout’ Provisions
TUESDAY, Aug. 7, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A new policy opposing lockout provisions that block Medicaid patients from the program for lengthy periods and instead supporting allowing patients to reapply immediately for redetermination was adopted by the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates during the AMA’s annual meeting in Chicago, according to an article published in the association’s AMA Wire.
PCP Statin Prescribing Up With Automated Patient Dashboard
TUESDAY, Aug. 7, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Guideline-concordant statin prescribing rates are increased modestly with use of an automated dashboard using active choice framing and peer comparison, according to a study published online July 27 in JAMA Network Open.
Factors Examined for End-of-Life Spending Levels in Cancer Care
TUESDAY, Aug. 7, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Geographic variation in end-of-life spending can be explained by availability of services and physicians’ beliefs, but not patients’ beliefs, according to a study published in the July issue of Health Affairs.
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Death Records Estimate 1,139 Deaths Due to Hurricane Maria
TUESDAY, Aug. 7, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Based on death records following Hurricane Maria, the hurricane-related mortality burden of excess deaths through December 2017 is estimated to be 1,139, higher than the official death toll of 64, according to a research letter published online Aug. 2 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Advance Care Planning Doesn’t Aid Quality of Life
MONDAY, Aug. 2, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Advance care planning in frail older adults does not increase patient activation or quality of life, according to a study published in the June issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
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CDC: Half of U.S. Adults Tried to Lose Weight From 2013 to 2016
MONDAY, Aug. 6, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Nearly half of U.S. adults have tried to lose weight from 2013 to 2016, according to a July data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics.
Some Bacteria Now More Tolerant of Alcohol-Based Sanitizers
FRIDAY, Aug. 3, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Some types of bacteria are developing tolerance of alcohol-based hand sanitizers used in hospitals, according to a study published in the Aug. 1 issue of Science Translational Medicine.
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Variation in Specialty Drug Coverage Across Health Plans
FRIDAY, Aug. 3, 2018 (HealthDay News) — There is considerable variation in specialty drug coverage across commercial health plans, according to a study published in the July issue of Health Affairs.
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One-Quarter of Older U.S. Adults May Be Overtreated for Diabetes
FRIDAY, Aug. 3, 2018 (HealthDay News) — One-quarter of older adults with type 2 diabetes in the United States are tightly controlled using glucose-lowering medications with a high risk of hypoglycemia, according to a study published in the June issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
Groups Urge CMS to Reconsider Suspending Risk Adjustment
FRIDAY, Aug. 3, 2018 (HealthDay News) — In a letter sent to Administrator Seema Verma of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), medical organizations are urging reconsideration of the decision to suspend payments to insurers as required under the Affordable Care Act’s risk-adjustment program.
Increasing Cost of Insulin Has Serious Health Consequences
FRIDAY, Aug. 3, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The increasing cost of insulin is potentially exposing those with diabetes to serious health consequences, according to an American Diabetes Association statement published in the June issue of Diabetes Care.
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Three Financial Metrics Can Improve Practice Performance
THURSDAY, Aug. 2, 2018 (HealthDay News) — By understanding three indices and metrics, physicians can change the financial outcome of their medical practice, according to a report published in Medical Economics.
Abstract/Full Text
Health Affairs Announces Launch of New Three-Year Initiative
THURSDAY, Aug. 2, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A council on health care spending and value has been established by the journal Health Affairs.
How Doctors Receive Feedback Is Key for Antimicrobial Programs
THURSDAY, Aug. 2, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Anticipation of how providers will receive feedback is important for antimicrobial stewardship programs to consider in informing educational messaging, according to a study published online June 7 in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology.
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New Short-Term Health Plans Have Large Coverage Gaps
THURSDAY, Aug. 2, 2018 (HealthDay News) — There are large coverage gaps in short-term health plans that were approved Wednesday by the Trump administration, and are described by critics as “junk insurance.”
Obesity Worsens Skilled Nursing Facility Outcomes After Hip Fx
THURSDAY, Aug. 2, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Obesity is associated with worse outcomes in skilled nursing facility (SNF) residents receiving post-acute care for hip fracture, according to a study published in the June issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
National Guideline Clearinghouse Offline Due to Funding Cuts
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 1, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The National Guideline Clearinghouse (NGC) and National Quality Measures Clearinghouse (NQMC) websites were taken down on July 16 when funding for these federal databases ended, according to an announcement by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).
Updated Staffing Data Lowers Ratings for Many Nursing Homes
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 1, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Star ratings for staffing levels at nearly 1,400 nursing homes across the United States were lowered by Medicare when updated ratings were released on July 25.
The New York Times Article
Nursing Home Compare
Steps Can Be Taken by Doctors to Minimize Risk of Lawsuits
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 1, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Targeted steps can be taken to minimize future risks of lawsuits, according to an article published in Physicians Practice.
Abstract/Full Text
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