The #PWChat series continued with another informative discussion with co-host Linda Girgis, MD, on the biggest predictions and expectations in healthcare for 2018. Topics discussed included predicted healthcare legislation changes and their potential impact(s), whether patients will be better or worse off than in previous years and why, why increases in both type and size of medical epidemics have been predicted for 2018, what, if anything can be done to avoid them, and what their impacts would be, and much more!
View our upcoming schedule, or read our other #PWChat recaps here.
Below are the highlights from the chat. You can read the full transcript here.
Question 1
Q1: What changes to healthcare legislation are predicted for 2018, and what would the impact(s) be if predictions hold true?#PWChat
— Physician’s Weekly (@physicianswkly) January 31, 2018
A1. Expect MIPS to ramp up and small practices facing negative adjustments. Increase cost to large practices to continue compliance. #PWchat https://t.co/87NbmCpjPR
— Linda Girgis, MD (@DrLindaMD) January 31, 2018
A1 There is a push to make so called “Abled body” #Medicaid members work. So many patients like me suffer from invisible illnesses that it’s going to hurt us. I look abled but am not! #PWChat
— Alan Brewington (@abrewi3010) January 31, 2018
A1 There is a push to make so called “Abled body” #Medicaid members work. So many patients like me suffer from invisible illnesses that it’s going to hurt us. I look abled but am not! #PWChat
— Alan Brewington (@abrewi3010) January 31, 2018
A1 Reduction of ONC budgets thereby setting back interoperability efforts that would help coordinate better care #PWChat
— ShereeseM, MS/MBA (@ShereesePubHlth) January 31, 2018
A1 #PWCHAT Also concerning are healthier people, who might not even try to enroll for fear that they will be seen as not meeting standard. Both groups (those with chronic conditions and those in seemingly good health) will be less likely to be insured, with health consequences. https://t.co/3jU1NJJouA
— (((Howard Forman))) (@thehowie) January 31, 2018
Question 2
Q2: Do you feel patients will be better off in the 2018 US healthcare system than they were in previous years? Why/Why not?#PWChat
— Physician’s Weekly (@physicianswkly) January 31, 2018
A2. They will continue facing escalating premiums with high deductibles. Care will become less affordable and less accessible. #PWchat https://t.co/NWphdvwCrC
— Linda Girgis, MD (@DrLindaMD) January 31, 2018
A2 patients like me will be worse off. Much of the current legislation supports healthcare balance sheets, not my #chronicpain. #PWCHAT
— Alan Brewington (@abrewi3010) January 31, 2018
T2 worse off in terms of health outcomes. Reduced support for prevention and elimination of basic package likely to result in reduced life expectancy, higher morbidity & mortality. Expect opioid epidemic, obesity, and maternal health numbers to drop a bit #PWChat
— Matthew Loxton (@mloxton) January 31, 2018
Question 3
Q3: Some have predicted an increase in epidemics , such as yellow fever or diphtheria, across the globe for this year. What’s contributing to these predictions? What, if anything, can be done to avoid them? What will the impact(s) be if these predictions hold true?#PWChat
— Physician’s Weekly (@physicianswkly) January 31, 2018
A3. Some speculate that global warming can be a contributing factor. #PWchat https://t.co/ftMqQ5UFHg
— Linda Girgis, MD (@DrLindaMD) January 31, 2018
A3. There has been a backorder on yellow fever vaccine for months. The only alternative is not FDA approved but used in Europe. We need to eliminate vaccine and med stoppages. #PWchat https://t.co/ftMqQ5UFHg
— Linda Girgis, MD (@DrLindaMD) January 31, 2018
A3 We need to return to basics. Asking “how might we…” will produce more human centered solutions than “I think we should…” #PWChat
— Alan Brewington (@abrewi3010) January 31, 2018
T3 so … other than the slow burn of epidemic that global warming will bring, this is the graph to think about.
Many of those above the $1 line may rapidly sink into 3rd world health status without big fed help #PWChat pic.twitter.com/ofZ5ehnQ3D
— Matthew Loxton (@mloxton) January 31, 2018
Question 4
Q4: @NIH will launch the All of Us study this year. Why is this predicted to be a ground-breaking study? What makes it so important? What’s expected to come from the outcomes of this study? Any other big studies to keep an eye on?#PWChat
— Physician’s Weekly (@physicianswkly) January 31, 2018
A4. I think the sheer volume of participants makes this a ground-breaking study. Still don’t know what to expect though. #PWchat https://t.co/mK02YQULIY
— Linda Girgis, MD (@DrLindaMD) January 31, 2018
T4 marvelous idea, but …
1. Will it be adequately funded?
2. Be without constraints? E.g. restrictions on studying guns, maternal health, mental gealth, etc
3. Do anything with the results?#PWChat— Matthew Loxton (@mloxton) January 31, 2018
T4 another concern is that “moonshot” healthcare projects tend to distract from real here and now problems, and drain funding and skills from basic stuff like vaccines, clean water, maternal health, etc.
Entire cities with lead contaminated water belie our aspirations#PWChat
— Matthew Loxton (@mloxton) January 31, 2018
Question 5
Q5: What news is expected this year in the area of antiretroviral therapy for patients with #HIV?#PWChat
— Physician’s Weekly (@physicianswkly) January 31, 2018
A5. I think new antiretroviral meds will be aimed at making them easier for patients to take (less doses and longer acting meds. I also expect to see a wider use of Prep. #PWchat https://t.co/4cEK1Uqfc8
— Linda Girgis, MD (@DrLindaMD) January 31, 2018
A5. #PWChat Think of the possibilities (globally) as anti-retroviral therapy starts to approach marginal cost. #HCV treatment to follow, shortly. https://t.co/dxCAIzvSjL Pharma often painted as evil, but the consumer assuredly benefits at this point in the innovation cycle. https://t.co/Rzfda9hur1
— (((Howard Forman))) (@thehowie) January 31, 2018
Question 6
Q6: What big decisions will @CMSGov have to make this year in regard to drug policy & pricing? What are the expected decisions and what will their impacts be?#PWChat
— Physician’s Weekly (@physicianswkly) January 31, 2018
A6. Medications are becoming increasingly more unaffordabale, especially for the elderly. @CMSgov has taken little action that resulted in any improvement. Sadly, I don’t see much changing. #PWchat https://t.co/jrTsfu4Okc
— Linda Girgis, MD (@DrLindaMD) January 31, 2018
A6 I think CMS, with its new leadership, has shown its willingness to be pro big business. It’s a top down model with patients hoping/needing the trickle down. #PWchat
— Alan Brewington (@abrewi3010) January 31, 2018
Question 7
Q7: What requirements imposed on @US_FDA by the 21st Century Cures Act have 2018 deadlines, and what can be expected from the actions the agency will have to fulfill?#PWChat
— Physician’s Weekly (@physicianswkly) January 31, 2018
A7. I think it will take awhile to implement the changes mandated under the 21st Century Cares Act. I think we will see those changes roll out but it will be much slower than expected. #PWchat https://t.co/ZmoGupegnx
— Linda Girgis, MD (@DrLindaMD) January 31, 2018
Question 8
Q8: How would consolidation in the health insurance marketplace that’s expected for 2018 impact both patients and healthcare professionals?#PWChat
— Physician’s Weekly (@physicianswkly) January 31, 2018
A8. It will ruin them. They already act with little transparency and oversight. Consolidation will create a monster monopoly that cares little about patients over profits. #PWchat https://t.co/UrVyA6z9c8
— Linda Girgis, MD (@DrLindaMD) January 31, 2018
Question 9
Q9: How will expected hospital system consolidation, including purchasing of physician practices, impact patients and providers? Will physicians’ roles with their patients improve or become disaggregated?#PWChat
— Physician’s Weekly (@physicianswkly) January 31, 2018
A9. Hospitals and other organizations will continue to try to buy out practices. More physicians will retire or become employed. As a doctor in private practice, I think I provide better care when I get to make all decisions with my patients w/o a third party interfering. #PWchat https://t.co/l7gnDOA6Gb
— Linda Girgis, MD (@DrLindaMD) January 31, 2018
Question 10
Q10: What medical technology advancements/breakthroughs are you most excited about for 2018?#PWChat
— Physician’s Weekly (@physicianswkly) January 31, 2018
A10. There is a study looking at creating an artificial pancreas. If this technology becomes available, it could provide a cure for millions of diabetics and eliminate the complications and comorbid diseases associated with this disease. #PWchat https://t.co/K03TpI1AzI
— Linda Girgis, MD (@DrLindaMD) January 31, 2018
