About health insurance
Practices will see another 'piddly' MIPS [payment, docs say at MGMA meeting: According to an estimate from the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA), in 2020 CMS’ Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) will, at most, pay 1.6% in bonuses. Although penalties also apply if targets are not met, there is a point after which the costs of compliance are greater than lost revenue. When calculating the upside of the “break even point,” practices should multiply the percent bonus possible by 80% of the allowable Medicare charge (the portion for which CMS is responsible).
3 areas of the Stark overhaul likely to give providers compliance headaches: This article provides some cautionary advice for those who think relaxation of the anti-kickback statutes will be an immediate boon to provider organizations,
About healthcare quality and safety
Overzealous in preventing falls, hospitals are producing an ‘epidemic of immobility’ in elderly patients (NY Times-subscription may be needed): Pros and cons exist to many measures intended to improve quality. This article explains how attempts at preventing elderly falls are resulting in greater immobility.
Comparative Efficacy of Interventions for Aggressive and Agitated Behaviors in Dementia: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis (Annals of Internal Medicine- subscription required): An “easy” way to control aggressive and agitated patients with dementia is by giving them sedating medication. However: “ Nonpharmacologic interventions seemed to be more efficacious than pharmacologic interventions for reducing aggression and agitation in adults with dementia.”
About healthcare professionals
Interstate medical licensure by the numbers: This article is a good current summary of the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC)- in which some states participate to enhance the ease of applications for physicians who want licensure in more than one state. Recall that for purposes of telemedicine, the physician must be licensed in the state where the patient resides.
About pharma
Scientists Designed a Drug for Just One Patient. Her Name Is Mila (NY Times- subscription may be required): This article explains the ultimate in personalized medicine- genetic treatment for a single patient. It raises issues of quality of life and resource use, including cost.
About healthcare IT
2019 Healthcare Consumer Study: This research has some interesting consumer attitudes about the healthcare system. One of the findings that was unusual was that 41% of responders said they would change to a provider who could offer a better digital experience. While different groups are more sensitive to digital experiences, we need to ask which specific digital features would be most important. Does it vary by age group, gender, health status or other factors? Also see this site.