About health insurance
Trump administration denies N.Y. governor's request for $8B in Medicaid waiver funds: “In denying New York's request, the federal government is refusing to support the way the state is trying to change its delivery system to care for people in community medical facilities rather than in hospitals. It is rejecting the application but not eliminating funding that was already promised.” At a time when the federal government is encouraging Medicaid waivers, this action is unusual. Perhaps it is part of the same retribution for New York’s activities as a sanctuary state. (Recall the denial of Global Entry passes.)
Affordable Care Act exchanges grow as insurer participation rises: “In total, 245 individual insurance carriers took part in federal and state exchanges during the 2019-2020 plan year. In 2018-2019 that number was only 218; and in 2017-2018 it was lower still, at 194.
What this means is that consumers are being offered more choice, as the number of counties with just one insurance carrier dipped from 36% in 2019 to 25% in 2020.”
About the public’s health
Coronavirus keeps spreading — including as a subject in the South Carolina Democratic debate: The health plans discussed in last nights debate did not offer anything new. The study from Yale that said Medicare for All would save money (to which Sen. Sanders referred) used the assumption of Medicare rates for all care. It has long been known that high prices are the main reason our healthcare costs so much. Do we really need to blow up the health system to accomplish price reform? See this site for how Sanders would pay for his plan.
What was new last night was how the country is (and should) deal with the COVID-19 epidemic.
3 things to know as CDC warns of 'significant disruption' from coronavirus:
“1. Some interventions may require closing schools, use of teleworking options
2. Better access to testing is coming
3. Officials are evaluating potential supply concerns”
Lifestyle Changes in Relation to Initiation of Antihypertensive and Lipid‐Lowering Medication: A Cohort Study: Behavioral economic studies could have predicted this outcome. Remember the study that said many consumers think a burger with a diet drink (or salad) has fewer calories than a burger alone? This study found that, for many participants, initiation of antihypertensive and statin medication was followed by a reduction in some healthy lifestyles, like exercise and overeating. Smoking and alcohol consumption, however, did decline.
Overhyped Coronavirus Weaponized Against Trump: Perhaps the greatest threat to successful implementation of any public health measure is misinformation. Here is how Medal of Freedom awardee Rush Limbaugh started a recent broadcast: “It looks like the coronavirus is being weaponized as yet another element to bring down Donald Trump. Now, I want to tell you the truth about the coronavirus. (interruption) You think I’m wrong about this? You think I’m missing it by saying that’s… (interruption) Yeah, I’m dead right on this. The coronavirus is the common cold, folks.” The only thing he got partially right is that some common colds are caused by corona viruses, but NOT COVID-19.
Scottish parliament approves free sanitary products for all women: “The Scottish parliament approved plans on Tuesday to make sanitary products freely available to all women, the first nation in the world to do so.”
About hospitals
7 healthcare providers make list of 'world's most ethical companies': “Seven hospitals and health systems were ranked among the world's most ethical companies 2020 by the Ethisphere Institute, a company that defines and measures corporate ethical standards…
The seven healthcare providers:
Baptist Health South Florida (Miami)
Cleveland Clinic
Covenant Health (Alberta, Canada)
Kaiser Permanente (Oakland, Calif.)
MetroHealth (Cleveland)
University Hospitals (Cleveland)
UPMC (Pittsburgh)”
About pharma
FDA drug safety program is adding billions to US healthcare spending: “In 2006, the FDA started a program called the Unapproved Drugs Initiative to force drugmakers to get regulatory approval for drugs they had on the market that were available on a grandfathered basis because they predated stricter requirements.
The goal was to make sure all drugs on the market were safe and effective. But some drugmakers decided not to pursue regulatory approval, leaving open opportunities for monopolies that allowed some of them to hike their prices…
The analysis, conducted by Vizient, a healthcare performance improvement company, found that the program may be adding $20.3 billion to U.S. healthcare spending.”
With all the waste in healthcare, isn’t some spending actually beneficial?
About healthcare IT
These are the most disruptive companies shaking up healthcare, executives say: Interesting discussion of the companies and what they are doing.
About healthcare quality
Association of Variation in Consultant Use Among Hospitalist Physicians With Outcomes Among Medicare Beneficiaries: “Hospitalists who obtain consultations more than their colleagues at the same institution were associated with greater use of health care resources without apparent mortality benefit.” Read the article for the breakdown of where increased costs occurred.
Speech: Remarks by CMS Administrator Seema Verma at the 2020 CMS Quality Conference: Here are some highlights from yesterday’s speech. You should read it in its entirety.
“First, we will establish clear and reasonable expectations for quality by setting government standards and quality measures… in other words, the rules of the road. Second, we will strengthen our oversight and enforcement of those standards to ensure accountability. Third, we will promote transparency, competition, and consumer choice by providing the public with the information needed to make decisions about their care; and fourth, we will work to modernize quality improvementefforts for all through advances in data analytics and technology, while prioritizing resources for those that need it most…
We’re also looking at ways to enhance our oversight of accrediting organizations. In recent years, we’ve identified inconsistencies in the way accrediting organizations inspect providers. Some even use standards that differ from our own, which is simply not acceptable. Receiving CMS’ authorization to inspect and deem healthcare providers compliant with Medicare’s quality standards is nothing short of assuming a sacred public trust responsibility. But an increasing amount of evidence indicates that accrediting organizations are not living up to that high bar.”
About healthcare executives
16 'overpaid' healthcare CEOs: Sixteen of the hundred executives named as the most overpaid by the organization As You Sow head-up healthcare firms. Read this short article to see who they are and the methodology used to compile the list.