About healthcare IT
Surescripts teams up with CDC, providers to accelerate COVID-19 case reporting: “Surescripts has teamed up with public health officials and laboratories to accelerate case reporting on COVID-19 cases.
The electronic prescribing company has rolled out a clinical direct messaging service to support electronic case reporting (eCR) of coronavirus and other infectious diseases to the public health surveillance systems.
The service replaces the often burdensome manual process of reporting diseases to public health agencies.” Not clear how this partnership will go forward with the CDC out of the reporting loop (see yesterday’s blog).
About the public’s health
3M pairs with MIT to develop a paper-based coronavirus diagnostic test: “3M is working with researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to develop a fast COVID-19 diagnostic using a simple, paper-based test that they hope will be easy to mass produce.
The test would detect the coronavirus’ antigens, or the specific proteins coating the walls of the virus, providing a result in minutes without needing any laboratory equipment.” Could be a breakthrough to help increase access and number of needed tests at a lower cost.
WHO officials say coronavirus antibodies may wane after several months: “Emphasizing that scientists don't yet have a complete answer, Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, head of the WHO's emerging diseases and zoonosis unit, said patients ‘do mount some level of an immune response.’
In the case of the Covid-19 virus, health officials have said there is insufficient data to indicate that antibodies ensure immunity against the virus.” Obviously, antibody protection is essential if vaccines are to work.
First COVID-19 vaccine tested in US poised for final testing: “The experimental vaccine developed by… the National Institutes of Health and Moderna Inc., will start its most important step around July 27: A 30,000-person study to prove if the shots really are strong enough to protect against the coronavirus.”And in two related articles: Moderna has started turning out COVID-19 vaccine doses for quick shipment if approved[the headline speaks for itself]; and Merck CEO Frazier says COVID-19 vaccine hype a 'grave disservice' to the public: ”Frazier said officials are doing a ‘grave disservice’ to the public by talking up the potential for vaccines later this year. There are massive scientific and logistical obstacles to achieving such a feat, he said.”
COVID-19 in Children and the Dynamics of Infection in Families: Results of an important study on the topic of whether children transmit SARS-CoV-2:”In 79% of households, >1 adult family member was suspected or confirmed for COVID-19 before symptom onset in the study child, confirming that children are infected mainly inside familial clusters. Surprisingly, in 33% of households, symptomatic HHCs [household contacts] tested negative despite belonging to a familial cluster with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 cases, suggesting an underreporting of cases. In only 8% of households did a child develop symptoms before any other HHC, which is in line with previous data in which it is shown that children are index cases in 10% of SARS-CoV-2 familial clusters; however, with our study design, we cannot confirm that child- to-adult transmission occurred.”
Iowa offers free Narcan at pharmacies: “The Iowa Department of Public Health and the Iowa Board of Pharmacy joined forces to offer free Narcan nasal spray kits to reduce financial barriers to access the potentially life-saving drug.”
Developing Primary Care–Based Recommendations for Social Determinants of Health: Methods of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force:”This article highlights social determinants already included in USPSTF recommendations and proposes a process by which others may be considered for primary care preventive recommendations. In many ways, incorporating social determinants of health into evidence-based recommendations is an evolving area. By reviewing the evidence on the effects of screening and interventions on social determinants relevant to primary care, the USPSTF will continue to provide recommendations on clinical preventive services to improve the health of all Americans.”
About health insurance
Supreme Court unlikely to hear GOP case to kill ACA before 2020 election: “The Supreme Court will not hear oral arguments in the Republican-led case seeking to dismantle the Affordable Care Act during the month of October, making it unlikely to be heard before the 2020 presidential election. The high court's October schedule… did not include the case that will ultimately decide the fate of the landmark health law.”
UnitedHealth's earnings double in Q2 as patients deferred elective procedures: “UnitedHealth recorded $9.2 billion in earnings from operations in the second quarter ended June 30, nearly double the $4.7 billion it posted in the same period last year. UnitedHealth said the spike is ‘due primarily to the unprecedented, temporary deferral of care.’ The company said the results will be offset in future quarters as patients resume deferred care and future COVID-19 costs arise, as well as through assistance measures the company has already taken. “
Trump administration asks Supreme Court to reinstate Arkansas Medicaid work requirements:”The Department of Justice in a filing said a federal appeals court was wrong to block the Department of Health and Human Services from approving work requirements in Arkansas, and the decision ‘reflects a fundamental misreading of the statutory text and context.’
According to the administration, work requirement demonstrations help a state stretch its ‘limited resources’ by keeping borderline populations out of Medicaid.”