About the public’s health
U.S. reports fewer than 50K new COVID-19 cases for 3rd day in a row: However the large geographic differences remain. Also: American Academy Of Pediatrics: Number Of Coronavirus Cases Among Children In U.S. Has Increased 90 Percent In Last Month. And: U.S. reports highest number of covid-19 deaths in one day since mid-May.
Effect of mammographic screening from age 40 years on breast cancer mortality (UK Age trial): final results of a randomised, controlled trial: “Yearly mammography before age 50 years, commencing at age 40 or 41 years, was associated with a relative reduction in breast cancer mortality, which was attenuated after 10 years, although the absolute reduction remained constant. Reducing the lower age limit for screening from 50 to 40 years could potentially reduce breast cancer mortality.”
The problem of false positives remains. As far as cost/benefit, US costs would need to be used since mammograms are much more expensive here.
CareSource pledges $50M to support affordable housing: “Ohio's largest Medicaid managed care provider has pledged to invest millions of dollars to support affordable housing projects across the U.S.
The $50 million investment, announced Tuesday by Dayton-based CareSource, will be spread across its existing markets in Ohio, Indiana, Georgia, Kentucky and West Virginia, as well as new markets as the organization expands its footprint.”
Hahn: COVID-19 vaccine decision will be "deliberative": “The commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration assured physicians and other healthcare providers that vaccine and therapeutics approvals for the COVID-19 pandemic will be ‘based on good science and sound data.’” Isn’t it sad that we need the reassurance?
Virucidal efficacy of different oral rinses against SARS-CoV-2:Look at Table 1 at the end of the article. The authors concluded that in particular, they “observed that three formulations (products c, e and f) containing different active compounds significantly reduced viral infectivity to undetectable levels.” Listerine cool mint (f) is the most recognizable name on the list.
About healthcare quality
85 hospitals with a 1-star CMS rating for patient experience: Yesterday the 5-star hospitals were referenced. Here is a list of the 1-star hospitals rated for patient experience. It seems to have many institutions that care for underserved populations.
UnitedHealth study: Primary care docs in value-based models achieve better patient outcomes: “Primary care physicians reimbursed in a global capitation model perform better on key quality metrics than those in a fee-for-service model, a new study from UnitedHealth Group shows…
For example, 80% of patients treated in the value-based arrangements were screened for breast cancer, compared to 74% of those in fee-for-service. More than 80% in global capitation were screened for colorectal cancer while 74% of fee-for-service patients were screened…
In addition, the study found that MA members treated in a global capitation arrangement had better blood sugar control levels, were more likely to be administered an eye exam and were provided functional status assessments and medication reviews more frequently.”
About healthcare IT
Health Experts Warn About Perils of New Virus Data Collection System: “Nearly three dozen current and former members of a federal health advisory committee, including nine appointed or reappointed by the health secretary, Alex M. Azar II, are warning that the Trump administration’s new coronavirus database is placing an undue burden on hospitals and will have ‘serious consequences on data integrity.’”
3.1M records tied to medical software company Adit found exposed online:”More than 3 million user records tied to a medical software company called Adit have been found exposed online and may have been stolen by malicious actors.
Discovered by security researcher Bob Diachenko, who revealed it today, the data included full names, email addresses, home and work phone numbers, marital status, sex and medical practice name. The database was completely unsecured with no password or other authentication required to access it.”
About pharma
COVID-19 vaccine players will split $100B in sales and $40B in profits, with Moderna leading the way: analyst: Evercore ISI pharma analyst Josh Schimmer predicted “that the total market for COVID-19 vaccines would be worth $100 billion in sales and $40 billion in post-tax profits. He assumed frontrunner Moderna would supply about 40% of the market, Novavax would take 20% and the other vaccine developers would split the rest.”
About health insurance
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) Laboratory Testing: This site updates the CPT coding for testing for SARS-CoV-2.