About the public’s health
Some Trump administration claims on effectiveness of convalescent plasma are wrong or dubious, scientists say: The head of the FDA mixed up relative and absolute risk. If the absolute risk goes down from 3 in 100 to 2 in 100, the relative risk is reduced by 33%. He said the equivalent of: the risk reduction is 33 in 100. (The number he used was 35.)
WHO says 172 countries engaging with global COVID-19 vaccine plan: The headline speaks for itself.
Heterogeneous trends in burden of heart disease mortality by subtypes in the United States, 1999-2018: observational analysis of vital statistics: “Heart failure and hypertensive heart disease account for the greatest increases in premature deaths and the largest black-white disparities and have offset declines in ischemic heart disease. Early and targeted primary and secondary prevention and control of risk factors for heart disease, with a focus on groups at high risk, are needed to avoid these suboptimal trends beginning earlier in life.”
EPA approves coronavirus cleanser for emergency use in Texas: “The Environmental Protection Agency gave emergency approval Monday for the application of a cleanser intended to kill the novel coronavirus on surfaces for up to seven days, and the state of Texas said it would allow American Airlines and two branches of Total Orthopedics Sports & Spine to start using the new product.
The agency said it hoped the product — called SurfaceWise2 and made by Allied BioScience — would provide longer-lasting protection in public spaces and increase consumer confidence in air travel, which has suffered a big hit during the covid-19 pandemic.”
About hospitals and health systems
Changes in Hospital Income, Use, and Quality Associated With Private Equity Acquisition: “Hospitals by private equity were associated with larger increases in net income, charges, charge to cost ratios, and case mix index as well as with improvement in some quality measures after acquisition relative to nonacquired controls. Heterogeneity in some findings was observed between HCA and non-HCA hospitals.”
And in a related article, see: Private equity pushes into healthcare: 5 latest deals.
Beaumont loses confidence of more than 650 nurses: More potential problems for the merger with Advocate Aurora.
About health insurance
Insurers' EBITDA up 87% year over year in Q2: “Insurers posted "unusually strong" financial performance in the second quarter, according to a new analysis from Moody's Investors Service.
Payers' earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) was up 87% year over year, largely due to significant declines in care utilization, the analysts said. However, while the firm maintains the stable outlook for the industry, there are several trends threatening to shake things up in the second half of the year.
For one, deferred services are returning and volumes are stabilizing.”
Humana files suit against telehealth company QuivvyTech over millions in alleged false claims: “Humana has filed suit against Florida-based telehealth company QuivvyTech, saying it was defrauded out of millions of dollars.
According to the suit, filed in Southern Florida district court, QuivvyTech telemarketers would cold-call Humana members and ask them questions about common ailments. They would then wire that information to physicians who were in the scheme to secure prescriptions for pricey, unneeded creams.
The physicians would prescribe these creams without ever speaking to the patient directly, according to the lawsuit. The prescriptions would then be wired to pharmacies that were also active participants in the scheme to be dispensed to members, Humana said.”
About healthcare IT
3 new health features part of Fitbit's latest smartwatch rollout: “Fitbit has rolled out more advanced health monitoring features including an ECG app and sensors to track stress levels and changes in skin temperature.
It's part of the wearable giant's transition from fitness tracking to being a platform that puts consumers in control of their health, said James Park, Fitbit co-founder and CEO, during a virtual presentation for reporters Monday.”
Ascension move to outsource IT will eliminate 'a few hundred' jobs:”The health system has created ‘digital studios’ in three locations and investing in data sciences as part of those capabilities…”
About pharma
The 10 prescriptions most frequently filled at pharmacies: These medicines are commonly prescribed generics.