About healthcare IT
As the telehealth market shakes out, Teladoc, Amwell feeling pressure from new entrants, more specialization: The article is a good review of telehealth usage trends and increased competition from newer companies.
Withings goes head-to-head with Apple, nabbing FDA OK for smartwatch to detect afib, sleep apnea: “Withings’ FDA clearance covers its clinically validated ECG and pulse oximeter features. In addition to detecting indicators of abnormal heart rhythms and respiratory disorders, respectively, their readings are also combined with movement and pulse measurements in an algorithm that can detect breathing disturbances while a wearer is sleeping, a possible sign of sleep apnea.
Beyond its medical-grade features, the ScanWatch is equipped with all the typical trappings of a smartwatch. It automatically tallies steps, calories burned and elevation gained throughout the day and maps out workout routes using embedded GPS tech. Throughout a workout, the watch uses real-time readings of heart rate and exercise pace, along with the user’s age, gender and weight, to calculate VO2 max, a measure of the amount of oxygen consumed per minute…
The ScanWatch starts at $279, comparable to Apple’s price-conscious option, the Apple Watch SE, and about $120 less than the new, fully decked-out Apple Watch Series 7.”
Analysis of Electronic Health Record Use and Clinical Productivity and Their Association With Physician Turnover: “In this study, physician productivity and EHR use metrics were associated with physician departure. Prospectively tracking these metrics could identify physicians at high risk of departure who would benefit from early, team-based, targeted interventions. The counterintuitive finding that less time spent on the EHR (in particular inbox management) was associated with physician departure warrants further investigation.”
About health insurance
EmblemHealth Study Finds that the Healthcare Industry Needs to Do More to Educate Consumers on Value-Based Care: “The national study found that only one in four consumers are aware of the term ‘Value-Based Care’ and of those, only a quarter can define it accurately.”
Physician groups warn nearly 10% in Medicare cuts could stall shift to value-based care, force staff cuts: “Providers are facing 9.75% in cuts to Medicare reimbursements in the next year. This includes 4% in cuts due to go into effect under the PAYGO law, which calls for Congress to install a series of cuts across the federal government if spending reaches a certain threshold…
A survey conducted of 92 AMGA members… found that if the cuts were to go into effect, 42.7% will install hiring freezes and 36.8% will eliminate services. Another 22.2% will no longer accept Medicare patients.”
Southern states have low insurance coverage, high costs, new report finds: “Southern states have the highest number of adults who skip care due to cost and some of the highest rates of uninsured people, a new analysis by NiceRx found…”
Texas ranks first in percent uninsured and second (after Mississippi) in the most people avoiding doctor visits because of cost.”
Urban Institute: Making enhanced ACA subsidies permanent could extend coverage to nearly 1M: “‘If the [American Rescue Plan Act’s] enhanced subsidies were made permanent, we find that the number of uninsured children would fall by approximately 303,000, and the number of uninsured parents would fall by about 686,000,’ the analysis said. ‘The number of uninsured young children would fall by about 67,000 and about 267,000 parents of young children would gain coverage.’
The enhanced subsidies ensured anyone with an income below 150% of the federal poverty level didn’t pay any premiums for coverage. Anyone with 400% above the poverty level would also qualify for subsidies and not pay more than 8.5% of their income on healthcare, a major change from the current law where those consumers would not be eligible for any subsidies.”
Biden admin allows Colorado to make gender-affirming care an essential health benefit: “Colorado's approach discourages a "one-size-fits-all" approach to transgender care, CMS said in an announcement, and would allow access to a greater range of benefits than many currently can receive. Treatments available will include eye and lid modifications, facial tightening, facial bone remodeling for facial feminization, breast and/or chest construction and reduction and laser hair removal.
Essential health benefits in Colorado's benchmark plan will also include mental health care access and coverage for 14 prescription drug classes, CMS said.”
7 in 10 Medicare Beneficiaries Report That They Did Not Compare Their Coverage Options During a Recent Open Enrollment Period: “Other key findings include:
• The share of beneficiaries who said they did not compare their options was higher among beneficiaries who are Black (74%) and Hispanic (79%), ages 85 and older (84%), with low incomes (85%), and those enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid (87%).
• When it comes to Part D drug coverage, 81 percent of Medicare Advantage drug plan enrollees and 72 percent of Medicare stand-alone drug plan enrollees said they did not compare drug coverage offered by their current plan to other plans.
• Nearly half (47%) of all beneficiaries with Medicare said they had never visited the official Medicare website for information, 53 percent reported they had never called the 1-800-MEDICARE helpline and 31 percent said they did not read the Medicare & You handbook.”
Your Free Cancer Screen Shows Trouble: What If You Can't Afford the Follow-Up?: The theme of this article, which quotes two research studies, is that while proven cancer screens are free to the patient, followup diagnostics and treatments may have significant costs which patients find unaffordable. The cost can lead to care delay or avoidance.
About Covid-19
WHO announces new expert group to investigate origins of the coronavirus and other outbreaks: “The World Health Organization on Wednesday named 26 scientists to a new advisory body devoted to understanding the origins of the coronavirus and other future outbreaks, marking a significant change in approach for the world’s top global health body to one of the most politically sensitive issues of the pandemic.
The group includes scientists from the United States and China, as well as 24 other nations, and will be formalized after a brief period of public consultation.”
FDA staff doesn’t take stance on Moderna Covid booster shots, says two doses are enough to protect against severe disease: “FDA scientists on Tuesday declined to take a stance on whether to back booster shots of Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine.
They said data shows two doses are still enough to protect against severe disease and death in the U.S.”
A judge says New York must allow religious exemptions, for now, to its health care worker vaccine mandate.: “A federal judge ruled on Tuesday that New York State health officials must allow employers to grant religious exemptions to a Covid-19 vaccine mandate for health care workers while a lawsuit challenging the mandate makes its way through the courts.
The judge’s order at least temporarily thwarts part of Gov. Kathy M. Hochul’s effort to require vaccination for all health care workers.”
Philip Morris-backed group to launch world’s first plant-based Covid vaccine: “A unit of a Japanese company backed by Philip Morris International is planning to launch the world’s first plant-based Covid-19 vaccine that is potentially cheaper and easier to transport and store than conventional jabs. Toshifumi Tada, head of vaccine business development at Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, said its subsidiary Medicago would apply for Canadian approval for its vaccine candidate that is made from a plant from the tobacco family by the end of this year.”
Nanotechnology offers alternative ways to fight COVID-19 pandemic with antivirals: “Compared with traditional small molecules or antibodies that inhibit viral replication or cellular entry, nanotechnology offers drug developers virus binders, cell-membrane decoys or viral-envelope inhibitors that may complement conventional antiviral therapies.”
This article is a fascinating look into the subject of the headline.
Healthcare has lost half a million workers since 2020: “During the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. has seen healthcare workers leave their jobs, and the latest jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed another decline…
Overall, employment in healthcare is down by 524,000 since February 2020, with nursing and residential care facilities representing about four-fifths of the losses, the bureau said.
Reasons for the decline include workers quitting.
Since mid-February 2020, nearly 1 in 5 healthcare workers, or 18 percent, have quit their jobs, according to poll results from Morning Consult, a global privately held data intelligence company.”
About the public’s health
U.S. FDA gives marketing nod to an e-cigarette for the first time: “The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Tuesday allowed British American Tobacco Plc to market its Vuse Solo e-cigarettes and tobacco-flavored pods, making it the first-ever vapor product to get clearance from the health regulator.
The FDA said the approval came after analysis of data from the manufacturer that showed that using Vuse's tobacco-flavored products could help users reduce exposure to harmful chemicals emitted by combustible cigarettes.”
Phthalates and attributable mortality: A population-based longitudinal cohort study and cost analysis: “Phthalate exposures were associated with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality.
Further studies are needed to corroborate observations and identify mechanisms.
Extrapolating to 55–64 year olds, we identified >90,000 attributable deaths/year.
The results suggest $39.9–47.1 billion in lost economic productivity/year.”
According to the CDC: “Phthalates are a group of chemicals used to make plastics more durable. They are often called plasticizers. Some phthalates are used to help dissolve other materials. Phthalates are in hundreds of products, such as vinyl flooring, lubricating oils, and personal-care products (soaps, shampoos, hair sprays).”