Exclusive: More Than 70% of Americans Feel Failed by the Health Care System “More than 70% of U.S. adults feel the health care system is failing to meet their needs in at least one way, according to new data from the Harris Poll, shared exclusively with TIME.”
Affordability and “It takes too long to get an appointment” were major complaints. The graphics are very instructive.
About hospitals and healthcare systems
About pharma
Patterns of Manufacturer Coupon Use for Prescription Drugs in the US, 2017-2019 “In this cohort analysis of 35 352 individuals receiving pharmaceutical treatment for chronic diseases, nearly all of the first coupon use occurred with the first prescription fills. The frequency of manufacturer drug coupon use was associated with drugs operating in competitive environments but not with patient’s out-of-pocket costs or the characteristics of neighborhoods where the patients reside.”
Walgreens to pay San Francisco $230M for its role in opioid epidemic “Walgreens has agreed to pay $230 million to San Francisco for its role in the city’s opioid epidemic following last year’s landmark trial that found the pharmacy chain liable for not performing proper screenings.”
Drug Shortages Near an All-Time High, Leading to Rationing From The NY Times, a great review of the problems and its causes.
About the public’s health
U.S. Depression Rates Reach New Highs “Over one-third of women (36.7%) now report having been diagnosed with depression at some point in their lifetime, compared with 20.4% of men, and their rate has risen at nearly twice the rate of men since 2017. Those aged 18 to 29 (34.3%) and 30 to 44 (34.9%) have significantly greater depression diagnosis rates in their lifetime than those older than 44.
Women (23.8%) and adults aged 18 to 29 (24.6%) also have the highest rates of current depression or treatment for depression. These two groups (up 6.2 and 11.6 percentage points, respectively), as well as adults aged 30 to 44, have the fastest-rising rates compared with 2017 estimates.
Lifetime depression rates are also climbing fast among Black and Hispanic adults and have now surpassed those of White respondents.”
2023 County Health Rankings National Findings Report Interactive report that allows you to search for a wealth of health-related data about your county.
About healthcare IT
VA renegotiates $10B Oracle Cerner EHR contract with stronger performance metrics, bigger penalties After many years of false starts: “The Department of Veterans Affairs renegotiated its contract with Oracle Cerner to beef up accountability for tech glitches and patient safety issues with its beleaguered electronic health records project.
The renegotiated contract ‘dramatically increases’ VA’s ability to hold the technology company to account for the system’s performance, including reliability, responsiveness and interoperability, according to a statement from Dr. Neil Evans, the VA's acting program executive director for the Electronic Health Record Modernization project.”
About healthcare personnel
Concern grows around US health-care workforce shortage: ‘We don’t have enough doctors’ “As of Monday, in areas where a health workforce shortage has been identified, the United States needs more than 17,000 additional primary care practitioners, 12,000 dental health practitioners and 8,200 mental health practitioners, according to data from the Health Resources & Services Administration. Those numbers are based on data that HRSA receives from state offices and health departments.”
About health technology
Quick blood tests to spot cancer: will they help or harm patients? An excellent review of this topic from the Financial Times. Worthwhile if you can get a copy.