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New report shows reimbursement increases for brand-name drugs in Medicare…

Scott E. Rupp Pharmaceutical

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has released a much-publicized report that shows that from 2011 to 2015, total reimbursement for brand-name drugs in Medicare Part D increased 77 percent even though there was an actually decrease in utilization for these drugs. Per the report, overall, Part D paid $382 billion for all brand-name drugs for the period mentioned. The total number of prescriptions for brand-name drugs decreased 17 percent, from 229 million in 2011 to 191 million in 2015.

The screen problem for children with anxiety

Terry Lynam Mental Healthcare

While depictions of violence affect many children differently, those with an anxiety disorder are more likely to experience a negative impact. "Children who have a preexisting anxiety disorder are at greater risk for reacting more viscerally to violent or frightening images or stories," said Dr. Victor Fornari, director of child and adolescent psychiatry at Zucker Hillside Hospital in Queens, New York City.

New study looks at transplants from drug overdose donors

Lynn Hetzler Medical & Allied Healthcare

Demand for donor organs for transplant is high. Someone is added to the national transplant waitlist every 10 minutes, according to UNOS, and an estimated 20 people die every day waiting for a transplant. Deceased donors save thousands of lives each year, as four out of five donated organs come from deceased donors. Now, an increasing number of organs are coming from donors who died from drug overdoses.

Take the stress out of testing for your patients

Lisa Mulcahy Medical & Allied Healthcare

For most patients, medical tests are obviously necessary protocol — but they're not a lot of fun, for a number of reasons. Testing can cause much more emotional distress to patients than many doctors suspect, in fact. A study from the University of Illinois at Chicago found that many people reported serious symptoms of anticipatory anxiety in a situation like waiting for test results, such as worrying for an entire day. The positive news: you as a physician can do a lot to take the stress out of the testing process.

Volunteers sought for August dental mission in Grenada

Tammy Hinojos Oral & Dental Healthcare

Have a heart to serve? Love traveling? Looking for ways to use your skills to help others? Great opportunity awaits. Great Shape!, a California-based nonprofit organization is launching its inaugural project in Grenada this August and is looking for volunteers for oral health care and education in the underserved Caribbean nation. Great Shape! has primarily been active in Jamaica but expanded its 1000 Smiles project to St. Lucia in 2015.

Labor Dept. rules expand AHPs, in further blow to Obamacare

Seth Sandronsky Healthcare Administration

The Trump administration’s Department of Labor on June 19 issued a final rule that lets groups of small businesses offer Association Health Plans (AHPs), which are health insurance plans that sidestep some provisions of the 2010 Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. "Every American should be able to get comprehensive health care coverage they can afford, and we support the goal of increasing competition and choice in ways that improve affordability," said Kristine Grow, senior vice president of communications for America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), a national trade association, in a statement.

Research finds e-cigarette flavorings are harmful to vascular system

Dr. Denise A. Valenti Medical & Allied Healthcare

There is ever-increasing evidence that the harm from electronic cigarettes far exceeds the benefits of their use as an aid to stop smoking nicotine cigarettes. The latest adverse health effects reported are to the delicate tissues of the vascular system from the use of flavorings in e-cigarettes. The new study looked at how nine different flavors impacted vascular endothelial cell function.

Negotiating commercial leases: Buying a business?

Dale Willerton and Jeff Grandfield Retail

For many commercial tenants, negotiating a good lease or lease renewal against an experienced agent or landlord can be a challenge. While an entrepreneur focuses on marketing and managing, savvy real estate agents and brokers are specialized salespeople. Their job is to sell tenants on leasing their location at the highest possible rental rate. Whether you are leasing a new location for the first time or negotiating a lease renewal for your business, here are two money-saving tips.

Negative pressure wound therapy for lower leg fractures might be ineffective

Lynn Hetzler Medical & Allied Healthcare

Compared with standard dressings, negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) does not improve 12-month outcomes in patients with open leg fractures, according to a new study published in JAMA. Since they break the skin, open fractures have a higher risk of healing-related complications. Infection rates can be as high as 27 percent in severe open leg fractures, for example. NPWT is a new type of postoperative dressing that creates a vacuum, removing the blood and fluid accumulating inside a wound.

Research shows that physicians could be better served by EHRs

Scott E. Rupp Healthcare Administration

Sixty-three percent of physicians say electronic health records (EHRs) have led to improved patient care, and 66 percent are at least somewhat satisfied with their current systems. However, a large portion see room for improvement, translating to 59 percent who think EHRs need a complete overhaul; 40 percent who think there are more challenges with EHRs than benefits; and only 18 percent saying they are "very satisfied" with their current systems, a new report by Stanford Medicine points out.

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