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ADA appeals to Congress to expand HSA/FSA flexibility for 2019
Tammy Hinojos Oral & Dental HealthcareThe American Dental Association has a strong advocacy wing, whose primary role is to influence public policies affecting the practice of dentistry and the oral health of the American public. In a recent letter directed to the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health, the ADA asked Congress to increase the limits of health savings accounts (HSAs) and flexible spending accounts (FSAs) for the coming year. The hope is that consumers will be more likely to use their tax-advantaged savings toward dental services if their plans are less limited.
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Help your doctors and nurses work better together
Lisa Mulcahy Healthcare AdministrationA great hospital administrator is always looking for ways to improve patient care and satisfaction. One very important component toward achieving that goal is properly integrating the collaboration between doctors and nurses — but unfortunately, this key relationship is rarely optimized. How can you encourage your doctors and nurses to work in tandem more closely and effectively to help your patients achieve better outcomes? Try these research-proven strategies.
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Reducing the need for corticosteroids in treating severe asthma
Dorothy L. Tengler Medical & Allied HealthcareSevere asthma includes up to 20 percent of asthma patients who have frequent and severe symptoms despite aggressive therapy with anti-inflammatory and other controller medications. Current treatments for severe asthma often include high doses of corticosteroids, such as prednisone, to control exacerbations. Reducing the need for corticosteroids with alternative treatments is preferable because these medications are associated with serious side effects from prolonged use, including multi-organ toxicities and immunosuppression.
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Parts of Obamacare deemed unconstitutional by DOJ
Joan Spitrey Healthcare AdministrationEver since the 2010 Affordable Care Act went into effect, it has been entrenched in court battles. One controversial provision in the law was that if Americans chose not to get health insurance, they faced a potential penalty. In 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Congress' ability to fine those who did not get health insurance as it deemed the financial penalty basically a tax. However, on June 7, the Justice Department said that the requirement for people to have insurance — the individual mandate — was unconstitutional.
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Right-to-try: Cause for hope or just hype?
Jason Poquette PharmaceuticalA 2010 movie entitled "Extraordinary Measures" starred Harrison Ford and was based on the real-life story of the parents of two children with a rare, terminal disorder known as Pompe’s disease. It was a good movie and an amazing story. The kids got the medicine during the trial phase and it worked. I wonder if the supporters of "right-to-try" measures for new, experimental drugs expect that the newly signed legislation will produce many more stories like this. Maybe it will.
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How house calls can benefit patients — and your practice
Lisa Mulcahy Healthcare AdministrationIn today's modern healthcare environment, you may think that house calls have gone the way of the horse and buggy. Not so: research shows that in recent years, the number of house calls made to out-of-the-office Medicare patients has more than doubled. Interestingly, this same study notes that those house calls are made by a smaller number of physicians than in previous years — leading to plentiful care opportunities for doctors who do practice in the real world.
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HHS delays 340B program rule — again
Scott E. Rupp PharmaceuticalThe Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has pushed back a decision on the 340B Drug Pricing Program to July 2, 2019. If the proposed rule goes through, it would impose civil monetary penalties for drug manufacturers that knowingly and intentionally overcharge hospitals for outpatient drugs. According to the HHS' Health Resources & Services Administration, the 340B program enables covered entities to stretch scarce federal resources as far as possible, reaching more eligible patients and providing more comprehensive services.
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Wanted: Meaningful nurse retention strategies
Keith Carlson Healthcare AdministrationAt a time in history when nursing shortages and nurse attrition can be devastating, healthcare organizations must find ways to attract and retain the best nurse candidates. We all know that high-quality nursing care and engaged nurse employees are crucial for patient satisfaction. With reimbursement often tied to patient satisfaction, the need to retain an excellent nursing workforce cannot be overstated.
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Are antidepressants and bladder medications contributing to dementia?
Dorothy L. Tengler Medical & Allied HealthcareDementia is the leading cause of dependence and disability. The number of people living with dementia worldwide is currently estimated at 47 million and is projected to increase to 75 million by 2030 and triple by 2050. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia. Alzheimer's disease is thought to be caused by a combination of genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors that affect the brain over time. A new landmark study led by the University of East Anglia (UK) and funded by Alzheimer's Society, however, indicates that antidepressants and bladder medications may be linked to dementia.
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10 things businesses need to know in uncertain times
Dr. David Hillson Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementEveryone knows that "business hates uncertainty." Uncertainty poses a clear threat to business, but it also contains significant opportunity. Sources of uncertainty must be understood so that these threats and opportunities can be effectively managed, avoiding and minimizing unnecessary problems as well as capturing and maximizing benefits. In the current uncertain business climate, it has never been more important for businesses to assess and manage their risks. But how do we do that when we are surrounded by uncertainty?
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