-
Study: Private hospital payment rates much higher than Medicare, Medicaid
Scott E. Rupp Healthcare AdministrationRising healthcare costs be damned; the industry and federal regulators continue to attempt to reign in outlandish prices. But, according to a new study published in the journal Health Affairs, hospital payment rates to private insurance have grown much faster than to Medicare and Medicaid. Researchers reviewed payments for inpatient hospital stays, emergency department visits, and outpatient care from 1996 to 2016, finding private charges rose as much as five times the rate of Medicare during that period.
-
New rules to aim to improve kidney disease care, increase number of organ…
Lynn Hetzler Healthcare AdministrationMore 113,000 Americans are on the waitlist for organs; about 20 die each day. The federal government recently proposed new rules to increase the availability of organs for those waiting for lifesaving organ transplants. The new rules focus on increasing use of organs donated after cardiac death (DCD) and on making it easier for the living to donate. The proposed rule change would also increase the number of kidney donations and revamp kidney care.
-
FDA approves first Ebola vaccine for use in the US
Lynn Hetzler PharmaceuticalIn December, the Food & Drug Administration announced its approval of the first Ebola vaccine for use in the United States. Made by Merck, Ervebo (pronounced er-VEE-boh) is for the prevention of disease caused by infection with Zaire ebolavirus in people 18 years of age and older. The single-dose, live-attenuated vaccine, Ervebo does not protect against other species of Ebolavirus or Marburgvirus. The duration of protection conferred is unknown, as is the effectiveness of the vaccine when administered concurrently with blood or plasma transfusions, immune globulin (IG), and/or antiviral medications.
-
Kidney Accelerated Placement Project aims to improve transfer of hard-to-place…
Lynn Hetzler Medical & Allied HealthcareThe Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) launched the Kidney Accelerated Placement Project (KAPP) last year. The goal of the project is to assess whether speeding up the placement of hard-to-place kidneys could increase utilization of these organs. OPTN developed this pilot testing program to improve placement of kidneys in response to the Executive Order on Advancing American Kidney Health and on feedback from the community. "Hard-to-place" kidneys have a kidney donor profile index (KDPI) of 80 or higher and are offered to all transplant programs at both the local and regional level.
-
When the healthcare C-suite embraces the digital age
Keith Carlson Healthcare AdministrationIn the healthcare ecosystem, digital technologies have been gaining prevalence, market share, and clinical applicability for years. In the 21st century, the ubiquity of these innovative advancements is increasing. On the leadership front, many health systems have been lagging behind in terms of bringing the digital age into the C-suite, but that calculus now seems to be irrevocably changing.
-
Report: Physician salaries continue to rise, per 2019 figures
Scott E. Rupp Medical & Allied HealthcareThe salaries of America's physicians continued to increase in 2019, according to a new report produced by LocumTenens.com. The most recent annual report shows that the average physician's salary continues trending higher year-over-year since 2015. Overall, the increase in pay since then has been 16.5%, per the report. The current figures are based on feedback from the August 2019 survey. Of those interviewed for the survey, respondents included physicians and advanced practitioners.
-
New drug testing rule targets applicants for unemployment benefits
Grace Ferguson Civil & GovernmentOn Oct. 4, 2019, the U.S. Department of Labor published a final rule giving states more freedom to expand the number of people who must pass drug tests in order to qualify for unemployment benefits. Those who fail the test would be disqualified from receiving unemployment assistance. Note that unemployment benefits are paid for by employer — and, in some states, employee — payroll taxes and are generally granted to employees who lose their job through no fault of their own. Before we explore the new rule, let's take a trip down memory lane.
-
Medical professionals weigh in on minors’ right to consent to immunizations
Sheilamary Koch Medical & Allied HealthcareAs outbreaks of preventable diseases, namely measles, have become relatively commonplace in recent years, some physicians are supporting laws that would give adolescents the right to choose to be vaccinated over parental objections before the age of 18. The issue of conflicting viewpoints on vaccines between parents and teens hit the national media in March when Ohio high school senior Ethan Lindenberger shared his experience of trying to get vaccinated despite his mother’s objections in his testimony before a Senate committee.
-
The pros and cons of wearable ECG technology
Lisa Mulcahy Medical & Allied HealthcareNew, wearable electrocardiogram (ECG) technology can be a tremendous boon to heart patients if it's utilized in a very precise and specific manner with the proper guidance. According to Harvard Medical School data, 160 million people will soon be using wearable technology like smartwatches to monitor their physical activity and health. Yet, as a doctor, it's important to prescribe and interpret use of these devices carefully. It has been estimated that 30% of wearable devices yield inaccurate results. Here are the right ways to incorporate wearable ECG technology into a treatment plan.
-
Study: Liver transplants linked to worse pregnancy outcomes
Chelsea Adams Medical & Allied HealthcarePregnant women who received liver transplants are at higher risk for pregnancy-related complications, according to data presented at the American College of Gastroenterology Meeting. "As more women of childbearing age undergo transplantation and subsequently experience pregnancy, issues regarding complications and the effect on outcomes will only become more relevant," said Dr. Lindsay A. Sobotka, a fellow at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. For the study, the Ohio State research team analyzed a large inpatient sample of data from pregnant women who received care between 2005 and 2013.
All Pharmaceutical Articles