The new startup Opkit, formed by two former Brex software engineers, has launched a new platform to simplify the process of insurance verification for telehealth services. Currently, the process is slowed down by the need to accept insurance from across state line and the mish-mash of different […]
Oncologists Skeptical of Enhancing Oncology Model
Despite being largely onboard with value-based care models, oncologists speaking at the Association of Community Cancer Centers (ACCC) 2023 meeting were skeptical of the upcoming Enhancing Oncology Model (EOM) developed by the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The EOM replaces the […]
Biden, the GOP, and the Future of Medicare
As the US Congress deliberates over the Biden administration’s recently released budget proposal, uncertainty looms over the future of Medicare funding. President Biden and most Republicans have pledged not to cut funding from the program, but some outliers within the GOP are pushing for cuts. These […]
Proposed US DEA Rules Necessitate In-Person Visits For Certain Drugs Prescribed Via Telehealth
New rules proposed by the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) will require patients to have in-person visits when prescribing certain controlled drugs to patients who primarily receive care via telehealth. While many controlled drugs are targeted, the rules are an expansion to access for buprenorphine […]
Vertical Integration Has Negative Impacts on Patient Outcomes
Although many health systems are moving toward vertical integration by acquiring private practices, the strategy may be hurting the bottom line and patients. A newly published study examined how vertical integration impacts patients undergoing colonoscopies and their subsequent healthcare costs […]
Children with Asthma Don’t Get Enough GP Visits
A set of studies published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood and the Journal of Asthma found that patients with childhood asthma benefit from regular general practitioner (GP) visits but unfortunately do not get enough of them. Only 20% saw their GP for a majority of their visits, with less […]
US Nursing Homes are Facing a Profitability Crisis
The American Healthcare Association (AHCA) has announced that over half of nursing homes in the US are unprofitable, leaving the future of long-term care in question. The report found that key contributors include increasing prices for drugs and medical supplies, Medicaid payments that are lower […]
In Search of a Better Specialty Pharmacy Experience for People with Chronic Illness
People living with chronic illness often have to jump through hoops to get the specialty medicines they need, with many expected to justify their prescriptions to payers and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) on a monthly basis. A new Med City News article covers how medically integrated dispensing […]
Six Steps to Target Social Determinants of Health and Advance Health Equity
Social determinants of health (SDoH) like socioeconomic status, race, transportation, geographic location, and educational status all factor into health outcomes but are often not addressed in care settings. In a new Medical Economics article, learn 6 ways that providers can address SDoH and promote […]
NAHC President Tells Home Care Providers to Keep an Eye on Medicare Advantage
At a webinar this week, the president of the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) Bill Dombi said that Medicare Advantage plans are on the rise and that home care providers should pay attention. Dombi noted that there is a huge marketing force driving the boom, with big celebrity […]
