Impact of Change Healthcare
I didn’t come close to understanding the impact of Change Healthcare. From KFF: Two months after a cyberattack on a UnitedHealth Group subsidiary halted payments to some doctors, medical providers say they’re still grappling with the fallout, even though UnitedHealth told shareholders on Tuesday that business is largely back to normal. “We are still desperately […]
Counterfeit Botox
I’m sorry. I never knew there was such a thing as counterfeit botox. From WaPo: Public health agencies are warning that counterfeit versions of Botox have been found in several states and are believed to be linked to at least 19 people reporting botulism-like illness after receiving the injections for cosmetic purposes. The Food and […]
Insurance Billing Problems Continue
In the 1970s, my father, a family practice physician, used to complain about insurance denials. It is now 50 years later and we are still complaining. From Revcycle Intelligence: It may take some time to get paid for medical services, suggests a new survey of hospitals, health systems and post-acute care providers. Nearly 15 percent of medical […]
Some Drugs Might Not Be in Medicare Negotiations
It seems to me that all drugs should be included in the Medicare price negotiations. From Reuters: Injectable versions of some widely-used cancer drugs including Johnson & Johnson’s (JNJ.N) blockbuster multiple myeloma treatment Darzalex are likely to be excluded from new U.S. government price negotiations for years, drugmakers told Reuters, protecting billions in revenue. Whether the government […]
ED Visits for firearm injuries dropped in 2022 compared to 2021 and 2020
This CDC study investigated weekly firearm injuries that presented to the Emergency Room. During the study period, compared with 2019, mean weekly ED visits for firearm injury were 37% higher in 2020, 36% higher in 2021, and 20% higher in 2022, with differences by sex-specific age group (Table). Among both females and males, mean weekly […]
CT contrast shortage
Man, we are in trouble. Everyday there is a new shortage in the hospital. From ACS: The ACS is monitoring the recent shortage of intravenous contrast media reported by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is encouraging collaboration with the American College of Radiology (ACR) to develop solutions to the problem. The FDA has […]
Medical Student wins $10k on Moraxella research
I thought that this was pretty cool. Research on Moraxella catarrhalis—an upper respiratory bacterium that exacerbates chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)—earned the top prize during the 2021 AMA Research Challenge. The research, lauded by judges for its longitudinal value and for being particularly worthwhile given COVID-19 respiratory complications, was conducted by Marielisa Cabrera-Sánchez and earned a $10,000 grand […]
Hospital Infections Increase
From Cambridge Press: In a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) ward in 2020, preventing a catheter-associated urinary tract infection was probably not always the foremost consideration for healthcare staff. Nurses and doctors were trying to save the lives of surges of critically ill infectious patients while juggling shortages of respirators and, at times, shortages of gowns, […]
WV Covid19 Map 4-13-2020
All of the information in this post comes from the WV Department of Health and Human Resources.Covid19 infections (positive tests): 633 Deaths: 9 County State Infections Barbour West Virginia 4 Berkeley West Virginia 98 Boone West Virginia 1 Braxton West Virginia 1 Brooke West Virginia 3 Cabell West Virginia 24 Fayette West Virginia 2 Grant […]
Deaths associated with Vaping (Updated)
This is a problem. Looking vaping was never a good idea. Unclear why the government hasn’t been all over this. This is CLEARLY a health hazard. Health officials, lawmakers and parents have been raising alarms about vaping for a couple of years, warning that products touted as healthier alternatives for smokers are instead drawing in […]