What We're Reading: HHS OIG Cites MA Plans; Shifts in Place of Death; FDA Warns Drugmaker
December 12th 2019The HHS’ Office of the Inspector General (OIG) released a report that says Medicare Advantage (MA) plans received an estimated $6.7 billion in 2017 after adding diagnoses to patients' files that were not supported by their medical records; more Americans are dying at home rather than in hospitals or nursing homes; the FDA warned Alkermes, maker of Vivitrol, a long-acting antiaddiction medication, that its printed advertisement does not include the risk of an increased chance of a “potentially fatal” opioid overdose as the effects wear off.
What We're Reading: Sanofi Ends Diabetes Work; Surprise Medical Billing; ACA Payments at High Court
December 10th 2019Sanofi is ending research efforts in diabetes and cardiovascular diseases; the White House endorsed an emerging bipartisan agreement on legislation aimed at curbing rising healthcare costs by targeting surprise medical billing; the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in a case involving whether the federal government owes insurers $12 billion in a dispute about risk corridor payments.
What We're Reading: High-Tech Drug Testing; Massachusetts' Strict Vaping Ban; CGM Data Unavailable
December 2nd 2019A high-tech drug testing machine is being utilized to detect fentanyl in illicit drugs; the Massachusetts governor enacts a stingent vaping flavor ban; data on blood-sugar levels for patients with diabetes using Dexcom's continuous glucose monitor (CGM) has been unavailable since Saturday.
What We're Reading: California Power Outages; Hepatitis A Outbreak; Opioid Crisis Subpoenas
November 27th 2019Hospitals in California are facing critical decisions on patient care; the FDA and CDC are investigating a multistate hepatitis A outbreak; 6 pharmaceutical giants are being investigated for their potential roles in the opioid crisis.
Proper Diagnosis for Sleep Disorders Needed When Linked to Neurology, Psychiatry
November 19th 2019A recent review examined sleep-related disorders linked to neurology and psychiatry, noting that the disorders degrade quality of life and functional ability, and recommended that when taking a patient history, specific questions are needed to probe the exact symptoms so as to enable strategic treatments.