What We're Reading: EHR Oversight; Medicaid Expansion and CRC; Arkansas Work Requirements

Gottlieb Calls for Stricter Oversight of Electronic Health Records

FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD, called for a more tailored approach for oversight of electronic health records (EHRs) in response to a report published this week that found the government has spent more than $36 billion over the past decade to switch doctors and hospitals over to digital records. During the same period, there were thousands of reported deaths, injuries, and near issues associated with EHRs, reported Kaiser Health News.

Medicaid Expansion Linked to Lower Colorectal Cancer Mortality

Medicaid expansion in Kentucky has led to a decreased risk of death from colorectal cancer, according to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. Looking at patients diagnosed with the disease between January 2011 and December 2016, researchers found that implementation of Medicaid expansion resulted in a significant increase in screening, diagnoses, and overall survival of colorectal cancer.

Most Beneficiaries Who Lost Coverage Under Work Requirements Not Employed

Contradicting claims that the majority of beneficiaries who lost coverage for failing to comply with Arkansas’ Medicaid work requirements found jobs, a review of state data has found that the large majority of the 18,000 who lost coverage are unemployed. According to an analysis from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 1981 beneficiaries have reported finding new work, meaning more than 16,000 have not found jobs.