Substituting lower-wage staff for registered nurses tied to worse outcomes
Jun 25, 2024
Harms include avoidable patient deaths, readmissions, longer lengths of stay, excess Medicare costs and forgone cost savings.
New federal rule means hospitals need written consent for pelvic, prostate exams
Apr 01, 2024
The HHS also issued a new set of guidelines clarifying a longstanding requirement that hospitals must obtain written informed consent as a condition for being reimbursed by Medicare and Medicaid.
Major drug companies agree to price negotiations with US government
Oct 03, 2023
Ten drugs have been chosen for price negotiations by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Racial and ethnic disparities seen in use of hospice
Dec 18, 2023
Older age was associated with lower odds of short length of stay in those dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid.
2011 to 2020 saw increase in annual prescription meds expenditures
Apr 15, 2024
Metabolic agents were the most costly category; antidiabetic agents were the mostly costly therapeutic area.
Medicare to cover Wegovy when patients also have heart disease
Mar 22, 2024
Medicare will now cover the popular weight-loss drug Wegovy if patients using it also have heart disease, US officials announced Thursday.
Heart, diabetes, cancer drugs on list for Medicare price negotiations, White House says
Aug 29, 2023
Enrollees in the Medicare prescription drug program paid a total of $3.4 billion in out-of-pocket costs in 2022 for the 10 initial drugs chosen for price negotiations.
Biogen is dropping controversial Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm
Jan 31, 2024
Biogen said it will shift its focus to a newer Alzheimer’s drug, Leqembi, which it markets in a partnership with Japan-based Eisai. Leqembi received FDA approval last year.
Billion-dollar weather disasters linked to excess ED visits, mortality
Mar 07, 2024
Greater increases in emergency department and mortality rates were seen for US counties with the greatest loss and damage.
Million hearts model cuts five-year heart attack, stroke risk in at-risk patients
Oct 18, 2023
Improved outcomes were seen, with no significant changes in Medicare spending.