Business

Telemarketer Access to Medicare Information to Be Investigated

An investigation into how telemarketers may be obtaining seniors’ personal Medicare information will be launched by the US Health and Human Services inspector general office.

Compliance With FDA Reporting Guidelines for Clinical Trials Is Low, Not Improving

Cohort study data from 2018 to 2019 suggest poor compliance with the US Food and Drug Administration reporting requirements for clinical trial sponsors.

Economic Burden of Kidney Transplant Graft Failure Quantified

Kidney transplant graft failure is associated with additional medical costs of $78,079 for the average patient and a loss of 1.66 quality-adjusted life years (QALYs).

FDA Announces Launch of Interactive, Mobile-Friendly Database for PEPFAR Antiretrovirals

The US FDA has issued a statement to announce the launch of an interactive database that provides information on the ART currently available for purchase under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.

Burnout in Osteopathic Medical Students Associated With Stress, Sleep Quality, Smartphone Use

In a cohort of osteopathic medical students in the Midwestern United States, burnout was predicted by high stress, poor sleep quality, and excessive smartphone use.

Gender Gap Persists in Starting Salary for Physicians

The gender gap in starting salary for physicians persists, although it is unclear which factors account for this gap, according to a report published in Health Affairs.

How Does Diabetes Prevalence in the United States Vary by Race and Ethnicity?

Researchers found that there is significant variance in diabetes prevalence among racial/ethnic groups and subgroups in the US, according to results published in JAMA.

Decline Seen in Rates of Children Going to Primary Care Clinicians

From 2008 to 2016, several factors affected the decrease in primary care visits among children with commercial insurance.

Health Care Utilization Up for Seniors With Untreated Apnea

lder adult Medicare beneficiaries with untreated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have increased health care utilization (HCU) and costs.

Who Wins in Salary-Only Physician Compensation Plans?

A new study demonstrates the efficacy of a structured physician compensation model in achieving equitable pay for all employees, although the underrepresentation of women in leadership positions and the higher-paying specialties warrants further investigation.

Less Than a Quarter of Medicare Patients Participate in Cardiac Rehab

About one in four cardiac rehabilitation (CR)-eligible Medicare beneficiaries participates in CR, according to a study published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

Most Eligible Knees Not Being Replaced in Timely Manner

Many patients who are eligible for total knee replacement do not have the procedure within two years.

Evolution of Approval, Regulation Processes for Drugs Explored

The US approval and regulation processes for pharmaceutical agents have evolved during the last four decades, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Hospital Mergers, Acquisitions Associated With Modest Decline in Patient Care Quality

Hospital mergers and acquisitions may precipitate a modest decline in patient care quality; however, no differential changes in readmission or mortality rates were observed in acquired institutions compared with control hospitals,

CDC: Romaine Lettuce E. Coli Outbreak Over

It is safe again to buy and eat romaine lettuce grown on farms around Salinas, California, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

Are Postoperative Opioids in Opioid-Naïve Patients Necessary?

Consensus-based guidelines suggest that most acute pain after dermatologic procedures and interventions can be managed by non-opioid analgesics.

Clinical Guidelines Developed for Managing Nosebleeds

In a clinical practice guideline from the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation, published in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, recommendations are presented for the management of nosebleeds.

Patient Refusal of Observation Following Naloxone Resuscitation: An Ethical, Clinical Dilemma

Following resuscitation with naloxone, clinicians commonly recommend an observation period to monitor for rebound apnea and other symptoms. Patient refusal of this recommendation is common, although rarely discussed in the literature.

Patients With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease May Benefit From Daily Aspirin Use

In this prospective study of patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD, daily aspirin use was associated with less severe histologic features of NAFLD and NASH, and with lower risk for progression to advanced fibrosis.

Public Support of Data Sharing Limited by Privacy, Confidentiality Concerns

Results from a narrative review published in the Journal of Medical Ethics suggest broad yet conditional support for data sharing among patients and the general public, with many studies citing concerns about confidentiality, privacy, data security, risk management, and accountability.