In many hospitals and clinics around the country, oncologists and surgeons simply tell cancer patients what treatments they should have, or at least give them strong recommendations. But here, under a formal process called "shared decision-making," doctors and patients are working together to make choices about care. It might seem like common sense: Each patient has different priorities and preferences; what's right for one patient may be wrong for another. Of course patients should weigh in. But many aren't accustomed to speaking up. Even the most engaged or educated patients may defer to their doctors because they are scared, they don't want to be seen as difficult, or they think the doctor knows best.
House Democrats say they are open to supporting an emerging Medicare deal despite concerns about provisions that would make some beneficiaries pay more. Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has been in negotiations with Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) over a permanent stop to automatic spending cuts for doctors under Medicare known as the Sustainable Growth Rate. There had been concerns brewing among some Democrats about ways to pay for the deal, including making wealthier Medicare beneficiaries pay more and introducing a deductible for some supplemental Medigap plans. Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), co-chairman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said on Tuesday that he would oppose the deal as it then stood, citing the changes for beneficiaries. The AARP also opposed the deal in a letter to lawmakers on Tuesday.
As more former hippies need hip replacements, health insurers from Humana Inc. to WellCare Health Plans Inc. are turning into hot targets. Humana and WellCare, both providers of Medicare coverage, are generating record revenue as aging U.S. baby boomers drive an increase in enrollment in the government-sponsored program for the elderly. Insurers are also benefiting from expanded Medicaid coverage for the poor under Obamacare. Larger insurers such as Aetna Inc. and Anthem Inc. would like to continue expanding beyond coverage that's paid for by employers, and could be interested buyers.
Sharply higher health insurance deductibles for patients are creating a new collections headache for community hospitals, which are already battered by shrinking reimbursement from insurers. High-deducible health insurance plans have become increasingly popular in recent years as employers seek relief from spiraling insurance costs, shifting a bigger share of the financial burden to employees. But even many popular, low-premium plans sold through the government online marketplace come with required out-of-pocket deductibles that can exceed $10,000. "It's the hidden devil," said Washington Hospital CFO Lisa Rucker. "It's coming back to haunt us."
Dr. Jeremy Greene sees a lot of patients with diabetes that's out of control. "Every week I see patients with glucose levels so high that you can't even record the number on the glucometer," he says. Greene, a professor of medicine and history of medicine at Johns Hopkins University, started asking patients at his clinic in Baltimore why they had so much trouble keeping their blood sugar stable. He was shocked by their answer: the high cost of insulin. Greene decided to call some local pharmacies, to ask about low-cost options. He was told no such options existed.
Technology developers have today been urged to step up security measures when developing healthcare IoT smart appliances, in order to fully realize the benefits from the industry. The report, published today by Intel Security and the Atlantic Council, said that security needs to be a priority right from the start to ensure patients' safety. 'The Healthcare Internet of Things: Rewards and Risks' report revealed that the decline in the need for hospital equipment, resulting from IoT, could prompt savings of £42 billion in healthcare costs over the next 15 years. As devices become ever more intelligent and start taking care of their owners, other risks will arise. The theft of personal information, intentional tampering with devices to cause harm