Provider-to-Patient Telehealth Usage Up Nearly $1,400%
Private insurance claim lines for non-hospital based provider-to-patient telehealth spiked 1,393 percent from 2014-18, according to a recent Fair Health report.
Medicare Appeals Backlog Reduced 20%
HHS is making progress on reducing the backlog of Medicare appeals at the administrative law judge level, according to a recent status report.
Privacy Issues with Patient Portals
It can be difficult to effectively document sensitive health information of pediatric patients and older adults whose family members have access to their patient portals without violating the patient’s privacy, according to a viewpoint article in AAP News and Journals.
Telemedicine Services Expanding
New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu signed a new bill into law that aims to increase Medicaid patients’ access to telemedicine services, according to New Hampshire Public Radio.
Cancer Deaths Cost $94B in Lost Earnings
In 2015, cancer deaths cost the U.S. $94 billion in lost earnings, according to a study published in JAMA Oncology.
Opioid Overdose Associated With Opioid Prescriptions to Relatives
A new study provides more evidence that America’s ongoing opioid epidemic was fueled by doctors prescribing more painkillers than patients needed — leading to what’s now the deadliest drug overdose crisis in US history.
Opioids Caused 66% of Drug Deaths Worldwide in 2017
Two-thirds of drug deaths around the world were caused by opioids in 2017, and that proportion was even higher in the U.S., where overdose deaths reached a new high, according to a report from the United Nations.
Physician Burnout Linked to Electronic Health Records
Increasing amounts of in-basket messages generated by the EHR is correlated to higher levels of burnout symptoms among physicians, according to a study published in Health Affairs.
Poll: 81% of Americans Blame Payers for Surprise Medical Bills
More than eight and 10 Americans see insurers as the largest contributor to surprise medical bills, according to a recent poll.
Surprise-Billing Proposals Present Risks
Federal proposals to end surprise medical bills pose an increasing social risk for hospitals and healthcare staffing companies, particularly those that treat a large share of out-of-network patients, according to a newly issued report by Moody’s Investors Service.