— Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) are releasing a bipartisan plan to stop hospitals from getting more payments from Medicare for the same services delivered at the doctor’s office, POLITICO has learned. Robert reports that the two senators will release a legislative framework Friday detailing a plan to impose site-neutral payments for hospitals’ outpatient departments. The goal is to generate savings...
Category: <span>News</span>
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Bird flu was found in a pig for the first time. This is not good
NIAID H5N1 bird flu virus has been found in a pig on a farm in Oregon, USDA reported yesterday. The pig did not display signs of illness. There were five pigs on the farm, all of which have been euthanized to allow for testing. A second pig may also have been infected, Oregon authorities later...
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Lukewarm outlook for hypertension technology
Digital health evaluation nonprofit the Peterson Health Technology Institute takes aim at the burgeoning market for hypertension treatment and management in its latest report, and it isn’t all good news for the companies hawking digital blood pressure cuffs, remotely observing levels, managing patients’ medication regimens, and using technology to nudge patients to change their habits such as diet or...
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Researchers say an AI-powered transcription tool used in hospitals invents things no one ever said
1 of 6 | Assistant professor of information science Allison Koenecke, an author of a recent study that found hallucinations in a speech-to-text transcription tool, works in her office at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., Friday, Feb. 2, 2024. The text preceded by “#Ground truth” shows what was actually said while the sentences preceded by “”text””...
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Your next drug could come with an app
By Tina Reed Illustration: Gabriella Turrisi/Axios Federal regulators are confronting a new twist in drug development: manufacturers that include software with the medicine to prod patients to take pills as directed, manage side effects or track how well a treatment works.Why it matters: The apps could boost the drugs’ clinical value and provide a more personalized...
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How politics is redefining anxiety
By Maya Goldman Illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios The 2024 election cycle may be remembered for redefining anxiety and drawing attention to the unique way politics stresses Americans out.Why it matters: Pitched partisanship, razor-thin margins, political violence and a barrage of ads have measurable health effects, including high levels of stress-related hormone in the body that can lead...
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PBM model is a ‘dead man walking.’ What comes next?
PBMs have been scrutinized for their role in rising drug costs. Executives say the model is on its way out. Gerenme via Getty Images LAS VEGAS — Executives from healthcare organizations as varied as Amazon’s online pharmacy, retailer Walgreens, insurer Blue Shield of California and drugmaker lobby PhRMA called for an end to the pharmacy benefit manager...
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Amazon One Medical injected artificial intelligence tools into its clinics this week — aimed primarily at its doctors.
The tech aims to assist Amazon’s providers by writing notes from patient visits, summarizing medical histories, drafting messages to patients and helping coordinate care. That’s supposed to reduce administrative tasks by 40 percent, according to the rollout announcement.The company’s move suggests it believes the most immediate benefits of AI in health care will be for its...
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Early research on a new concussion sign to look out for
You probably know some of the classic concussion signs to watch for: Did the person lose consciousness? Appear dazed or confused? Have a change in mood? Research published this morning (like just now at 6 am ET) in Diagnostics has identified a new potential signal: “the spontaneous headshake after a kinematic event,” or SHAAKE. You’ve seen people...
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Humana sues HHS over calamitous Medicare Advantage star ratings decrease
It’s the latest in a string of lawsuits from health insurers scrambling to protect their prized quality scores and the money those ratings represent. Senate report slams Medicare Advantage insurers for using predictive technology to deny claims UnitedHealth, CVS and Humana used technology to increase MA prior authorization denials for post-acute services, boosting profits, according to a...