The reintroduction of the “Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act” marks a critical step toward modernizing the prior authorization process within Medicare Advantage plans. So, what does this mean for patients and providers moving forward? The post Navigating the Government’s Medicare Advantage Prior Authorization Changes appeared first on MedCity News.
By MIKE MAGEE For those many, many millions of viewers who tuned in to the live coverage of former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral this week, they were rewarded with two hours of intriguing video images, and moving words and song, including a recounting of the beginnings of environmental advocacy as Los Angeles burns, and John…
In March, newly installed Social Security chief Martin O’Malley criticized agency “injustices” that “shock our shared sense of equity and good conscience as Americans.” He promised to overhaul the Social Security Administration’s often heavy-handed efforts to claw back money that millions of recipients — including people who are living in poverty, are elderly, or have…
When Alyne Diamond fell off a horse in August 2023 and broke her back, her employer-based health plan through UnitedHealthcare covered her emergency care in Aspen, Colorado. It also covered related pain management and physical therapy after she returned home to New York City. The bills totaled more than $100,000. The real estate lawyer, now…
In the fall of 2023, Microsoft demoed an AI tool at an industry conference designed to provide insights into a person’s medical record integrated within the EHR. But that’s the last I heard of it. Now OpenAI is seeking to fulfill the demand for personalized health information with ChatGPT Health. The post ChatGPT Health: Is…
Hospitals around the country are conserving critical intravenous fluid supplies to cope with a shortage that may last months. Some hospital administrators say they are changing how they think about IV fluid hydration altogether. Hurricane Helene, which hit North Carolina in September, wrecked a Baxter International facility that produces 60% of the IV fluids used…
Sentara Health invested $11 million into smartphones for its nurses, equipping them with HIPAA-compliant devices to streamline communication, increase time at the bedside and improve patient outcomes. The program has been going on for a little more than a year — and Amy Rosa, the health system’s chief nursing informatics officer, says the initiative is…
Virtual-first partner company Ovatient was formed through a partnership between MetroHealth and South Carolina-based MUSC Health in October 2022
By MIKE MAGEE Question: What is the world’s most widely used psychoactive drug? Answer: Caffeine In the U.S., caffeine is consumed mainly in the form of coffee, tea, and cola. But coffee dominates. Worldwide, humans consume over 10 million tons of coffee beans a year. Roughly 16% (1.62 million tons) is devoured by Americans. The…
We owe it to those who dedicate their lives to caring for others to ensure that they, too, have access to help when they need it most. The post The Case for Stronger Clinician Mental Health Support appeared first on MedCity News.