SPOTLIGHT -
Mental health advocates seek changes to proposed telehealth rule on prescribing controlled medications
Rule would limit providers’ ability to write prescriptions without in-person visit
Residents’ clinical rotation has little effect on length of patient hospital stays
Staggering changeover days of resident and attending physicians also found to have minimal impact on patient outcomes
Doctors: We want lighter workloads, greater autonomy
Many physicians say they're willing to take pay cuts to achieve these goals
Fed hikes interest rates by a quarter percent
Decision comes as central bank weighs fallout of recent bank rescues
New medical dictation software promises speedy production of clinical notes
DAX Express is first to incorporate OpenAI’s GPT-4 capabilities
Longer patient visits needed for better quality of care
Study links visit length to whether doctors make appropriate prescribing decisions
Prior authorizations harm patients and are costly to practices, doctors say
AMA president calls process “byzantine” and “ripe for reform”
Most doctors plan to continue using telemedicine after pandemic ends
But in-person visits remain preferred form of care delivery, study finds
How scientific denialism undermines public health
Scott Rivkees, M.D., former head of the Florida Department of Public Health, describes how distrust of scientific expertise is undercutting state and local laws designed to improve public health.
Americans favor prior authorization reform
Close to half oppose insurance companies requiring them at all, poll finds
Who’s using remote patient monitoring, and why?
Internists have largest share of RPM claims; family doctors are third.
Most primary care telehealth visits don’t need in-person follow-ups
Visits with internists least likely to require in-person follow-ups, pediatric visits most likely
How can alcoholism treatment be better integrated into primary care?
Results from an experimental program show improvements in screening for and treating alcohol use disorder
Americans have doubts about AI’s ability to improve health outcomes
Majorities also worry about speed of technology’s adoption and impact on doctor-patient relationship
Care management processes for chronic diseases have held up well during pandemic
Study of Minnesota primary care clinics finds many were able to add services
Number of data breaches continues to rise
Report to Congress finds 39% increase from 2017-2021, though numbers fell in last year covered by report
CMS to test new payment models for lowering prescription drug prices
Capping out-of pocket costs for some generic drugs, increasing access to specialty drugs are among models’ goals
Physicians groups to Congress: Do more to help with payment reform
Letter calls for actions that would make it easier for doctors to participate and stay in alternative payment models
A 100-year-old doctor looks back
World’s oldest practicing physician reflects on the changes he’s witnessed over the course of his long career.
Can use of race in medical decision-making widen outcome disparities?
Study finds link between race-based practice, belief that racial differences in health stem from genetics or culture
Primary care doctors are growing source of mental health counseling
Study shows need for more mental health resources in primary care settings
Burnout, frustration levels continue to grow among physicians
Doctors cite more support staff, reduced patient panels among solutions
Health care consolidation not producing expected benefits
Hospital systems see far higher costs, modestly better quality than independents
Expanded telehealth services probably won’t lower health care costs: study
Benefit may lie instead in expanding access to health care services
Physician peer relationships may hold key to improved care quality
Patients get better care from specialists who trained with referring PCP, study finds
Health care providers face mounting danger from ransomware attacks
Care delivery, patient health information put at risk from growth in cybercrime
ACA plan enrollments reach new high
Uninsured rate drops to historic low of 8%
US has more doctors than 20 years ago, but their average workweek is shorter
Study points to need for training more doctors and APPs to keep up with demand for medical services
Health care spending reached new high in 2021, but growth rate slowed
Federal spending was down following 2020’s pandemic-related spike, while other categories saw increases
Three million lives saved in U.S. by COVID vaccines: study
Vaccination program has also prevented more than 18 million hospitalizations, saved $1 trillion in medical costs
