SPOTLIGHT -
Todd Shryock is managing editor of Medical Economics.
Health care costs increasing physical and mental problems for patients
Study finds mounting costs and confusing billing statements are taking a toll on Americans' health
Nonprofit hospitals pocketing the cash rather than providing more charity care
Profits and cash reserves increased, but charity care stagnant
Digital Pulse: AI can improve predictions for invasive breast cancer; A chatbot is helping patients with their cancer care; Google takes over your Fitbit
The latest health care technology news
Your password habits depend on what generation you are in
Understanding the generational differences in password habits can help secure your practice
IT pros overconfident about their ability to detect and remediate malware attacks
Health care continues to be a top target for hackers, and IT professionals may overestimate their abilities to prevent attacks from happening.
Hospital finances break even in April
High expenses continue to hurt overall results
HIMSS23 roundup
Talk of AI dominated the health conference, but there were plenty of other featured technology innovations and strategies
Amazon’s Vin Gupta talks about the retail giant's entry into health care
The chief medical officer for Amazon Pharmacy talks about consolidation, burnout, and what Amazon’s entry into health care means for doctors.
Report: Physician compensation not keeping up with inflation
Even a doubling of median total compensation was not enough to keep up with record inflation rates
Denials management, coding, prior auths require the most expertise in RCM
Navigating payer denials requires the most expertise to handle within revenue cycle management
Prescription nasal spray that reverses opioid overdose receives FDA approval
Nasal spray provides additional tool for harm reduction groups and first responders
Voice assistant integrated into Epic EHR
AI-powered technology can automatically generate notes that are integrated into the patient’s record
Retail clinic claims volume up 200% from 2017-2022
Primary care physician claims down 13% in that same timeframe
Health employers investing in well-being despite economic pressures
Survey shows majority of employers maintaining or adding to existing programs for employees
What patients and doctors really think about AI in health care
Survey shows that the technology is only going to get more pervasive – and accepted – as time goes on
Stress-management interventions may actually work
Interventions aimed at reducing work-related stress for healthcare workers showed some improvement in how people coped with stress up to a year later
CDC director leaving the agency
Dr. Rochelle Walensky is stepping down at the end of June
Hospital finances improved slightly in March
Despite increased provider productivity and revenues, inflation continues to burden hospitals and health systems
Private Medicare plans now cover more than half of all Medicare patients
More than 30 million Americans are now covered via private plans
Fed hikes interest rates .25%
Economists wonder whether future hikes this year will be necessary
Negotiating payer contracts
Take control of your payer contracts and get the money you deserve.
Lack of transportation often leads to skipped medical care
Study shows that one-fifth of adults with no transportation skipped medical care last year
Male doctors earn $110,000 on average more than female doctors
Gender pay gap down slightly, but much work remains to be done
HIMSS23: Are pharmacists the solution to primary care’s problems?
Boosting the relationship between primary care physicians and pharmacists could help alleviate burnout while providing basic services to those who lack access.
HIMSS23: Equity in tech and innovation
The AMA overviews the fight for equity and the dangers of exclusion
HIMSS23: Are they patients or customers?
The patient experience is different than the customer experience
HIMSS23: AI in action
How AI is helping measure and manage health disparities
HIMSS23: Creating an engaged workforce
How to keep employees from leaving your practice
HIMSS23: The future of price transparency
What do the price transparency rules mean to physicians and will they really lower prices?
HIMSS23: Digital peer review
How streamlining the peer review process can make physicians’ lives easier
