Economics

This channel highlights factors that impact hospital and healthcare economics and revenue. This includes news on healthcare policies, reimbursement, marketing, business plans, mergers and acquisitions, supply chain, salaries, staffing, and the implementation of a cost-effective environment for patients and providers.

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Cardinal Health nearing $6 billion purchase of Medtronic’s medical supplies unit

Cardinal Health is in exclusive talks to acquire the medical supplies business of Medtronic for $6 billion, sources told Reuters on April 5. 

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21% of patients received different final diagnoses after second opinion

A study conducted by James Naessens, ScD, a healthcare policy researcher at Mayo Clinic, published in the Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice, showed how a second opinion can affect the final diagnoses of a patient’s condition. 

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Artificial pancreas improves insulin control in children with diabetes

Researchers from the University of Virginia (UVA) have developed an artificial pancreas capable of delivering automated insulin to pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes. The study, presented at the Endocrine Society's 99th annual meeting, reports the artificial pancreas is significantly more effective in diabetes management than current methods.

Behavior assessment tool measures pain in nonverbal ICU patients

Measuring pain levels in critically ill patients, especially in those who cannot communicate verbally, is crucial in administering care. A study published in PAIN introduces a new behavior pain assessment tool (BPAT) capable of evaluating pain levels through nonverbal cues.

Spinal stimulation helps paralyzed man stand, make step-like movements

The pairing of electrical stimulation of the spinal cord and extensive physical therapy has given a man with paralyzed legs the ability to stand and make step-like movements.

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Hospital chargemaster rates linked to higher payments, but not higher quality care

The list prices for hospital procedures and tests aren’t “inconsequential,” according to economists, and can be associated with higher payments from insurers and patients. 

Iowa's top insurer Wellmark exiting individual market

Wellmark, the top health insurer in Iowa, will no longer sell plans on the individual market after this year, leaving some parts of the state in danger of having no insurer on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) exchanges for 2018.

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Medicare Advantage plans get better than expected rate hike for 2018

Payments to insurers offering Medicare Advantage plans will increase by an average of 0.45 percent, according to the final rate notice issued by CMS, above the 0.25 percent bump in pay the agency had previously proposed.

Around the web

Updated compensation data includes good news for multiple subspecialties. The new report also examines private equity's impact on employment models and how much male cardiologists earn compared to females.

When drugs are on the FDA’s shortage list, outsourcing facilities can produce their own compounded versions. When the FDA removed tirzepatide from that list with no warning, it created a considerable amount of chaos both behind the scenes and in pharmacies all over the country. 

If passed, this bill would help clinician-led clinical registries explore Medicare data for research purposes. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons and American College of Cardiology both shared public support for the bipartisan legislation. 

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