Medicare
Racial disparities in diabetes technology use widen among Medicare beneficiaries
White Medicare beneficiaries were more likely to use an insulin pump or continuous glucose monitor than Black beneficiaries from 2017 to 2019, with the gap increasing over the 3-year period, according to study data.
Advocates running out of time to reverse proposed cuts to vascular access
The Dialysis Vascular Access Coalition and other national advocacy groups are racing against the clock to reverse proposed payment cuts – set to take effect Jan. 1 – on vascular access procedures done by interventionalists and surgeons.
Primary care practices are relying on bold payment reform to meet CMS goal
In October, CMS released an Innovation Center Strategy Refresh, describing its proposed destination of the now-common “pathway to value” in our health system.
Racial disparities persist in home dialysis use across the US
Following the 2011 Medicare prospective payment reform for dialysis services, racial disparities have persisted among patients using home dialysis in the U.S., according to a speaker at ASN Kidney Week.
Many Medicare beneficiaries miss out on flu vaccine, study shows
Just half of Medicare beneficiaries received the influenza vaccine during the 2018-2019 season, according to findings published in Annals of Internal Medicine.
Commentary: We must act now to make medicines affordable
We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make medicines affordable for our patients and support the health needs of every family in our nation. As physicians, now is the time to elevate the voices of our patients and act.
Mepolizumab reduces asthma exacerbations, expenditures in patients with history of high cost
Among patients with severe asthma and the highest expenditures prior to treatment, mepolizumab reduced asthma exacerbations, oral corticosteroid use and related costs, according to research presented at the CHEST Annual Meeting.
CMS final rule covering dialysis payments includes incentives to improve equity of care
ACR praises bipartisan letter urging US House leaders to avert impending 'Medicare cliff'
A bipartisan group of 247 members of Congress have signed a letter urging their own leadership to address several looming Medicare cuts that would reduce reimbursements to providers by nearly 10% starting next year.
Orthopedic surgical reimbursement may equal in-office reimbursement within 5 years
If current reimbursement trends continue, reimbursement for time in the OR performing arthroplasty surgery may be equal to the time spent in the office seeing Medicare patients within the next 5 years, according to published results.