Medicare

Multiple comorbidities and medications are prevalent in older cancer populations, who may benefit from structured medication reviews by specialist geriatricians.

The annual report, from the American Cancer Society, National Cancer Institute, the CDC, and the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries, details US cancer trends.

Physician and health policy advocates praised the emphasis on streamlining models and ending silos, but practices that invested in the Oncology Care Model (OCM) await key details.

Medicare Advantage enrollees, particularly those with lower out-of-network benefits, may have restricted access to top-ranked hospitals for complex cancer care compared with traditional Medicare enrollees.

Ahead of Medicare open enrollment, which starts October 15, CMS released its annual report of which Medicare Advantage (MA) and Part D drug plans achieved 5-star ratings.

The 2022 performance year’s Star Ratings require Medicare Advantage plans to take a more significant role in preventing readmissions.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated that adding dental, vision, and hearing benefits would increase Medicare’s direct spending, but the American Dental Association (ADA) is claiming reimbursement will not be enough to cover these costs

One company received approximately $3.7 billion while enrolling only 22% of Medicare Advantage customers.

The current study found that those prescribed potentially inappropriate medications were actually less likely to revisit the emergency department within 30 days, in contrast to prior work.

The study found that BPCI Model 3, which held postacute facilities accountable for costs of care, was not associated with payment reductions or changes in other quality and selection metrics among skilled nursing facilities.

The administration said it would make the results of its drug price negotiations with manufacturers, as well as its approach to value-based care models, open to a variety of payers.

On January 1, CMS implemented the Hospital Price Transparency final rule, but by July, it was clear that many hospitals were noncompliant. Even with a proposed rule for penalties, requirements still only fall on certain parts of the health care industry.

Polypharmacy may be raising the risk of inappropriate medication use, and avoiding this is crucial.

The use of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) by older adults appeared to be linked to a greater risk of frailty, although the researchers said further work is needed.

Researchers offer recommendations for addressing polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use among older patients with cancer.

DOI: 10.37765/ajmc.2021.88735

The pandemic has shown a spotlight on how critically important respiratory care is to Americans who struggle to breathe on their own. Yet, Medicare policy must be updated to ensure that access to lifesaving equipment will never be disrupted.

Updated evidence provides new insight into safety, efficacy, and challenges of deprescribing.

Use of a smartphone-based application was found to improve medication adherence and some clinical outcomes in patients managing multiple comorbidities using polypharmacy, researchers concluded.

Late July brings a 64% enrollment increase; owner charged with fraudulently billing Medicare over $784 million; COVID-19 hot spots lose nurses due to burnout.

Identifying patients with combined polypharmacy and frailty can help recognize ICU patients with high risk of hospital readmission, the authors said.

Seventy percent of Americans have received at least 1 dose of a COVID-19 vaccine; CMS releases payment rules for fiscal year 2022; alcohol linked to over 700,000 new cancer diagnoses in 2020.

The study was conducted to shed more light on the growing issue of polypharmacy, an issue that is expected to increase as the US population ages.

Drug optimization in older adults improved outcomes in this retrospective study.

However, letting nurses have total control of medication management during hospital stays can create problems afterward.

While polypharmacy, along with hospital length of stay and other factors, was linked to a higher risk of 30-day hospital readmission, the type of medication mattered as well.

Future Medicare Part D models should consider alternative strategies to improve cost-related non-adherence.

Larger primary care practices in downside risk–only payment models and capitation saw the highest telemedicine utilization rates by their patients enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans.

High-tier generic drug placement in Medicare Part D has increased over time, but it may be related to a drug’s clinical profile and availability of substitutes rather than preferred brand-name drug coverage.