Some nonprofit hospitals now offer concierge physician practices for high-paying patients; Kaiser Permanente partners with investment firms to launch Habitat Health; Gallup data shows a surprising decline in health care's priority ranking.
The Rise of Concierge Medicine in Nonprofit Hospitals
More nonprofit hospitals have adopted concierge medicine, charging annual fees of $2000 or more to grant affluent patients enhanced access to physicians, according to Kaiser Health News. Although critics have argued this exacerbates primary care shortages and inflates health care costs, hospitals have found financial incentives in attracting wealthy patients and securing referrals. With patients willing to pay for personalized care, concierge physician care has raised questions about health care equity and access for underserved populations.
Kaiser Permanente Backs Venture Habitat Health
Habitat Health, a joint venture between Kaiser Permanente, Town Hall Ventures, and New Enterprise Associates, will utilize the Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) model to offer capitated payments from Medicare and Medicaid for elderly care at home, beginning its services in Sacramento and Los Angeles in 2025, according to Fierce Healthcare. Habitat Health aims to provide essential medical and social services, including primary care, transportation, meals, and physical therapy, offering an alternative to traditional nursing home-based care.
Rethinking the Impact of the Pandemic on National Concerns
Gallup polls revealed health care fell to the 16th-most important issue for Americans, marking a departure from recent trends, according to Forbes. Contrary to what the poll might suggest, health care is still a crucial issue post the COVID-9 pandemic. The shift underscored a deeper reconfiguration of societal priorities post-pandemic, with health care issues now intersecting with broader economic, social, and governmental challenges.
Tackling Health Inequality: The Power of Education and Experience
April 30th 2024To help celebrate and recognize National Minority Health Month, we are bringing you a special month-long podcast series with our Strategic Alliance Partner, UPMC Health Plan. Welcome to our final episode of this limited series and our conversation with Janine Jelks-Seale, MSPPM, director of health equity at UPMC Health Plan.
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Initiating BP Medication Linked to Higher Fall, Fracture Risks in Nursing Home Residents
May 2nd 2024Among over 60,000 nursing home residents who initiated antihypertensive medication, rates of excess fractures due to falls per 100 person-years were as high as 5 among certain patient groups, such as those with dementia and high blood pressure (BP).
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Examining Low-Value Cancer Care Trends Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic
April 25th 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with the authors of a study published in the April 2024 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® about their findings on the rates of low-value cancer care services throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
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