Insurers supervising the health care of Medicaid patients repeatedly reject providers’ approval of care; individuals are more likely to develop dementia if they live in disadvantaged neighborhoods; a type of an immunity gene is found in people who test positive for COVID-19 but don’t develop symptoms.
Private health insurance companies contracted by Medicaid rejected millions of requests for care for low-income Americans with minimal oversight from federal and state authorities, according to a new report, according to The New York Times. The report released by the HHS inspector general’s office described how often private insurance plans denied treatment approval bids and how states handled these rebuts. Doctors claim that requirements of prior authorization usually just interfere with needed services. The report highlighted the vital role officials should play in making sure the denials are justified.
A study published in JAMA Neurology finds that Americans who reside in neighborhoods with less socioeconomic advantage might be at increased risk of dementia, reported STAT News. This can be the case no matter the individual’s background, with the study finding that people living in areas of the country with the lowest rates of income, education, employment, and housing quality possessed a 1.17 times higher risk of developing dementia compared with those living in the most prosperous areas.
Scientists have discovered a type of a specific gene that might explain why some people who test positive for COVID-19 never develop symptoms, according to The Washington Post. This finding could assist scientists with creating new vaccines and treatments. Studies have discovered that at least 20% of people who contract COVID-19 are asymptomatic, on average. Scientists think that these people might have more rapid immune responses to fight the virus before symptoms are established and lead to health issues.
Race/Ethnicity May Influence Local Recurrence in DCIS, Adjuvant Treatment
December 6th 2023Disparities in 10-year local recurrence following breast-conserving surgery were seen among women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) treated over a nearly 4-decade span at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, with Black women having the highest rate.
Read More
Oncology Onward: A Conversation With Thyme Care CEO and Cofounder Robin Shah
October 2nd 2023Robin Shah, CEO of Thyme Care, which he founded in 2020 with Bobby Green, MD, president and chief medical officer, joins hosts Emeline Aviki, MD, MBA, and Stephen Schleicher, MD, MBA, to discuss his evolution as an entrepreneur in oncology care innovation and his goal of positively changing how patients experience the cancer system.
Listen
SDOH in Cancer Care Highlight Multifactorial Equity Issues
December 6th 2023A trio of speakers addressed the importance of social determinants of health (SDOH) in cancer care on day 1 of the 46th annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium in the session, “Social Determinants of Health: Impact on Cancer Care.”
Read More
Insufficient Data, Disparities Plague Lung Cancer Risk Factor Documentation
September 24th 2023On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we speak with the senior author of a study published in the September 2023 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® on the importance of adequate and effective lung cancer risk factor documentation to determine a patient's eligibility for screening.
Listen
Health Equity and Access Weekly Roundup: December 2, 2023
December 2nd 2023The Center on Health Equity and Access highlights the most recent updates in the realm of health equity, including news, research findings, and initiatives focused on mitigating health care disparities and enhancing overall access to quality care.
Read More