What We’re Reading: Medicare Premiums Rising; Updated Brain Death Guidelines; Multiple COVID-19 Infections in Black Patients

Medicare Part A and B Premiums Set to Rise Next Year

CMS announced Thursday that monthly Medicare Part A and B premiums are set to increase by 6% in 2024, according to The Hill. The premiums would increase by $9.80, meaning they would rise from $164.90 to $174.70. CMS explained that the Medicare Part B premium increase was mainly caused by projected increases in health care spending and meant as a partial remedy to the 340B-acquired drug payment policy for the 2018-2022 period under the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System. The annual deductible for Medicare Part B beneficiaries will also go up ,from $226 to $240. This announcement is in line with what the Medicare Board of Trustees estimated the 2024 premium to be earlier this year.

Brain Death Guidelines Updated for First Time in More Than 10 Years

The American Academy of Neurology published updated guidelines on Wednesday to outline brain death in adult and pediatric patients for the first time in over a decade, according to Becker’s Hospital Review. Twenty experts from various specialties and institutions developed the updated guidelines, which included a 3-page checklist to use in evaluations. Like previous guidelines, the experts determined that brain death should be declared when a patient with a known catastrophic brain injury has permanent brain function loss. The guidelines also clarified questions, including those about apnea tests and neurological examinations, and noted that clinicians do not need consent to perform a brain death evaluation unless institution policy or state laws say otherwise.

Multiple COVID-19 Infections Could Devastate Black Communities

Doctors advise Black patients to be vigilant to avoid multiple COVID-19 infections, as the effects of the virus, when left unchecked, could devastate Black communities, according to NBC News. COVID-19 has a disproportionate impact on Black patients because they have more comorbidities, like heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. Piedmont Healthcare’s Jayne Morgan, MD, a cardiologist, explained that the virus strongly affects Black people because they often live in areas where quality health care is not easily available, and many do not have health insurance, creating a cycle of hardships that could stunt family growth. Protective measures to avoid multiple infections are encouraged, such as wearing a mask in crowded places, getting the vaccine and booster shots, engaging in consistent physical activity, and taking vitamins and minerals.