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What We’re Reading: US Death Rate Soars; Full Practice Authority for NY Nurse Practitioners; Rural Health Care Push
COVID-19 and overdoses were 2 main factors in the record high 2021 US death rate; nurse practitioners licensed in New York have been granted full authority to practice independently; the Biden administration announced its goal to improve health care in rural areas.
COVID-19, Overdoses Push US Death Rate to Record High
The US death rate in 2021 reached a record high due to COVID-19 and drug overdoses, reported The Associated Press. According to data from the CDC, the total number of deaths in the country was 3.465 million in 2021, up 80,000 from the last record-setting total in 2020. COVID-19 deaths increased to more than 415,000 in 2021, up from 351,000 in 2020. Drug overdoses also continue to rise, with an estimated 105,000 deaths in 2021, according to provisional data. Notably, overdose deaths among high school-aged adolescents doubled in 2020 and continued to increase in 2021.
New York State Grants Nurse Practitioners Full Practice Authority
Nurse practitioners licensed in the state of New York have been granted full authority to practice independently, Medpage Today reported. This full authority means nurse practitioners with more than 3600 hours of experience no longer need a formal relationship with a medical doctor to practice. According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, they can also now "evaluate patients; diagnose, order and interpret diagnostic tests; initiate and manage treatments; and prescribe medications.” New York now joins 24 other states who have already granted nurse practitioners full practice authority.
Biden Administration Announces Goal to Improve Rural Health Care
The Biden administration announced Wednesday its goal to improve health care in rural areas, Kaiser Health News reported. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said the Agriculture Department awarded $43 million in grants to 93 rural health care providers and community groups across 22 states. The Biden administration is also promoting benefits of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act and $1.2 trillion infrastructure package to Americans in rural areas.
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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Health Equity and Access Weekly Roundup: April 27, 2024
April 27th 2024Racial disparities in end-of-life care, the role of wellness and faith in minority health, award-winning research on health disparities, societal factors impacting cardiometabolic health, and rising mental health challenges among US youth are all covered this week in the Center on Health Equity and Access.
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Navigating Health Policy in an Election Year: Insights From Dr Dennis Scanlon
April 2nd 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with Dennis Scanlon, PhD, the editor in chief of The American Journal of Accountable Care®, about prior authorization, price transparency, the impact of health policy on the upcoming election, and more.
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Dr Kathy Zackowski Discusses the Importance of Rehabilitation Research and Trials in MS
April 26th 2024Kathy Zackowski, PhD, National MS Society, expresses the inherent value of quality rehabilitation trials for broadening clinical understandings of multiple sclerosis (MS) and bettering patient outcomes.
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