Fight Over Funding Medicaid in Puerto Rico
With Puerto Rico on the verge of bankruptcy, lawmakers are divided how much more Medicaid money to send to the island. According to The Wall Street Journal, the territory is set to finish off its $6.4 billion Medicaid grant by the end of 2017. Puerto Rico has to complete renewal contracts with managed care organizations, but this task is complicated by the lack of replacement funding.
Removing a Requirement to Report on Superbug Deaths
A California bill that included a measure requiring hospitals to report drug-resistant bacterial infections on death certificates has drawn strong opposition. The Los Angeles Times reported that the measure has been removed from the bill after the California Hospital Association and the California Medical Association vocally opposed the plan. The bill would have required an annual report on these deaths, but the name of the hospitals would not have been revealed.
Improving Accountability in the VA
President Donald Trump has created a new office at the Department of Veterans Affairs that would improve accountability. The new Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection would also protect whistleblowers from retaliation and help identify ways to discipline or fire employees for poor performance, reported The Washington Post. Last week, Trump signed a bill to extend a program allowing veterans to seek private care.
Exploring Medicare Advantage Prior Authorization Variations
March 26th 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with the authors of a study published in the March 2024 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® about their findings on variations in prior authorization use across Medicare Advantage plans.
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Navigating Health Literacy, Social Determinants, and Discrimination in National Health Plans
February 13th 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with the authors of a study published in the February 2024 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® about their findings on how health plans can screen for health literacy, social determinants of health, and perceived health care discrimination.
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Homelessness Compounds Hospital Stay Challenges: Study Reveals Prolonged Discharge Struggles
March 28th 2024In this investigation, outcomes of interest were morbidity rate and length of hospital stay or a traumatic injury among a homeless population, and whether age and/or injury severity had an influence on that relationship—with implications for improving the discharge process for these patients.
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FDA Approves Vadadustat for Anemia in Patients With CKD Undergoing Dialysis
March 28th 2024The FDA approved vadadustat (Vafseo), an oral medication, to treat anemia in adult patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) on dialysis for at least 3 months. This fills a need for a new treatment option as anemia is common in these patients and can significantly impact their quality of life.
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