Thursday, November 29, 2018
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Poor worker health costs employers an estimated $530 billion a year—60 cents for every dollar they spend on health care benefits—according to new analysis by the Integrated Benefits Institute. The dollar figure is a combination of well-known health-related costs—the cost of absence and sick days, for example—plus several costs generally overlooked by employers, such as impaired performance tied to chronic illness, absence and reduced performance.
(
Forbes
;
IBI report
)
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Vendors are tapping into behavioral economics to boost consumer uptake of telehealth. Doctor On Demand is offering a coupon for a free telehealth consultation when Walmart customers buy one of several over-the-counter medications. RB, the manufacturer of cough and cold remedies and a partner in the deal, claims the move could encourage newcomers to try telehealth during the flu season.
(
Becker’s Hospital Review
)
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Innovation & Transformation
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Express Scripts is taking a surprisingly straightforward approach to formulary structure by putting lower list-priced drugs on its preferred tier. That's a change from the usual practice of promoting drugs with high up-front prices combined with health plan or employer rebates. The movement away from the byzantine (and usually secret) bargaining PBMs do on behalf of clients—which is partly to blame for enormously inflated drug list prices—is likely a result of recent scrutiny and public outcry against the practice.
(
Benefits Pro
)
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In a human experiment widely criticized as a step too far, a researcher practicing gene editing in China has altered the genetic code of embryos. He Jiankui was educated in the U.S. and is assisted in his research by his U.S. college professor. He says one pregnancy has resulted thus far; the claim has not been independently confirmed. He used CRISPR gene editing to disable a gene that allows the HIV virus to enter a cell; importantly, it’s a genetic change that can later be passed down from parent to child. Critics denounced the experimental work.
(
Associated Press
)
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The 5 percent of patients accounting for 50 percent of health care costs “are not just medically complicated but socially complicated," says Karen DeSalvo, former head of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. Addressing the National Alliance to Impact the Social Determinants of Health, DeSalvo identified three activities needed to progress in addressing these non-clinical, but influential, factors:
awareness
,
which involves using data to identify needs;
assistance
in referring patients to support after determining a social health need; and
alignment
via partnership with avenues for support.
(
MedPage Today
)
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The Extra Strength Tylenol “Rapid Release gel” is actually 30 seconds slower to dissolve than the less expensive Tylenol tablets of the same dose, a study discovered. While the finding doesn’t raise health or safety concerns, it brings to light how confusing it can be for consumers to decipher the claims of over-the-counter drugs.
(
The Washington Post
)
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While you’re healthy, three simple tips can help you take charge of your medical care, according to a recent
Well
blog in
The New York Times
. First, get your paperwork in order. That includes creating an advanced care directive, assigning a medical proxy with a power of attorney and maintaining a complete family medical history. Second, know your rights. Most are aware that HIPAA protects your privacy, but it also guarantees
your
right to get a copy of
your
medical records. Finally, schedule regular appointments and keep a running list of questions so you don’t forget to address each health issue.
(
The New York Times
)
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CVS-Aetna merger is a go
:
The State of New York gave its thumbs-up for the CVS-Aetna merger to move forward this week, as long as the new health care giant meets demands to educate consumers and limit premium increases. Clearing this final regulatory hurdle means the $69 billion mega merger is a go, nearly a year after its intention was announced.
(
Modern Healthcare
)
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15 named to HHS innovation advisory group
:
The Department of Health and Human
Services named its core group of innovation and investment advisors, tapping into health plans, capital investment and health system leadership. The group is tasked with collaborating with HHS to identify challenges and opportunities related to innovation and investment in health care.
(HHS
announcement
)
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Startup says pay for results, or don’t pay at all
:
Under Virta Health’s new business model, insurers and employers don’t have to pay for type 2 diabetes coaching unless its services work. Virta defines success by patient engagement with its coaching process and lower A1C scores after a year.
(
STAT News
)
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Discussion about artificial intelligence applications turned to health care at a session convened by the Federal Trade Commission last week. While safety and consumer protection aren’t front-burner concerns in many sectors, the potential for AI to transform health care may be lost without prioritizing both, experts say.
(
Healthcare IT News
)
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MarketVoices...quotes worth reading
“We spend 90% of our dollars on hospitals and clinics, and that only contributes about 10 percent to the overall health of the population; that doesn't make any sense. We need to change up our game, and we need to do it fast.”-- Marc Harrison, MD, president and CEO of Intermountain Healthcare, as quoted by
MedPage Today
.
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Editor
Sandy Mau
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