Pharmaceutical costs continue to rise and are increasingly becoming a significant portion of medical spending for care. There have been many attempts to stem this ever-increasing portion of the total cost of care including, increased generic utilization, value-based incentive models, and the use of drug step therapy protocols. Specifically, this latter model requires the administration of specific agents… Read More »
Over the past several years, chronic pain and the use of opioids have been a dominant topic of conversation and a primary focus in healthcare. Tragically, in our attempt to improve the pain management in those we serve, an epidemic of narcotic misuse, abuse, and dependency occurred. To stem the rapidly increasing opioid crisis, the focus on fixing… Read More »
In healthcare, we have become accustomed to ongoing Medicare regulatory oversight and changes. Many of these regulations are implemented to drive specific behaviors that are focused on improving quality and/or reducing costs. One such measure is the Medicare Two-Night Rule. This rule, created in 2013, was designed to replace the inappropriate inpatient admission status stays with what they… Read More »
As we continue focusing on improving care for those we serve, public policy and advocacy are two areas in which healthcare professionals and organizations avoid, especially if they are fraught with political connotations. Without question, gun control is one such area. There is an abundance of literature that addresses the value of specific legislation regarding firearms that are… Read More »