As we continue our journey of value-based care, we still struggle to find models that significantly move the needle on improving quality and outcomes while also lowering costs. Central to this movement, has been a focus on primary care clinicians delivering services that focus on the holistic needs of individuals they serve, which includes prevention, lifestyle modification, healthy… Read More »
In healthcare, particularly regarding new technologies, we habitually chase after the latest, greatest shiny object. And we very often accept these innovations as being beneficial even before the data is confirmed, sometimes even failing to terminate usage when it’s not shown to be of benefit. And Remote patient Monitoring (RPM) risks falling into that scenario. Hypothetically, the idea… Read More »
Gun control is a topic fraught with political connotations, however violence prevention is relatively free of it. The health problem of violence presents itself in many forms, including assaults, homicide, suicide, intimate partner violence, child abuse, elder abuse, child and adult bullying, and others. All these injuries and psychological impacts are preventable. Not only is there a human… Read More »
As we continue to focus on the cost of healthcare and delivering value, there has been an ongoing interest in ordering ambulatory testing, especially regarding musculoskeletal complaints. What is driving this cost, is the volume of tests ordered and the unit price of those tests. Undoubtedly, it’s worth spending time discussing the degree of pricing; however, it is… Read More »
Historically, we have designated administrative codes as methods for reimbursement. However, with the evolution of value-based care, these same codes are now applied for risk stratification for adjustments to value-based payments. This variation of fees is necessary because the degree of illness and complexity drives the clinical needs and, thus, the cost. However, using this methodology has created… Read More »
The desire to improve diagnostic accuracy, efficiency, and safety is always on the minds of clinicians. Suddenly, artificial intelligence (AI) arrives, and everyone believes we have found nirvana and a solution to all problems. Unfortunately, despite multiple peaks of excitement, AI still has failed to meet our expectations. When we delve into the reasons concerning diagnostic accuracy, it’s… Read More »
In a manner that was not possible during “normal” times, the COVID crisis allowed us to implement much-needed changes and the expansion of virtual care is one of them. In addition to the growth of virtual care, increasing the healthcare workforce during a time of crisis was necessary. In all, 45 states extended licenses to out-of-state practitioners. Currently,… Read More »
Unfortunately, to date, the utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve and reduce inequities in access, quality, and appropriateness of high-quality diagnosis and care, has remained more of an aspiration than a reality. There are numerous reasons for this situation; the newness of AI, the low sensitivity and specificity of the algorithms, the lack of health equity data… Read More »
Historically, healthcare systems and social safety net providers have worked in parallel to provide care to their constituents. There have been many instances of cross-pollination and mutual support, but this is not the norm, nor is it done in a manner that significantly enhances the value to all involved parties. The need for collaboration in a meaningful way… Read More »
Since the formation of the Medicare Advantage (MA) program, there has been continuous growth in the number of Medicare beneficiaries that have chosen this model of care. The reasons are numerous. For instance, the pace of growth in the number of company offerings and members has picked up over recent years, and the current projection is that MA… Read More »