Practice Management
Last year’s relatively mild flu season is likely indicative of two things: The vaccine produced was a good match for the prevalent strains of influenza, and this year’s season could be a doozy. The latter point would be borne out by history, which shows that “good” flu seasons are most often followed by “bad” flu seasons. That’s why the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions continues to hammer home the message that early vaccination is …
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Like many insurers, Anthem says it’s had a hard time operating profitably in exchanges under the Affordable Care Act (ACA, or “Obamacare”). Unlike many insurers, it has stuck with its participation despite those woes. If the situation doesn’t improve, though, Anthem says it will probably switch gears and reconsider its offerings for 2018. The company, whose proposed merger with Cigna faces an antitrust challenge by the Justice Department, also says it would issue a request …
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Suneel Dhand, MD has seen the future—and it does not include small desktop gizmos that you have to scroll, click or otherwise manipulate at the risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome. Writing for the blog KevinMD, Dhand says the increasing popularity of devices with touchscreens (ie, smartphones and tablets), and even touch pads on laptop computers, could spell the demise of the traditional mouse. Why does a physician care? Here’s why: Dhand contends that the …
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Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolinas (BCBSNC) says the federal government is trying to run out on a bill that amounts to $147.5 million in overdue risk-corridor payments. The Justice Department counters that the suit—along with several others that revolve around the 3-year-old program—is premature because any payments wouldn’t be due until next year at the earliest. BCBSNC is eager to have its day in court though, and says the government’s defense is …
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Patients whose health is insured under marketplaces created via the Affordable Care Act (ACA, aka “Obamacare”) have become acutely cost conscious when it comes to their own care—to the extent that they may not be getting the care they need, according to a new survey. While that paints a picture of a dysfunctional system, urgent care may be reaping some rewards as patients seek out quality care that won’t cost them as much as a …
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“Surprise” bills are a common complaint among patients who’ve visited freestanding emergency departments (FSEDs). While that hasn’t stopped their growth, billing practices have become the subject of pending legislation around the country—and, now, one basis of a suit against Adeptus Health, the nation’s largest operator of FSEDs. The Oklahoma Law Enforcement Pension (OLEP) has initiated a class action lawsuit against Adeptus, its private equity firm, and its officers related to its secondary stock offering, claiming …
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It’s been well documented that higher flu shot rates equate to lower incidence of potentially deadly seasonal influenza cases. It’s also been shown that some patients are less likely than others to get a flu shot. Some think they don’t need it or can’t afford it. However, you can reach those who claim it’s too inconvenient to get a shot, or that they simply don’t have the time, by setting up shop wherever people congregate. …
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Reducing the rate of antibiotic resistance—let alone treating patients effectively and efficiently—means prescribing the right drug for the right pathogen at the outset. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always happen that way, so the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Pew Charitable Trusts and other public health and medical experts to determine how much U.S. outpatient antibiotic use is inappropriate and to set national targets for improving antibiotic prescribing. They found that at least …
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Over half of workers in the United States are “not engaged” in their jobs, and another 17% are “actively disengaged,” according to a Gallup poll. In other words, only about three in every 10 employees are really on point at any given time in a workplace—including, possibly, your urgent care center. The data also show, however, that organizations that make an effort to foster employee engagement have happier, more satisfied employees. And it’s not because …
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Emory Healthcare has found the urgent care marketplace hospitable and is taking on new partners to secure a more prominent seat at the table. The Atlanta-based company is inviting Peachtree Immediate Care and SmartCare Urgent Care into its Emory Health Network. Once Peachtree’s 16 locations and SmartCare’s four clinics are fully on board, Emory will be able to offer urgent care at 60 locations throughout Atlanta. The locations will share an EMR to facilitate smooth …
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