Good Articles On Takeaways From JPM Healthcare Conference
Two good articles summarizing some major trends and topics at the JPM healthcare conference. Highlights include:
- Providers emphasizing creating payviders, where provider organizations set up their own insurance arm.
- Hospital expansion of outpatient and ambulatory site investments given pressures on inpatient.
- Medicare Advantage Star woes and risk adjustment changes.
- PBM transparency reforms.
Additional article here: https://www.modernhealthcare.com/finance/jpm-2024-takeaways-commonspirit-mayo-clinic-centene-cvs-cigna-teladoc
(Some articles may require a subscription.)
#healthplans #providers #hospitals #stars #pbms
AI Can Help Drive Social Determinant Information And Extraction
Stories on the ability for generative AI to identify social determinants of health (SDOH) data in notes is a key development. The study indicates that extraction from clinical notes in tuned models show success in insights into housing, employment status, etc. Language models were able to identify about 94% of cases where SDOH barriers existed compared with 2% using diagnostic codes.
We know that social determinants may be a greater predictor of health outcomes than underlying disease status. This will be key to driving outcomes in the future.
Additional article here: https://www.modernhealthcare.com/digital-health/generative-ai-social-determinants-of-health-mass-general-brigham
(Some articles may require a subscription.)
#sdoh #socialdeterminants #ai
KFF Says Florida Drug Importation Waiver Will Face Rough Time
I do applaud Florida pushing for the federal government to grant a waiver on importation of drugs. It will begin very slowly, but offers more hope that those with disease states will have the ability to access cheaper drugs for disease maintenance. The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) says there will be some barriers, including additional Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearances as well as potential barriers from Canada.
KFF press release here: https://www.kff.org/health-costs/press-release/floridas-plan-to-import-prescription-drugs-from-canada-the-first-of-its-kind-may-face-obstacles-that-could-delay-implementation-and-savings/
#drugimporation #fl #drugpricing #canada #kff
Senate Democrats Push Asthma Inhaler Investigation
As we told you here, the Senate Democrats are pushing an investigation into the high price of asthma inhalers. The article shows how such inhalers are demonstrably higher in price here than in other developed countries. As well, there is keen interest in investigating whether brand drug makers are using patent practices, including erroneous listings in the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Orange Book, to stop cheaper generics from coming to market.
(Article may require a subscription.)
#drugpricing
Interesting Review of Healthcare Costs And Impact On Care
The Peterson-Kaiser Family Foundation Health System Tracker has a nice chart collection on the impact that costs have on access to care. In addition, another chart collection shows how care expenditures vary across the population. A few key points:
- More than 1 in 4 adults (28%) reported delaying or not getting healthcare due to cost.
- A small percentage of the population consumes large shares of costs, including as we age.
Additional link here: https://www.healthsystemtracker.org/chart-collection/health-expenditures-vary-across-population/
#healthcare #costs
The Sacklers Could And Should Do More
This editorial is right. Regardless of the outcome of the bankruptcy settlement, it is outrageous that the Sackler Family (founder of Purdue Pharma) will remain among the richest in the nation while victims and their families receive a small amount of money for the suffering under clearly criminal practices of Purdue when they peddled opioids. As this editorial states, the Sackler Family could and should set aside some additional personal wealth for additional compensation.
#opioids
Happy MLK Day!
— Marc S. Ryan
