In Florida, where Black residents are three times more likely to be hospitalized or die from asthma-related complications than white residents, one researcher’s efforts to “strip away the jargon” related to asthma treatment strengthened patients’ engagement in a year-long clinical trial. The impact: development of an asthma regimen to help combat disparities in asthma management and outcomes. The results are one example of the gains that can be made in addressing health inequities—differences
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Rachael Jones, SVP of Performance Analytics and Quality at Cotiviti
When It Comes to Digital Health, Experience Is Everything
Thanks to COVID-19 and numerous other factors, the adoption of digital health technologies used by patients in the home has skyrocketed. Accenture reported in 2021, for example, that remote patient monitoring technology adoption tripled among patients. Whether it is streaming video telehealth appointments with a provider, a remote patient monitoring platform, or a prescribed digital therapeutic to manage a chronic condition, the emphasis must be on the patient and caregiver
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What Hospital Success Looks Like Under Value-Based Care
Hospitals are increasingly turning to value-based care initiatives to transform care delivery, lower the total cost of care, and improve patient outcomes. Unlike traditional fee-for-service (FFS) models that reimburse providers based on volume (i.e., the number of patient visits), providers are reimbursed based on the quality of care delivered in value-based care. Ultimately, success under these reimbursement models hinges upon seamless coordination between all stakeholders across the continuum
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Lessons from COVID-19 Pandemic and the Smart Facilities of Tomorrow
As much as we all wish it were otherwise, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to claim lives and upset stability around the world. If this worldwide disaster has a narrow silver lining, it is the many lessons it has to teach us moving forward. These lessons cover every aspect of life from business to relationships, but none more than healthcare. We have seen the incredible strain COVID-19 has put on our healthcare systems and providers including doctors, nurses, and administrators. Now we must be
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3 Ways Health Plans Can Improve Sleep Health for their Members
Getting a good night’s sleep should have nothing to do with having a great health plan — but it often does. While some individuals can improve their sleep by making small changes, many who suffer from serious, chronic sleep disorders need a higher level of care and ongoing treatments, and many health plans offer insufficient benefits. For example, Medicare covers sleep diagnostic tests under strict conditions, if patients are referred by a physician. Other health plans have denied
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Breaking Down the Implications of New No Surprises Act Regulations
The importance of the No Surprises Act (NSA) cannot be overstated, as surprise medical bills have long been burdensome for patients in the U.S. healthcare system. In fact, more than half of all U.S. consumers have received an unexpectedly large medical bills. The purpose of the No Surprises Act is to prevent surprise out-of-network bills, often for emergency services. For example, if your appendix bursts while at work, you would be rushed to the nearest hospital for an emergency
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How IoT Data Integration Helps Deliver Improved At-Home Healthcare in 2022
When it comes to your health and treatment, hospitals leverage a variety of sensors and instruments to collect the necessary information to monitor and diagnose your health status. With essential health data integrated into one platform, healthcare professionals are able to quickly and easily monitor critical care parameters, which allows them to make decisions and deliver the best possible patient care. Comprehensive big-picture insight into various health parameters, such as a patient’s
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Unlocking Interoperability with a Blockchain-Powered Network
Achieving fluid data interoperability has been a complex and challenging goal for the U.S. healthcare system. The result of which has led to excessive administrative costs, delays in providing care, and significant patient frustration. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S. healthcare spending grew 9.7% in 2020, reaching $4.1 trillion, or $12,530 per person. This is forecasted to grow to $6.2 trillion by 2028, which will only exacerbate the current spending
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The No Surprises Act: How Payers Can Stay Compliant
As the healthcare system continues to evolve to adopt a more patient-centric approach, surprise billing has become a topic discussed by consumers and policymakers. Surprise billing can occur when a patient unknowingly receives care from providers that are outside their network. This can result in balance billing, the practice of billing a patient the difference between what their health plan covers and what the provider charges. Unfortunately, these bills are often the result of care provided in
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4 Steps for Operationalizing the FDA’s Call To Improve Health Outcomes for All Patients
In April, FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf laid out areas of challenge and opportunity when it comes to improving health outcomes, restoring public trust in science, and making the most of our ongoing investments in data analytics and clinical research. More specifically, Califf made clear that our current healthcare system is “very well aligned to improve outcomes for some people and not others.” Califf went on to note that we need better mechanisms for evidence generation
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