What You Should Know:
- Pelago, a digital clinic partner for substance use management, released its 2024 Annual State of Substance Use Management Trend Report.
- The report underscores the critical role employers play in addressing the widespread issue of substance use in the American workforce.
Employers Urged to Support Substance Use Management
The survey of 1,210 U.S. workers revealed a significant gap in employer support for substance use management. While over half
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Technology
Blue Cross Blue Shield of TN Launches Statewide Food as Medicine Initiative to Combat Food Insecurity
What You Should Know:
- FarmboxRx, a pioneer in food-as-medicine solutions, announced a new partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee (BCBST) to address food insecurity and improve health outcomes for Tennesseans.
- Through this collaboration, BCBST members will receive fresh produce and condition-specific health education delivered directly to their homes.
Tackling Food Insecurity and Health Disparities
Tennessee faces significant challenges related to food
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70% of Community Health Centers Face Staff Shortages Amid Rising Mental Health & Substance Use Care Demand
What You Should Know:
- Community health centers (CHCs), serving as the cornerstone of America's healthcare safety net, are grappling with a critical issue: a worsening workforce shortage.
- A new report by the Commonwealth Fund reveals a concerning trend, with over 70% of CHCs reporting a lack of primary care physicians, nurses, or mental health professionals in 2024.
Despite the Challenges, CHCs Remain a Beacon of Hope
This news comes amidst a backdrop of rising mental
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Responsible AI in Medicine for Underserved Populations
Artificial intelligence (AI) is making a tangible difference in healthcare today. It's not about science fiction or flashy gimmicks. It’s not about deep fakes or plagiarized term papers. AI is being responsibly used to prevent medical errors, enhance clinical decision-making, expand access to care, and lower costs. While there's certainly overenthusiasm and misleading claims about AI, we can't ignore the many instances where it's making healthcare more efficient, effective, and
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How Virtual Primary Care Can Enrich Your Practice
The COVID-19 pandemic made the word “virtual” a part of our everyday lexicon. Many services that were previously done in person—even schools—quickly made the transition to being virtual. Today, our world is forever changed as many services that once were only in-person continue to be virtual due to convenience, accessibility, and technological advancements that enable everything online.
Primary care has also benefited from virtualization of services. According to a study published in
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Why Wastewater Monitoring is Being Tapped to Prevent an Avian Flu Pandemic
When the Biden Administration announced its plan of action to respond to the threat of avian H5N1 flu, most of the steps being taken were similar to previous threats – targeted patient and animal screenings, bolstered laboratory capacity, and regular communications with and updates for the public and policymakers. But one item on the list may have struck people as newer than the rest – the incorporation of wastewater monitoring into an emergency response. The federal government allocated $3
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Zing Health Adds Digital Cardiology Program to At-Risk Medicare Members
What You Should Know:
- Zing Health, an innovative insurance company providing managed care for historically underserved Medicare Advantage beneficiaries, and Story Health, a digital health company transforming specialty care delivery, today announced a collaboration to deploy a specialized care program for at-risk members with cardiac conditions.
- Zing Health will identify eligible members with the greatest risk of poor heart failure outcomes and connect them with Story Health’s
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Cracking the Nutritional Puzzle: A Path Out Of Dallas’ Food Desert
Recently, I was shocked to hear that North Texas is one of the hardest-hit areas of the country for food insecurity. Shocked, but not surprised. As having been a registered dietitian and part of the Dallas Accountable Health Community (DAHC)[1] program, I have seen Dallas County’s food depravations firsthand, and while this food desert may seem trackless, I believe that by using data, we have ways to create oases.
It turns out that Dallas County has the highest rate of food insecurity
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Humana to Leverage Google Cloud’s GenAI Capabilities to Improve Member Experiences
What You Should Know:
- Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) announced a strategic multi-year agreement with Google Cloud to accelerate healthcare innovation through advanced cloud infrastructure and AI capabilities. This expanded partnership builds upon an existing collaboration between Humana and Google Health, focused on population health and AI solutions.
- While the financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed, the partnership underscores both companies' commitment to transforming
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Artera Strengthens Footprint in FQHC Market with 12+ New Partners
What You Should Know:
- Artera, the SaaS digital health leader in patient communications, announced today a major expansion in the federally qualified health center (FQHC) market with 12+ new partners, two of which include Bedford-Stuyvesant Family Health Center and Moses Lake Community Health Center.
- The FQHCs add to Artera’s rapidly growing footprint in the FQHC landscape that now encompasses more than 250 community-based providers, all of whom are committed to bringing modern patient
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