MA health officials propose better ways to treat patients

Don Berwick

With the COVID-19 public health emergency over, state officials and organizations are struggling to restore a Massachusetts healthcare industry experiencing staff shortages and high levels of worker burnout factors that prevent some residents from accessing the necessary health care. Healthcare professionals say it’s time for the industry to change. All sectors are hurting,[but]I don’t think … Read more

A relief for retirees: Projected healthcare costs have not increased this year

The after-tax cost of medical expenses in retirement for a single 65-year-old retiree held steady at $157,500 ($315,000 for the average retiree couple at the same age).  (Creative Getty)

As everyone knows, overall healthcare costs are rising every year. But tell that to older Americans. Fidelity’s annual survey of estimated health care costs in retirement surprisingly remained unchanged of the last year. This means that a retiree who leaves the workforce this year is likely to shell out the same amount of money on … Read more

Healthcare, utility among the topics discussed at the Meet the Candidates Forum – The Vicksburg Post

Healthcare, utility among the topics discussed at the Meet the Candidates Forum - The Vicksburg Post

Healthcare, utility among the topics discussed at the Meet the Candidates Forum Published at 3.23pm on Friday 30 June 2023 Health care, Medicaid expansion and utilities were among the main topics as candidates for statehood met with Warren County residents on Thursday in a forum at the Warren County Courthouse. An estimated 50 people participated … Read more

Californias Health Care Affordability Board discusses plans for healthcare sector consolidations and mergers – State of Reform

Californias Health Care Affordability Board discusses plans for healthcare sector consolidations and mergers - State of Reform

The California Health Care Affordability Board (HCAB), a decision-making body tasked with setting statewide and sector-specific spending goals and approving key benchmarks, discussed the state’s action plan to address facility consolidation health professionals during a meeting earlier this month. Katherine Gudiksen, executive director of Source on Healthcare Price and Competition in the law department of … Read more

Mollye Demosthenidy named new principal of Newcomb-Tulane College

Mollye Demosthenidy

Tulane University alumna Mollye Demosthenidy has accepted an appointment as the new principal of Newcomb-Tulane College, effective July 1. (Photo by Jennifer Zdon) Mollye Demosthenidy, a nationally recognized expert in health care and associate dean for strategic initiatives at the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine (SPHTM), has accepted an appointment as the new … Read more

Medical credit cards may cause patients to overpay for their healthcare, Democrats warn – WTOP News

Medical credit cards may cause patients to overpay for their healthcare, Democrats warn - WTOP News

A group of Democratic senators is calling on the nation’s consumer credit regulator to take action against medical credit cards like CareCredit, saying the use of these cards can result in patients paying significantly more for their care medical than they should. FILE – Senator Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., speaks during a hearing of the Senate … Read more

Governor Kevin Stitt rejects online medical records rules

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt addresses the media June 23 in the Capitol's Blue Room.

Gov. Kevin Stitt reversed an agency rule about implementing a statewide health information exchange program that sparked concerns about patient privacy. The rule would have implemented new definitions and exemption criteria for electronic health records shared between a patient’s caregivers. According to the Oklahoma State Medical Association, Oklahoma’s HIE’s goal is to improve patient outcomes … Read more

Georgia launches Medicaid expansion in closely monitored test of job requirements

FIILE - Cassandra Welchlin, executive director of the Mississippi Black Women Roundtable, speaks during a news conference on groups pushing for lawmakers to extend postpartum Medicaid from 60 days to 12 months, Jan. 26, 2023, at the Mississippi State Capitol in Jackson.  A Mississippi law that goes into effect on Saturday, July 1, 2023 authorizes one full year of postpartum Medicaid coverage.  (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)

ATLANTA (AP) Georgia is offering a new deal to some uninsured adults starting Saturday: Go to work or school and the state will cover you. But advocates denounce the plan, which will insure far fewer people than a full-blown state Medicaid program, as unnecessarily restrictive and expensive. The program is likely to be followed as … Read more

Hepatitis C can be cured. So why aren’t there more people getting treatment?

Hepatitis C can be cured.  So why aren't there more people getting treatment?

Hepatitis C can cause severe liver damage and leads to approximately 15,000 deaths in the United States each year. James Cavallini/BSIP/Universal Images hide caption toggle caption on/off James Cavallini/BSIP/Universal Images Hepatitis C can cause severe liver damage and leads to approximately 15,000 deaths in the United States each year. James Cavallini/BSIP/Universal Images Ten years ago, … Read more

Big bets on health AI

Big bets on health AI

The health AI investment boom is underway. | AFP via Getty Images Healthcare delays behind other sectors in using generative AI, the kind that can answer questions and generate content. But the big money flowing into the industry could soon drive adoption. Healthcare systems are like nuclear plants. They don’t want to change. They have … Read more