BREAKING NEWS: Health (2)

Generating mutated proteins through adversarial attacks on the AlphaFold2 model

Sun, 22 Dec 2024 04:04:12 +0000

Announcing a new publication for Acta Materia Medica journal. Proteins are essential macromolecules that perform functions according to their conformational dynamics.

Advancing quality integrated health services through relational community engagement

Sun, 22 Dec 2024 03:55:23 +0000

A new report, entitled "Relationality in community engagement: its role in humanizing healthcare and achieving quality integrated health Services" has been developed in collaboration with the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) and launched at the Seventh edition of the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) taking place in Doha on 13–14 November 2024.

Scientists discover role of tumor stiffness in promoting cancer cell proliferation

Sat, 21 Dec 2024 02:54:35 +0000

In 2022 alone, over 20 million people were diagnosed with cancer, and nearly 10 million died from the disease, according to the World Health Organization.

UC Davis surgeon pioneers dual chamber leadless pacemaker in 13-year-old patient

Sat, 21 Dec 2024 02:48:07 +0000

UC Davis Director of Pediatric Electrophysiology Dan Cortez has set another world record: He is the first to implant a dual chamber leadless pacemaker in a child.

Study finds a subset of artificial heart patients can regenerate heart muscle

Sat, 21 Dec 2024 02:43:36 +0000

A research team co-led by a physician-scientist at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson's Sarver Heart Center found that a subset of artificial heart patients can regenerate heart muscle, which may open the door to new ways to treat and perhaps someday cure heart failure.

In settling fraud case, New York Medicare Advantage insurer, CEO will pay up to $100M

Sat, 21 Dec 2024 02:27:27 +0000

A western New York health insurance provider for seniors and the CEO of its medical analytics arm have agreed to pay a total of up to $100 million to settle Justice Department allegations of fraudulent billing for health conditions that were exaggerated or didn't exist.

Can the heart heal itself? New study says it can

Sat, 21 Dec 2024 00:10:07 +0000

Physician-scientists found that a subset of artificial heart patients can regenerate heart muscle, which may open the door to new ways to treat and perhaps someday cure heart failure.

Microscopic discovery in cancer cells could have a big impact

Sat, 21 Dec 2024 00:07:39 +0000

Scientists have uncovered new details about the mechanism behind cancer progression. Researchers explored the influence the mechanical stiffening of the tumor cell's environment may have on the structure and function of the nucleus.

A British Grandma Started Speaking With an Italian Accent After Suffering a Stroke. Twist: She's Never Been to Italy

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 23:02:01 +0000

In addition to suddenly speaking with an Italian accent, the British grandma has found her body language and laugh have also changed.

Judge Hands Down 12-Month Federal Prison Sentence To California-Based Home Care Owner

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 21:58:22 +0000

A Bishop, California-based owner of a home care company was sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison.

Shane Brightpath Mike — the owner of a Campbell, California-based Excel Behavioral Services Inc. — received this sentence for not paying the employment taxes that were withheld from his employees wages.

In addition to being the owner of the company, Mike was also president and chief operating officer of Excel Behavioral Services. In these roles, Mike was in charge of withholding social security, Medicare and income taxes from worker wages. He was also responsible for paying over these funds to the IRS.

Throughout Q4 of 2014, and Q3 of 2015, Mike allegedly failed to pay the withheld taxes to the IRS, according to the DOJ.

Additionally, Mike only paid some of the withheld funds in Q3 2014.

Overall, Mike allegedly failed to pay more than $1 million in taxes to the IRS during these combined years. Instead, some of the company’s funds went towards his personal expenses during this time period.

U.S. District Judge Beth Labson Freeman included three years of supervised release as a part of Mike’s sentencing. He also has to pay $1,177,947 in restitution to the U.S. and a $100 special assessment.

His sentence is slated to begin on March 18, 2025. His case was investigated by IRS-CI, the criminal investigative arm of the IRS.

Recently, another California-based owner and operator received a two years federal prison sentence after pleading guilty to one count of health care fraud.

Veronica Katz, the owner and operator of San Francisco-based HealthNow Home Healthcare and Hospice (HealthNow), must also pay $543,634.34 in restitution. She also received a three-year period of supervised release and has to pay a $50,000 fine.

Katz will start serving her sentence on Jan. 6, 2025.

The post Judge Hands Down 12-Month Federal Prison Sentence To California-Based Home Care Owner appeared first on Home Health Care News.

Early Lessons Learned From CMS’ Hospital-At-Home Initiative

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 21:56:18 +0000

In response to hospital capacity challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) collaborated with external experts to create the Acute Hospital Care at Home (AHCAH) initiative. This initiative will expire on Dec. 31 unless Congress extends it. After three years of implementation, early insights regarding quality, costs and care have begun to shape the future of this program and similar initiatives.

CMS initially launched the Hospital Without Walls initiative in March 2020, using authorities under the Social Security Act that allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services to waive or modify specific facility standards during public health emergencies.

Building on this initiative, CMS introduced the AHCAH program in November 2020. This program enables acute care hospitals that receive payment under the inpatient prospective payment system to extend their delivery of inpatient care into patient homes.

To partake in the initiative, hospitals must submit a waiver request through a dedicated CMS portal. Following a review, CMS meets with each requesting hospital to evaluate its ability to provide high-quality and safe care in home settings in accordance with the Medicare Hospital Conditions of Participation. Once approved, hospitals can start admitting eligible patients to receive inpatient care at home. As of October 2024, 366 hospitals have participated in the initiative, serving more than 31,000 patients in home settings, according to CMS.

In December 2022, Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) for 2023, which extended the AHCAH initiative through Dec. 31, 2024. The CAA also mandated that the CMS conduct a study to evaluate several aspects of the initiative. The findings of this study, Report on the Study of the AHCAH Initiative, were published on Sept. 30, 2024.

The study used the best available quantitative and qualitative data to compare patients in AHCAH with inpatients in traditional brick-and-mortar hospitals. This comparison involved 332 participating hospitals across 38 states and covered the period from November 2020 to July 2024. The data analysis focused on several key areas: patient inclusion criteria and demographics, clinical conditions treated, quality of care, costs and service usage and patient experience.

Patient demographics

Each hospital established patient inclusion criteria based on its experience and resources to provide inpatient-level care in a home setting. The criteria also incorporated nationally recognized standards. The specific selection criteria considered clinical and psychosocial factors, the home environment and the patient’s willingness to participate.

An analysis revealed significant differences between patients receiving care at home (AHCAH patients) and those admitted to traditional inpatient facilities from the same hospital. AHCAH patients were more likely to be white and reside in urban areas and less likely to be Medicaid beneficiaries.

Quality of care comparison

The study used the Medicare Severity Diagnosis Related Group (MS-DRG) and Major Diagnostic Category (MDC) classification systems to identify the most common illnesses treated through the AHCAH initiative. The findings indicated that the predominant conditions were respiratory, circulatory, renal and infectious diseases.

Three quality metrics—30-day mortality rates, 30-day readmission rates and hospital-acquired condition rates—were analyzed to compare the quality of care. AHCAH beneficiaries generally had lower 30-day mortality rates than their counterparts in traditional inpatient settings, according to CMS.

However, the AHCAH group experienced significantly higher readmission rates for two specific MS-DRGs—respiratory infections and inflammation requiring mucociliary clearance, as well as septicemia or severe sepsis without mechanical ventilation. Conversely, readmission rates were significantly lower for three other MS-DRGs—simple pneumonia and pleurisy with complications or comorbidities, simple pneumonia with pleurisy without complications, comorbidities, or the need for mucociliary clearance, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with complications or comorbidities.

In terms of cost, CMS evaluated the impact on Medicare program spending rather than on individual hospital costs. The analysis of episodes of care—ranging from inpatient admission to discharge—revealed that AHCAH episodes had, on average, less than one extra day in length of stay. Furthermore, AHCAH beneficiaries incurred significantly lower Medicare spending in the 30 days following discharge.

Patient experience

Qualitative data on patient experiences under the AHCAH initiative was gathered through listening sessions, site visits and informal interviews with caregivers. The findings indicate that both patients and caregivers who shared their feedback had positive experiences regarding the care provided through the initiative. This aligns broadly with the positive patient experience outcomes associated with hospital-at-home programs.

Clinicians involved in the initiative also reported primarily positive experiences.

Early lessons from the AHCAH initiative suggest that providers can deliver safe, high-quality inpatient care in home settings for appropriately selected patients. This approach aligns with and supports the CMS Center for Clinical Standards and Quality’s core mission of enhancing lives, health outcomes and care experiences.

Important questions remain, as the initiative expires on Dec. 31. CMS is reportedly exploring opportunities to address these questions should the program be extended.

The post Early Lessons Learned From CMS’ Hospital-At-Home Initiative appeared first on Home Health Care News.

Promoting Covid, Flu Vaccines to Public Quietly Banned by Louisiana Department of Health: 'Unconscionable'

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 20:48:00 +0000

Louisiana public health officials are no longer permitted to promote vaccines, including those against illnesses such as COVID-19 and the flu, to members of the public in a new policy that was covertly implemented in the state.

Research points the way to lifesaving antiparasitic drugs while unlocking a scientific mystery

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 20:35:05 +0000

A breakthrough in understanding how a single-cell parasite makes ergosterol (its version of cholesterol) could lead to more effective drugs for human leishmaniasis, a parasitic disease that afflicts about 1 million people and kills about 30,000 people around the world every year.

Researchers discover replication hubs for human norovirus

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 20:35:00 +0000

Combining bioinformatics and experimetal approaches, researchers have discovered replication hubs for human norovirus, the leading cause of viral gastroenteritis accounting for an estimated 685 million cases and approximately 212,000 deaths globally per year. The findings could lead to designing antiviral drugs to prevent, control or treat these serious infections.

A tropical disease in Switzerland: Call for coordinated action on Chagas disease

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 18:30:47 +0000

Researchers conducted a comprehensive review of Chagas disease in Switzerland. Although typically found in Latin America, Chagas disease affects between 2,000 and 4,000 people in Switzerland. The review underscores the need for improved screening and healthcare strategies to eliminate Chagas disease in Switzerland.

AI may help researchers with medical chart review, study finds

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 18:29:29 +0000

Researchers trained a large language model to read medical charts, looking for signs that kids with ADHD received the right follow-up care when using new medications.

Poor vascular health accelerates brain aging

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 18:29:00 +0000

Using an AI tool, researchers have analyzed brain images from 70-year-olds and estimated their brains' biological age. They found that factors detrimental to vascular health, such as inflammation and high glucose levels, are associated with an older-looking brain, while healthy lifestyles were linked to brains with a younger appearance.

Breakthrough study set to change how osteosarcomas are diagnosed and treated

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 18:28:57 +0000

Researchers have been able to identify at least three distinct subtypes of a rare type of bone cancer for the first time, which could transform clinical trials and patient care.

AI may help researchers with medical chart review

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 18:28:49 +0000

Researchers trained a large language model to read medical charts, looking for signs that kids with ADHD received the right follow-up care when using new medications.

Integrating GABA and dopamine signals to regulate meal initiation

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 18:28:46 +0000

When you are feeling hungry, the brain takes the necessary steps toward consuming a meal. Many of these steps are not well known, but a new study reveals brain circuits and chemical messengers that contribute to the regulation of meal initiation and food intake. The findings have implications for the development of improved therapies to manage obesity, a worldwide epidemic.

The secret life of ALAS1: How a basic science discovery could pave the way for better siRNA therapies

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 18:28:39 +0000

New findings point to an opportunity to improve therapies that use small RNAs to silence disease-causing genes, potentially including those involved in cancer.

Experimental drug that summons 'warriors of the immune system' shows early promise against non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 18:00:01 +0000

An investigational therapy is demonstrating preclinical promise against non-Hodgkin lymphoma by boosting natural killer cells and efficiently annihilating the malignancy without toxicity to the patient, a team of cancer biologists in France has found.

Higher daily step counts associated with fewer depressive symptoms

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 13:28:00 +0000

A systematic review reveals that walking 7,000+ steps daily is associated with lower depression risk, underscoring physical activity's role in mental health.

Comprehensive study highlights effectiveness and limitations of ADHD treatments in adults

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 13:01:00 +0000

Findings indicate stimulants and atomoxetine effectively reduce ADHD symptoms, though non-pharmacological therapies show potential for long-term efficacy.

Shiitake-based supplement may help prevent liver damage progression

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 12:25:00 +0000

AHCC demonstrates potential in preventing liver fibrosis progression by inhibiting HSC activation and regulating key pathways involved in liver injury.

Amira Software Version 2024.2: Enhancing ultrastructure analysis

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 11:38:00 +0000

Amira Software Version 2024.2 offers groundbreaking AI enhancements and advanced tools, transforming cellular ultrastructure analysis and research workflows.

Readers Offer ‘Solo Agers’ Support and Reflect on Ancestors

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 10:00:00 +0000

Letters to the Editor is a periodic feature. We welcome all comments and will publish a selection. We edit for length and clarity and require full names.

‘Solo Agers,’ Join the Crowd!

Enjoyed your panel discussion (Watch: ‘Going It Alone’ — A Conversation About Growing Old in America, Dec. 12). I am 85, retired at 55. Traveled (birding) in 65 countries. In 2010, I created the First Friday Ideas Salon. We just had our 171st gathering, via Zoom. I curate each gathering. Last month, we hosted a conservator and a scientist from the Getty museum. The month before: a Cal Tech professor on robotics. I have had many professors, a Nobel Prize winner, MacArthur Foundation “genius grant” recipients, a presidential candidate, etc.

Recently, I became interested in the issue of how retirees whose professions defined their persona can, after age 80, as a “senior senior,” continue to be a person of substantiality. I created the Glorious Age of Aging to look at this issue over six hourlong meetings over three months. The focus was on “action steps.”

So, for me, as a “solo ager,” the key has been to take action. That said, I worry about the time when my body does not keep up with my mind. Actually, I would say my body has declined and my ability to take care of things required in my life. So, I have prepared food delivered. I hire people to help with my beloved succulent garden and with other chores — so far, young people in my neighborhood. I live in Los Angeles with famously poor public transportation. I use Uber as well as drive. So I wonder if I will be able to continue to find services that will support my living alone. And the real worry is the process of dying — not death — I do not worry about that. Recently, I have decided that I need to create an “intentional community,” which will be there when I need it. I am just beginning to think about how to do this.

— Edna R.S. Alvarez, Los Angeles

A social services agency that has been delivering meals to homebound seniors in all five of New York City’s boroughs for 43 years weighed in on X:

“It’s hard to be by myself so much of the time. It’s lonely." It's vital to understand how isolation increases the risk of health problems for older adults: https://t.co/uQDBysqmQW
— Citymeals on Wheels (@Citymeals) December 14, 2024

— Citymeals on Wheels, New York City

Keeping Pace With Solo Agers

As Judith Graham makes clear (“Going it Alone: Homebound Seniors Living Alone Often Slip Through Health System’s Cracks,” Dec. 2), more Americans are living on their own as they age, relying on a patchwork of health care services to get by.

That’s why the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) is so critical to this conversation. PACE helps older Americans — 91% of whom are 65 or older and have chronic health conditions — stay safe and healthy in their own homes.

The program offers at-home assistance with daily tasks, like dressing, bathing, and eating, and transportation to the PACE day center, where participants can socialize and receive medical care. Unlike other settings, the PACE program coordinates all aspects of a participant’s care, from scheduling medical appointments to providing meals and nutritional advice.

PACE physicians and nurse practitioners’ comprehensive approach to care benefits those who are homebound and may not otherwise have an in-home caregiver to rely on. PACE is also a particularly promising option for those with dementia, as the program allows older adults to receive memory care in the comfort and familiarity of their homes.

It’s also more affordable than many alternative care options. States have reported that PACE costs taxpayers 13% less than the cost of other Medicaid services, all without copays, deductibles, or out-of-pocket expenses for participants.

The program has been quietly transforming our nation’s senior care system, but it remains underutilized. Only a fraction of older Americans are currently eligible for the program, but its benefits can extend far beyond this group. It’s critical for lawmakers to advance policies that expand access to PACE services so that we can set more older Americans up for success as they age at home.

— Jerry Wilborn, chief medical officer of One Senior Care, Erie, Pennsylvania

Gone But Not Forgotten

In February 2023, I came across an article by Tony Leys about the closing of Iowa’s Glenwood Resource Center, which left me reflecting deeply on both the residents who still lived there and those who had passed away and are now buried at the institution. Among them is my great-grandmother, Margarita Hedlund. As I read, I couldn’t help but think about the many people like her, who spent more of their lives at Glenwood than they ever did with their families, and who now rest in the cemetery there.

Nearly two years later, I read another article by Mr. Leys expressing concern for the over 1,300 residents buried in the Glenwood Cemetery and who will take responsibility for maintaining their graves (“After Institutions for People With Disabilities Close, Graves Are at Risk of Being Forgotten,” Nov. 21). The thought of my great-grandmother’s grave and the graves of so many others being neglected is deeply troubling.

Margarita Petterson was born in Sweden in 1866. She came to America as a young child and married Erik Hedlund, also from Sweden. They had five children together, but Erik passed away in 1900, just months before their youngest child was born. My great-grandmother lived with her oldest daughter, but in 1912, for reasons unknown to me, she was sent to Glenwood. She remained there until her death in 1949. Although I knew she had lived at Glenwood, I was never told why, and when I reached out to the institution for information, I received only a brief record. It stated she had a moderate intellectual disability (IQ between 35-49) and died of cirrhosis of the liver. The only other detail I learned was that her son had decided to have her buried in the cemetery there.

I can’t help but feel sadness and frustration that she was buried so far from her husband, who passed away nearly half a century earlier. There are likely many more families with similar stories — of loved ones abandoned or forgotten in a place like Glenwood, with little more than a name and a grave marker to honor them.

Reading about the fate of Glenwood’s residents and the ongoing concern about the cemetery maintenance only deepens my desire to know more about my great-grandmother’s life and her time there. When it’s your own family member, the need for answers is personal. I hope others who may be in the same situation find ways to learn more about their relatives’ lives at Glenwood and that we, as a community, remember and care for those who were forgotten too long.

— Marlys Adkins, Clare, Iowa

Disability Scoop, a 16-year-old news site that offers daily coverage of autism, intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and other issues vital to the developmental disability community, shared the article on LinkedIn.

ER Care Goes Beyond Doctors

This is an excellent story to remind people to think ahead and utilize urgent care facilities (“Bill of the Month: A Toddler Got a Nasal Swab Test but Left Before Seeing a Doctor. The Bill Was $445,” Nov. 27). But why is this family’s bill surprising? I find it reasonable. There was the all-important initial screening by trained personnel — a child may be more ill than the parent appreciates. The medical history was obtained, temperature and other vitals taken, and swabs for the noted tests. That’s all time and effort that could have been spent on another patient. That’s supposed to be free? Surely you’re not implying that ER staff other than the doctors are worthless.

I remember the ’50s, when our local hospital’s ER staff was “on call.” No charge then if you left before you were seen.

— Gloria Kohut, Grand Rapids, Michigan

An emergency physician in Ontario chimed in on X:

A Toddler (in Canada) Got a Nasal Swab Test but Left Before Seeing a Doctor. The Bill Was $0. If the swab was positive they'd get a phone call by a doctor again costing $0. https://t.co/NPaPUWASTq via @kffhealthnews pic.twitter.com/qkVuZZFFr0
— Raghu Venugopal MD (@raghu_venugopal) December 12, 2024

— Raghu Venugopal, Toronto

Watch Your Language

It is too bad that an inflammatory article was written like the one titled “How Measles, Whooping Cough, and Worse Could Roar Back on RFK Jr.’s Watch” (Dec. 6). “Could” is just a speculative word and may be associated with fear-mongering. Your bias seems clear. It’s difficult to find unbiased health-related articles nowadays. I request that you write an article concerning RFK Jr. that is not biased — that is not from Big Pharma’s viewpoint. You aren’t aware that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, FDA, and other government agencies are industry-captured?

— Wayne Carpenter, Omak, Washington

An infectious disease specialist and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security had this to say on X:

“Vaccine development requires millions of dollars. Unless there is prospect of profit, commercial companies are not going to do it.” — why would companies even invest in vaccines if there reward is demonization https://t.co/F6jAv5cdhe
— Amesh Adalja (@AmeshAA) December 9, 2024

— Amesh Adalja, Pittsburgh

Gathering Intel on Plant-Based Diets

I just wanted to say how much I appreciated your roundup of news about prioritizing plant-based proteins (“Morning Briefing: Eat More Plant-Based Foods, According To Dietary Guidelines Advisory Panel,” Dec. 11). The idea that our food choices can come from a place of ethical consumption seems so removed from much of the world today. So many people have questions and concerns about becoming plant-based — is it healthy? What will my friends and family think? etc. But what your newsletter clearly shows is it’s not about what leaving animal products off one’s plate takes away but instead how much trying a plant-based meal gives to the individuals, the animals, and the environment.

Thank you for inspiring change without creating fear. Our future depends on more coverage like this.

— Sara Crane, Toronto

A Slice of Real Life

I really enjoyed your article “Perspective: Removing a Splinter? Treating a Wart? If a Doctor Does It, It Can Be Billed as Surgery” (Dec. 13). The exact thing happened to our family, and I thought we were an anomaly. My daughter got a 1-centimeter cut above her eye after falling out of bed. I took her to MUSC Children’s Health After Hours Care in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina (basically a doctor’s office that is open late). It’s not an ER or urgent care. When we arrived, the receptionist said, “We don’t do stitches here.” I checked in my daughter anyway since the receptionist said the doctor might be able to apply glue to help keep the cut closed. The doctor cleaned the cut with sterile saline, applied glue, and placed a few Steri-Strips. We were billed for “minor surgery” despite no scalpel, no stitches, no lidocaine. I looked up the ICD-10 code, and sure enough “application of tissue adhesive” is a “minor surgery” code. Our out-of-pocket was around $830 with UnitedHealthcare. I still have all the bills. “Liquid bandage” and Steri-Strips can be purchased at Walgreens.

I’ve never emailed the writer of an article, but this got me fired up! Thanks for bringing this to light.

— Cailin Lutz, Charleston, South Carolina

Continuing the surgical thread on X was a professor of medicine and pharmacy at the University of Pittsburgh:

I'm glad this is being looked at: Removing a Splinter? Treating a Wart? If a Doctor Does It, It Can Be Billed as Surgery https://t.co/YVUR9B8BkO via @kffhealthnews
— Bernie Good (@CBGood23) December 13, 2024

— Bernie Good, Pittsburgh

As a retired primary care physician, I was often frustrated that my management of complex medical conditions was reimbursed at lower rates than the illustrated splinter, or other “surgical treatments” as mentioned in Elisabeth Rosenthal’s article. However, blaming the physician for this discrepancy is inappropriate. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has strict regulations on billing. We are mandated to code per the regulations. We cannot give “discounts” for these procedures. To do so would be problematic in the bizarre catch-22 world of Medicare billing.

We are mandated to report our services accurately using only the codes available. To do otherwise is considered fraud by Medicare. When a physician is accused of fraud, he/she is presumed guilty and pays significant financial penalties until innocence is proven. Even a murderer and thief have more rights in the judicial system.

Medicare determines the lowest reimbursement rate; the other carriers pay a higher rate based on that rate. If an individual physician accepts Medicare, he/she must accept that rate. Only a non-participating physician (not accepting Medicare) can offer a lower rate. The exception is if the service is provided at no cost. Should the patient demand the service be provided free?

I’m reminded of the plumber charging $100 to replace a washer: 10 cents for the washer and $99.90 to know how to replace it.

— Robert Sullivan, Adairsville, Georgia

No Free Pass for Drug Ads

After reading this article by Elisabeth Rosenthal, “Perspective: With TV Drug Ads, What You See Is Not Necessarily What You Get” (Sept. 9), I wanted to share an opinion about the federal court’s decision to deem price disclosure on pharmaceutical advertisements a violation of the First Amendment. Commercial advertising has less protection under the First Amendment than individual speech. According to the Central Hudson Test, commercial speech, at baseline, must concern a lawful activity and not be false, deceptive, or misleading. Even if the speech meets all these criteria, the government can intervene if there is “substantial” government interest. If there is further regulation from the government on commercial advertising, it must be no more extensive than necessary to serve the government’s interest. Essentially, if there is intervention, it must be warranted, and the regulation must be reasonable when compared to the restriction (U.S. Constitution, Amendment 1.7.6.2).

In the case of pharmaceutical ads, especially those that promote oncology medications, they do not meet the baseline qualifications to be considered “not false, deceptive, or misleading.” It has been shown that pharmaceutical ads can rely on emotional response over rational appeal (Main, et al., 2004). If the ad is going to target an emotional response of a vulnerable population, then what is being sold must be accurate. If they are going to sell a chemotherapy that may not be the best option (but possibly have the most adverse side effects), then there is a government responsibility to protect this population and to be more discerning when determining what is truthful. Furthermore, even if the ads met the basic qualifications, they could still be regulated further due to the government interest in both public health and health care cost. Requiring that the drug cost be shown on pharmaceutical ads is appropriate federal intervention that I believe is more than reasonable when compared to the restriction.

— Molly Hilliard, New York City

A national drug safety advocate and public speaker tweeted on X:

Did you know drug companies spend over $1B a month on drug ads in recent years? Last year, the top 3 advertising spenders on TV were drug companies.I have spent my entire career in advertising and Big Pharma is keeping our industry afloat. https://t.co/0cTHTAOSAt
— Kim Witczak

Why Are Heart Attacks More Common On Christmas Day? Doctor Explains Winter Surge And Warning Signs

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 09:29:37 +0000

As the holiday season brings festive cheer and celebration, beware of a secret risk that quietly looms on Christmas Day.

Struggling With Constipation? Try These Foods For Relief—One May Lower Colorectal Cancer Risk, Says Doctor

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 08:47:23 +0000

For those tired of listening to age-old add more fiber to diet advice, here's something more specific that you can try.

Rare Nutcracker Syndrome Puts 28-Year-Old In Excruciating Pain For Nearly A Decade, Docs Initially Dismissed It As Bad Periods

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 06:04:51 +0000

The woman diagnosed with the rare and debilitating nutcracker syndrome struggles to imagine a life without pain.

Getting rehab earlier improves concussion outcomes

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 00:03:24 +0000

People who suffer from continued symptoms of concussion should seek a referral to physical therapy as soon as possible, new research suggests.

Potential culprit identified in lingering Crohn's disease symptoms

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 00:03:21 +0000

A study may explain why some patients with Crohn's disease continue to experience symptoms, even in the absence of inflammation.

By looking at individual atoms in tooth enamel, researchers are learning what happens to our teeth as we age

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 00:03:18 +0000

A research team examined the atomic composition of enamel samples from two human teeth.

Patience isn't a virtue; it's a coping mechanism

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 00:03:10 +0000

Impatience, studies of more than 1,200 people found, is the emotion people feel when they face a delay that seems unfair, unreasonable, or inappropriate -- like a traffic jam outside of rush hour, or a meeting that should have ended 15 minutes ago. Patience is the form of emotion regulation we use to cope with those feelings of impatience.

New molecule-creation method a 'powerful tool' to accelerate drug synthesis and discovery

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 00:03:04 +0000

A team of chemists has unveiled a novel method to simplify the synthesis of piperidines, a key structural component in many pharmaceuticals. The study combines biocatalytic carbon-hydrogen oxidation and radical cross-coupling, offering a streamlined and cost-effective approach to create complex, three-dimensional molecules. This innovation could help accelerate drug discovery and enhance the efficiency of medicinal chemistry.

Machine psychology: A bridge to general AI?

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 00:02:59 +0000

Artificial intelligence that is as intelligent as humans may become possible thanks to psychological learning models, combined with certain types of AI.

Best Buy Health Lays Out Biggest Lessons Learned From Hospital-At-Home

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 20:53:36 +0000

At a time when more health care organizations are launching hospital-at-home programs, operators in this space need to educate their clinicians to expect data variations. This is one of the key takeaways from a recent whitepaper released by Best Buy Health.

The whitepaper distills Best Buy Health’s years of experience implementing remote patient monitoring (RPM) through hospital-at-home into several key lessons. The company is a subsidiary of the electronics giant Best Buy (NYSE: BBY).

Since 2017, Best Buy Health has implemented more than 40 acute care home monitoring programs across the U.S. and U.K. Additionally, Best Buy Health has monitored over 34,000 patients.

Prior to rolling out a hospital-at-home program it’s important to train clinicians, in order to help them get comfortable with a new data source.

“Repeat training sessions with clinicians as they gain familiarity with this new stream of data,” Best Buy Health wrote. “Patients and caregivers should also be trained to use the technology, and if the collected vital signs are visible to patients and carers, prepare them for what they might see to avoid any undue concern.”

Best Buy Health also noted that gaps in continuous data from the home isn’t out of the norm.

Another lesson Best Buy Health emphasizes is the choosing technology based on the goals of the program, instead of just adopting whatever is available. This also means considering things like interoperability, cybersecurity, and the flow of aggregated data into the EHR.

Monitoring how well the technology works in relation to the target population is also important.

“Regulatory clearance is the minimum bar for any clinical device, but laboratory validation studies give little indication of how well the technology will perform in the home,” the organization wrote. “Testing technology in the context of the home is helpful to ensure it provides data of sufficient quantity and quality for the needs of the program. Patient adherence is a key component, so testing should include evaluations of usability and satisfaction.”

When operating in the home it’s helpful to individualize alarms, according to Best Buy Health.

“We advise using alarm thresholds tailored to individual patients and based on their clinical condition, risk and social circumstances, rather than generic hospital ‘normal’ values,” the organization wrote. “Their baseline values should be established early on, and then the focus should be on deviations from that baseline, rather than absolute values.”

Even with individualized alarms, clinicians shouldn’t solely rely on this. Best Buy Health recommends conducting rounds on a virtual care patient’s data.

“Our monitoring team conducts a ‘round’ on patients every 4-6 hours, as they might on the hospital floor,” the organization wrote. “A ‘round’ involves reviewing the patient’s vital signs and any asynchronous communications. This helps nurses establish patterns that differentiate the routine from the pathological, as well as detecting issues like incorrect device wear. Nurses also use proxy indicators to assess patients.”

Ultimately, clinicians setting appropriate standards of care is paramount.

“Monitor clinicians as they develop meaningful relationships with their patients,” Best Buy Health wrote. “With time, they will gain confidence to not disturb patients with every change in vital signs — even in the acute setting. While this approach is beneficial, it also poses a medicolegal risk, as the clinicians may choose not to respond to values traditionally considered ‘abnormal’ in the hospital, to allow patients space to recover.”

The post Best Buy Health Lays Out Biggest Lessons Learned From Hospital-At-Home appeared first on Home Health Care News.

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