The Med & Mic™ 02.23.22
Medical and Health News of the Day
From Dr. Maria ON Speaking, LLC
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Ambulance Fees Boom
The price of ambulance transportation has climbed, leaving patients with surprise bills. Ambulance operators charge 22% more than five years ago. Private insurance payments have grown by 56%. Medicare, however, has only increased its expenditure for emergency transport by 5%. Ambulances aren’t covered by laws that prevent surprise medical bills. Also, ambulance operators are not homogenous. They are run by a combination of private and public entities. More in Axios.
Medical Record Cybersecurity Risk
Attackers seeking to profit from the information in electronic health records have heightened the alert in cybersecurity circles. The Health Sector Cybersecurity Coordination Center published a brief warning about potential strikes, such as phishing attacks, malware, and cloud threats. In 2021, 40 million patient records were compromised. More in Healthcare IT News.
Barriers for People Taking Opioids Long Term
People taking long-term opioid treatment have trouble getting high-quality continuous care. The information was shared in a research letter in the New England Journal of Medicine. The authors say these long-term patients are in a difficult situation, as pain management clinics close and new physicians are reluctant to take them on. Also, they can’t find tailored care. Dr. Antje Barreveld is quoted from the research letter in an article from Healio, “Reflexive and one-size-fits-all approaches to tapering or discontinuing opioids prescribed for chronic pain should be avoided.”
Neil Cavuto’s Second Bout of COVID
Fox Business host Neil Cavuto explained his five-week absence was due to a second COVID infection which put him in intensive care. Cavuto has multiple sclerosis, a history of cancer, and open-heart surgery. He has urged viewers to get vaccinated, whereas others on his network have criticized vaccine and mask mandates. More from NPR.
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Remember: this post is for informational purposes only and may not be the best fit for you and your personal situation. It shall not be construed as medical advice. The information and education provided here is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical treatment, advice, and/or diagnosis, or the advice of your own physician. Always check with your own physician or medical professional before trying or implementing any information read here.