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WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION: World Health Day

Posted on April 7, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

Happy 75th Birthday

By Staff Reporters

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It’s World Health Day and the 75th birthday of the World Health Organization (WHO). Thanks to the WHO, we have almost eradicated diseases like polio and smallpox, and the organization led the largest-ever response to a global health crisis against the Covid-19 pandemic.

So, why not Celebrate this World Health Day by taking care of yourself? It doesn’t have to be tough or uninteresting to eat a well-balanced, nutrient-dense diet, reduce alcohol intake or go for a walk or other exercise. And, stick around for next year!

READ: https://www.who.int/westernpacific/news-room/events/detail/2023/04/07/western-pacific-events/world-health-day-2023

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Valuation of Medicare Advantage Plans and the Competitive Environment

Posted on April 1, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Health Capital Consultants, LLC

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Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, also known as Part C plans, serve as a supplement or an alternative to Original (also called Traditional) fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare Part A and Part B coverage, but they are still part of the Medicare program.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource/Title/082610254

Most of these plans also include Part D (drug) coverage. MA was created by Congress to offer seniors an alternative to Original Medicare – with an emphasis on treating and managing the health of the whole patient. MA plans are offered to Medicare beneficiaries by Medicare-approved private companies, known as MA Organizations (MAOs), that must follow rules set by Medicare. (Read more…)

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DAILY UPDATE: CVS Buys Signify Health, Narcan Goes OTC and the Technology Markets Ascend

Posted on March 30, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

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CVS expects to finalize its $8 billion acquisition of Signify Health this week, the retail pharmacy giant said yesterday. CVS beat out both Amazon and UnitedHealth Group to buy Signify, a value-based provider network. The company announced the deal last September, and executives said they expect it to close “on or around March 29th.”

In a phone call following the deal announcement, Shawn Guertin, EVP and CFO at CVS, said the company anticipates that acquiring Signify will “generate attractive returns” for CVS. The acquisition strengthens CVS’s goal of becoming a value-based healthcare company and could give it a leg up over rival Walgreens. Both companies have doubled down on value-based care in the last couple of years, making several multi-billion dollar deals, such as Walgreens’s $5.2 billion VillageMD acquisition in 2021 and CVS’s $10.6 billion takeover of Oak Street Health.

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved NARCAN, an overdose-reversing nasal spray, for over-the-counter, non-prescription sale, the agency just announced. The FDA green light marks the first naloxone product approved for use without a prescription. Naloxone rapidly reverses the effects of an opioid overdose, including situations where fentanyl is involved. In the 12-month period ending in October 2022, the United States recorded 101,750 overdose deaths, primarily from opioids including fentanyl, according to the FDA.

“Today’s action paves the way for the life-saving medication to reverse an opioid overdose to be sold directly to consumers in places like drug stores, convenience stores, grocery stores and gas stations, as well as online,” the agency said in a news release.

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Here’s how the major indexes performed yesterday:

The S&P 500^® Index rose roughly 57 points (1.42%) to 4027.83; the Dow Jones industrial average was up 323 points (1.0%) at 32717.73; the NASDAQ Composite was up 210 points (1.79%) at 11926.24.
The 10-year Treasury yield was little changed at 3.575%.
CBOEs Volatility Index was down 80 basis points (4.01%) at 19.17.

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ORDER: https://www.routledge.com/Comprehensive-Financial-Planning-Strategies-for-Doctors-and-Advisors-Best/Marcinko-Hetico/p/book/9781482240283

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MARCH: National Save Your Vision Month 2023

Posted on March 25, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

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Eye doctors can track changes in your vision, as well as detect abnormalities in the retinas and lenses of the eyeball. If your eyes are reddened and itchy and the issue is not resolved with over-the-counter eye drops, make sure you see a doctor to eliminate the possibility of an eye infection.

VISION RULE: Here’s your reminder to practice the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break from your screen and look at something 20 feet away.

MORE: https://www.iabhp.com/national-wellness-observance-calendar/save-your-vision-month/

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ORGAN TRANSPLANTS: Overhauling the System

Posted on March 24, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

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The Biden administration just unveiled a plan to revamp the problem-ridden system for organ procurement and transplants.

Health Insurance: https://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Health-Insurance-Managed-Care/dp/0826149944/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275315485&sr=1-4

One nonprofit, United Network for Organ Sharing, has had a monopoly on running the system for nearly four decades, but the government’s proposal includes potentially bringing more organizations in, as well as upping funding and modernizing the computer systems involved.

Health Technology: https://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Health-Information-Technology-Security/dp/0826149952/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1254413315&sr=1-5

NOTE: There are ~104,000 people currently waiting for an organ transplant, and 17 people die per day while waiting.

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Harvesting: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2017/09/05/on-organ-harvesting/

Dialysis: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2021/09/22/podcasts-more-dialysis-center-investigative-reporting/

Body Brokers: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/new-cbs-reports-documentary-body-brokers-explores-realities-of-donating-bodies-to-science/vi-AA18WVZ8?ocid=U521DHP&pc=U521&cvid=11f7cdab99224f1aa9290a2a3dbed05b&ei=33

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DAILY UPDATE: Wood, Moderna and the Domestic Down Markets

Posted on March 23, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

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Cathie Wood just revealed that her flagship fund ARK Invest lost over $2 billion last year. Her struggles sum up how rising interest rates are affecting markets, according to the CEO of JPMorgan Asset Management. “When the Federal Reserve hits the brakes, something goes through the windshield,” George Gatch said.
Cathie Wood’s Ark Invest also sold $13.5 million worth of Coinbase stock. The famed money manager now holds a 7% stake in the crypto exchange worth $837 million. Shares of Coinbase are up nearly 30% in the past five trading sessions as crypto prices rallied.

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Moderna – which received about $10 billion in taxpayer money to produce its COVID-19 vaccine and has since earned billions more in profits selling it – was sued in early 2022 by Genevant Sciences and Arbutus Biopharma Corp., which accused Moderna of using technology they have patented in its vaccine. The two companies have asked a federal court in Delaware to award them damages for the infringement.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource/Title/0826102549

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Alex Coffey, senior trading strategist at TD Ameritrade, said recent turmoil in the banking industry has effectively tightened credit conditions, possibly making further rate increases by the Fed unnecessary. Still, the Fed had to send a message that it’s not making an abrupt shift in its efforts to bring inflation down. The Fed has been in “cruise control” raising rates, “staying in the fast lane,” Alex says. “Now, it has turned off cruise and maybe changed lanes, but isn’t doing a quick move toward the off ramp. Today’s increase was not a ‘dovish’ hike, but also not the hawkish stance that was feared.”

“We’re near the end of the tightening cycle,” he adds. “But they have to do this slowly.”

The Fed commentary appeared to briefly soothe the market, causing the S&P 500^® Index to rise as much as 1% soon after the central bank’s announcement, but the benchmark changed direction in the last hour of trading. The reversal may have in part been in response to the ambiguity of Powell’s words, as well as continuing concern about a potential recession.

And so, the following is a round-up of today’s domestic market activity:

The S&P 500 Index was down 65.90 (1.7%) at 3936.97; the Dow Jones industrial average was down 530.49 (1.6%%) at 32,030.11; the NASDAQ Composite was down 190.15 (1.6%) at 11,669.96.
The 10-year Treasury yield was down about 17 basis points at 3.44%.
CBOE’s Volatility Index was up 0.88 at 22.26.

ORDER: https://www.routledge.com/Comprehensive-Financial-Planning-Strategies-for-Doctors-and-Advisors-Best/Marcinko-Hetico/p/book/9781482240283

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PODCAST: The Healthcare Eco-System Explained?

Posted on March 23, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Eric Bricker MD

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CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource/Title/0826102549

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DAILY UPDATE: Bird Flu Vaccine Up, FRB Down as Other Banks Rebound

Posted on March 21, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

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Executives at GSK Plc (NYSE: GSK), Moderna Inc (NASDAQ: MRNA), and CSL Seqirus, owned by CSL (OTC: CSLLY), said they are developing or about to test sample human vaccines against bird flu as a precautionary measure against a future pandemic. Others, like Sanofi SA (NASDAQ: SNY), “stand ready” to begin production if needed, with existing H5N1 vaccine strains in stock. The U.N. said it had signed legally binding agreements with 14 manufacturers for 10% of their pandemic flu vaccine in a mix of donated doses and doses to be bought at affordable prices.

Health Insurance: https://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Health-Insurance-Managed-Care/dp/0826149944/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275315485&sr=1-4

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Shares in troubled First Republic Bank crashed more than 46% on Monday, after reports the San Francisco-based bank may need to raise more funds despite a $30bn (£24bn) rescue last week.

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U.S. stocks ended the day higher, as the financials sector bounced back amid the recent choppiness in the markets. Meanwhile, uncertainty remained regarding whether the turmoil will impact the Fed’s monetary policy decision on Wednesday. Banking stocks continued to be in focus, as UBS Group agreed to acquire Credit Suisse for a little over $3.0 billion, while the Fed and five other major central banks took action to increase the availability of liquidity for the financial system.

Treasury yields were higher, and the U.S. dollar was lower, while crude oil and gold prices gained ground.

Asia finished broadly lower, and markets in Europe rose sharply, as investors around the world contend with the latest updates surrounding global banks.

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DAILY UPDATE: National Health Service Warning and the Domestic Markets

Posted on March 16, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

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Great Britain’s National Health Service, which is meant to provide “free” universal healthcare, is collapsing under the strain of long wait times, hidden data, and excess deaths. Long held up as the crown jewel of “socialized healthcare,” the world’s largest government-run system is unraveling. The crisis has led to a surge in excess deaths that has outlasted the coronavirus pandemic, with ambulance and emergency room delays linked to hundreds of deaths each week, leaked internal data suggest. Hospitals already near capacity last fall could not keep pace as the winter flu season took hold.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource/Title/0826102549

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U.S. equities were able to claw out of a deep hole to finish mixed, as the recent turmoil in the banking sector on this side of the pond made its way to Europe.

Swiss regulators stepped in to reassure global financial markets after fresh fears about the viability of Credit Suisse threatened wider fallout just days after two historic U.S. bank failures. The Swiss National Bank issued a statement late Wednesday offering the embattled lender financial support if necessary, a move that helped markets pare some of the day’s steep losses. Other bank stocks took hits as well, with JPMorgan closing down 4% and Wells Fargo and Goldman Sachs closing down about 3%. Bank of America closed down less than 1%.

The broader Dow Jones Industrial Index ended Wednesday’s session down about 280 points — roughly 0.9% — while the S&P 500 closed 0.7% lower. The tech-heavy NASDAQ finished the day roughly flat.

The worries overshadowed a welcome benign read on February producer price inflation and a retail sales report that showed a key core component of spending unexpectedly rose and the prior month’s figures were revised to larger-than-expected jumps.

In other economic news, home builder sentiment unexpectedly improved, mortgage applications rose for a second-straight week, but manufacturing output in New York contracted much more than anticipated, and business inventories surprisingly dipped. In other equity news, Lennar Corporation topped quarterly expectations.

Treasury yields tumbled and the U.S. dollar rallied, while crude oil prices dropped, and gold was higher. Asia finished mostly higher after the rebound in the U.S. yesterday, while markets in Europe fell with the banking worries dragging stocks lower across the board.

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PODCAST: Health Insurance “Medical Policy” Explained

Posted on March 6, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

MEDICAL NECESSITY

By Eric Bricker MD

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ORDER: https://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Health-Insurance-Managed-Care/dp/0826149944/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275315485&sr=1-4

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource/Title/082610254

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DRUGS: Use and Abuse Epidemiology Information

Posted on February 24, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

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“The staggering increase in methamphetamine-related deaths in the United States is largely now driven by the co-involvement of street opioids.”—Rachel Hoopsick, an assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and lead researcher on a 20-year study (US News and World Report)

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How 3 companies came to dominate the PBM market

MORE: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2022/09/21/podcast-pbm-money-flow-explained/

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More docs than ever use health IT for opioid prescribing

LINK: https://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Health-Information-Technology-Security/dp/0826149952/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1254413315&sr=1-5

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Drug Econometrics

LINK: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2016/11/06/are-soaring-health-care-costs-hurting-the-u-s-economy/

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PODCAST: Out-Patient Hospital Pricing Explained

Posted on February 22, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Eric Bricker MD

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ORDER: https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Management-Strategies-Healthcare-Organizations/dp/1466558733/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1380743521&sr=8-3&keywords=david+marcinko

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ORDER: https://www.amazon.com/Hospitals-Healthcare-Organizations-Management-Operational/dp/1439879907/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1334193619&sr=1-4

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DAILY UPDATE: “FAT” Tuesday, Amazon and Shopping Insights

Posted on February 21, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

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Mardi Gras: New Orleans loves to party all year round, but today aka “Fat Tuesday,” the city will go wild with parades to celebrate Mardis Gras. Down in Rio de Janeiro, Carnival is back in full force and an expected 46 million people will join in on the fun, which lasts through Wednesday.

Shopping insight: Walmart and Home Depot will report earnings this week and share an important update about the American consumer…who seems to be holding up pretty well, despite inflation. Fed minutes on Wednesday, and an inflation report due Friday. Stocks have hit a wall after a blistering start to the year, and the Dow has posted three straight weekly losses.

And, Amazon’s corporate employees will make less money in 2023, people close to the matter just told the Wall Street Journal. Shares of the world’s largest online retailer dropped roughly 36% over the last year, shaking up Amazon’s stock-heavy compensation plan while pulling employee pay much lower than target compensation levels.

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GSK: Zantac Risks and American Depository Receipt Shares

Posted on February 20, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

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GlaxoSmithKline

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GSK (GSK) American Depository Shares lost ~2% pre-market yesterday after a new report from Bloomberg Businessweek claimed that the British drug maker chose to keep quiet on the cancer risks of the recalled heartburn medication Zantac. Zantac, also known as ranitidine, was pulled from the U.S. market in 2020 amid concerns over the unacceptable levels of potential human carcinogen, N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA).

Since then, the makers of Zantac generics, including Sanofi (SNY) (OTCPK:SNYNF), GSK (GSK), Pfizer (PFE), and Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, have faced thousands of lawsuits for failure to adequately warn health risks of the antacid.

Citing court filings, studies, FDA transcripts, and new drug applications obtained through the Freedom of Information Act requests, Bloomberg said that the FDA considered the cancer risks when green lighting the medication, but GSK (GSK) withheld key study data.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource/Title/0826102549

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PRIVATE EQUITY: In Cancer Oncology Care

Posted on February 18, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

NIHCM GRANTS

By Ola Abdelhadi

By Richard Scheffler

University California at Berkley

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Despite increases in private equity acquisition of oncology practices, little is known about the effect on market competition, prices, and quality.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource/Title/0826102549

This research team will examine the changes in health care quality and prices following private equity acquisition of oncology practices and explore whether these acquisitions exacerbate health disparities among racial groups. This work may be relevant to policymakers and antitrust regulators assessing private equity deals.

Increasing Private Equity Investment in Cancer Care: What is the Effect on Prices and Quality of Care?

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USA HEALTHCARE QUALITY: Confidence Down

Posted on February 17, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

Confidence in the caliber of the American health system has never been lower

A GALLUP POLL

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ANNUAL GALLUP HEALTHCARE QUALITY REPORT

More than one in five adults (21%) living in the US now rate the country’s healthcare as “poor” quality—a record high, according to Gallup’s annual health and healthcare poll.

Less than half of all respondents (48%) surveyed in 2022 said they’d rank the quality of healthcare in the US as “excellent/good”—a new low since Gallup began tracking the issue in 2001. (That’s down from 50% in 2021 and a record high of 62% in 2010 and 2012.) About a third (31%), meanwhile, said they’d rate the quality of US healthcare as “only fair,” a slight drop from 35% in 2021.

Gallup partially attributed the drop in perceived quality to politics, noting that “Republicans’ positive ratings have been subdued since President Donald Trump left office.” Other likely factors, the organization offered, could be “changes to healthcare that have taken place amid the Covid-19 pandemic or curtailed access to abortion since the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision.”

Survey Reports:

Respondents reported a rosier take on the care they personally receive. Over 70% rated it as “excellent/good” compared to 6% who rated it as “poor.” But that high “excellent/good” mark is still down from 76% in 2021 and 82% in 2020.
Costs remained a point of contention in 2022. Less than a quarter (24%) of respondents said they were “satisfied” with the total cost of healthcare in the US, and this proportion is on par with rates from the past two decades. But only 56% of those surveyed reported being satisfied with the total cost they pay for care—the lowest level since 2016.
One in five respondents think the US healthcare system is in a “state of crisis” (20%) or has “major problems” (48%).

EDITOR’S NOTE: As a former CPHQ [Certified Physician in Healthcare Quality], I find this report alarming and confusing – David EdwardMarcinko MBA CMP

CMP Program: http://www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.org

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FINANCIAL HEALTH INSURANCE CO-PAY CARDS & DRUG COUPONS?

Posted on February 11, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

The “Real Deal”

A co-payment is a fixed amount ($20, for example) you pay for a covered health care service after you’ve paid your deductible.

Let’s say your health insurance plan’s allowable cost for a doctor’s office visit is $100. Your copayment for a doctor visit is $20.

If you’ve paid your deductible: You pay $20, usually at the time of the visit.
If you haven’t met your deductible: You pay $100, the full allowable amount for the visit.
Partial deductible payments incur hybrid fees.

Copayments (sometimes called “copays”) can vary for different services within the same plan, like drugs, lab tests, and visits to specialists. Generally plans with lower monthly premiums have higher copayments. Plans with higher monthly premiums usually have lower copayments.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource/Title/0826102549

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BY DR. DAVID E. MARCINKO MBA CMP®

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Co-Pay Cards May Be Creating More Controversy Instead of Solutions

Instead of reducing the actual price of their excessively priced medications, many companies have opted to provide co-pay cards / coupons as an affordable solution. However, co-pay cards may only lower the cost for some consumers and patients.

Novartis: https://www.copay.novartispharma.com/nvscopay/#

Pfizer: https://www.pfizerpro.com/co-pay-cards-patient-savings-offers

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But – The insurer is still left to pay the high price, which will eventually be passed back on to the patient / consumers in the form of higher health insurance deductibles. So – It doesn’t really seem like much of a solution when we all end up paying for these co-pay cards / coupons; does it?

Find out more here. (Source: Rebecca Mayer Knutsen, MM&M, 8/26/16)

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MEDICAL OFFICE CREDIT CARDS:

We stopped taking credit cards altogether. The only credit cards we take are for call-in payments of balances. We have placed ATM machines in our lobbies and we educate patients in advance of their visits that we only take cash or check. Our cash income has increased, our credit card fees have decreased, and we make $1.50 from each transaction through our ATM. Our patients have taken to the idea so much that they use the ATM for personal cash for other transactions because our fee is the lowest of any ATM. It has been a win-win-win.

–Dr. Farshid Nejad, Beverly Hills, CA [PM Magazine]

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For anyone contemplating taking credit cards for payments or copayments in your office, please be aware that some of the credit card companies require you to sign a contract. Don’t do that! If you do and you either have a problem with the company or find out that they are overcharging you, they will hold you responsible for the contract and may take you to court. There are enough credit card companies out that that do not require contracts and are highly competitive.

-Dr. Elliot Udell, DPM, Hicksville, NY [PM Magazine]

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Filed under: CMP Program, Drugs and Pharma, Ethics, Glossary Terms, Health Economics, Health Insurance, Health Law & Policy, iMBA, Inc., Touring with Marcinko | Tagged: Certified Medical Planner™, CMP, co-pay cards, co-pay coupons, drug cards, drug copays, drug coupons | 1 Comment »

RECESSION: Healthcare Industry Layoffs

Posted on February 5, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

Not even the healthcare industry is recession-proof

By Staff Reporters

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According to Kristine White of Healthcare Brew, New York City-based Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), one of the country’s top cancer treatment facilities, laid off 337 employees on Jan. 17 in response to ongoing financial challenges, according to a New York State Department of Labor filing.

The 337 employees, who worked across 14 sites and in multiple departments, represent about 1.5% of MSK’s 22,500 employees. This is a slight decrease from the expected 3% of layoffs announced in November 2022.

“This reduction was necessary to ensure that MSK can continue to invest in the future of cancer care, research, and education for the benefit of generations to come, and every effort has been made to ensure that patient care is not impacted,” spokesperson John Connolly said in a statement shared with Healthcare Brew.

The institution’s operating losses totaled $116.1 million for Q3 of 2022, compared to a loss of $8.7 million during the same period in 2021, according to a quarterly financial report released in November last year.

Factors such as increased patient activity, wages, and supply costs from inflation pushed the system’s operating expenses up by 7.5% from Q3 of 2021 to Q3 of 2022. The cancer center hired more staff in 2022 with the expectation that patient volume would increase, according to the financial report.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource/Title/0826102549

Health systems like MSK often reevaluate their biggest expense (workers) when business is down, Lori Kalic, a healthcare senior analyst at consulting firm RSM, told Healthcare Brew.

Just this year, multiple hospitals and health systems have also announced layoffs, including Tufts Medicine in Boston and Integris Health in Oklahoma, according to White.

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ORDER: https://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Health-Insurance-Managed-Care/dp/0826149944/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275315485&sr=1-4

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Filed under: "Doctors Only", Career Development, Drugs and Pharma, Ethics, Experts Invited, Health Economics, Health Insurance, Health Law & Policy, LifeStyle, Managed Care, Practice Management | Tagged: Healthcare Brew, inflation, Kristine White, Lori Kalic, Memorial Sloan Kettering, MSK, recession, RECESSION: Healthcare Industry Layoffs, RSM | Leave a comment »

Medical CBD: No FDA Advocacy

Posted on February 4, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

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The Food and Drug Administration said it can’t vouch for the safety of cannabidiol (CBD)—a nonpsychoactive compound found in marijuana and hemp plants—and because of that, it can’t regulate it. Instead, it’s calling on lawmakers to help supervise $12 CBD lavender sodas.The FDA said that CBD doesn’t fit the mold of the dietary supplements and food additives it typically monitors, such as ginseng and caffeine.

POT: https://contrarianedge.com/should-you-invest-in-marijuana-stocks/?uid=5f78aa3cd815b&utm_source=IMA++-+Main+Articles&utm_campaign=b43e790647-MARIJUANA_STOCKS_RESEND&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f1c90406d1-b43e790647-55139025

The agency claims the science is lacking on the safety of long-term CBD use, let alone on any potential perks—like preventing diabetes or aiding sleep.

No-2-Drugs: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2022/04/20/just-say-no-to-drugs/

Derived from Hemp

Congress legalized hemp four years ago, and most CBD is derived from hemp, not marijuana. As a result, CBD got kicked off the controlled substances list and got lobbed from the Drug Enforcement Administration’s desk to the FDA’s.

Mental Health Drugs: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2022/10/07/drugs-and-county-mental-health-programs/

Since then, the FDA’s been less active in regulating CBD than a teen in a ’90s anti-marijuana ad. That’s resulted in a chaotic and confusing marketplace, and CBD industry players were hoping the FDA would soon start reining it in.

Drug Middlemen: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2022/03/14/drugs-money-and-the-middleman/

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ORDER: https://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Health-Information-Technology-Security/dp/0826149952/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1254413315&sr=1-5

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Filed under: "Doctors Only", Breaking News, Drugs and Pharma, Ethics, Health Insurance, Health Law & Policy, Healthcare Finance | Tagged: cannabidiol, CBD, FDA, Food Drug Administration, hemp, marijuana, medical CBD | Leave a comment »

COVID PANDEMIC: Official National Emergency Ending

Posted on February 1, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

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President Biden plans to end both the public health and national emergencies originally declared to address the Covid pandemic in 2020 (and extended several times since) on May 11th 2023.

The White House just disclosed the plan while opposing efforts by Republican lawmakers to end the emergency declarations immediately with a bill called the Pandemic Is Over Act. The end of the emergencies will mean that many Americans will have to start paying for COVID tests, treatments, and vaccines.

It also signals a shift in how serious the government considers the pandemic to be. But, is this wise?

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ORDER: https://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Health-Insurance-Managed-Care/dp/0826149944/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275315485&sr=1-4

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Filed under: "Doctors Only", Breaking News, Drugs and Pharma, Ethics, Health Insurance, LifeStyle | Tagged: Biden, covid, covid pandemic, Official National Emergency Ending, pandemic, Pandemic Is Over Act | 2 Comments »

AMAZON: Launches “RxPass” Generic Drug Subscription Program

Posted on January 27, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

PRIME MEMBERSHIP

By Staff Reporters

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Yesterday, Amazon announced the launch of RxPass: an add-on to Prime memberships that provides subscribers with access to 50 generic prescription drugs for a $5 monthly fee.

RxPass will launch immediately in most states (though not California and Texas, the most populous ones) and include generic drugs that treat common conditions like high blood pressure, anxiety, acid reflux, and hair loss. About 150 million US residents have a prescription for one of the drugs included in RxPass, according to Amazon.

But the service is not available to people on Medicare or Medicaid, and it doesn’t offer insulin.

RxPass is Amazon’s answer to the Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company (which offers significantly more medications—1,100 of them) and is likely part of an effort to attract more users to Amazon Pharmacy. Amazon Pharmacy could use the boost—it launched in 2020 but ranked at the bottom of a list of which Prime perks drew members to the service, a Morgan Stanley survey found last summer.

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Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Breaking News, Drugs and Pharma, Ethics, Health Insurance | Tagged: Amazon, Amazon Pharmacy, Amazon Prime, AMAZON: Launches "RxPass" Generic Drug Subscription Programs, Mark Cuban, pharmacy, RxPass | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: Markets Morass & Walgreens Boots Alliance

Posted on January 26, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

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Image result for morass

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U.S. equities came well off their lows of the day to finish nearly where they began, as the Street sifted through a slew of mixed results with Q4 earnings season kicking into gear.

IOW: A seismic morass.

Dow member Microsoft topped profit projections, but its revenues and guidance disappointed, and Dow Component Boeing Company posted an unexpected loss, and its revenues came in short of forecasts. Elsewhere, AT&T exceeded earnings estimates and topped subscriber expectations, which are overshadowing its lackluster guidance, and Texas Instruments is lower on its outlook. The economic calendar was relatively light today, with the lone report being a third-straight weekly gain for mortgage applications.

Treasury yields were lower, and the U.S. dollar lost ground, while crude oil prices were nearly unchanged, and gold prices were higher.

And, Asia finished mixed, with mainland China and Hong Kong remaining closed for the Lunar New Year holiday, and Europe was mostly lower as investors continued to digest yesterday’s flood of manufacturing and services data.

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Finally, Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. is weighing a sale of its pharmacy automation business, which could fetch up to $2 billion, according to people familiar with the matter.

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CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource/Title/0826102549

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ORDER: https://www.routledge.com/Comprehensive-Financial-Planning-Strategies-for-Doctors-and-Advisors-Best/Marcinko-Hetico/p/book/9781482240283

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Filed under: Alerts Sign-Up, Drugs and Pharma, Glossary Terms, Investing | Tagged: Asian stocks, AT&T, Boeing, China, DOW, Hong Kong, microsoft, Treasury yields, US Dollar, walgreens, walgreens Boots | Leave a comment »

JANUARY: Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

Posted on January 22, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

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Cervical Health Awareness Month

The United States Congress designated January as Cervical Health Awareness Month. More than 14,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer each year, but the disease is preventable with vaccination and appropriate screening.

During January, NCCC and its many local chapters across the country highlight issues related to cervical cancer, HPV disease and the importance of early detection. While NCCC chapters host events throughout the year, January is a month with a special focus as chapters celebrate Cervical Health Awareness Month and work to spread the word in their communities.

NCCC and the American Sexual Health Association (ASHA) also offer a range of resources (listed below) to educate the public and healthcare providers about cervical health, from fact sheets to episodes of ASHA’s Sex+Health podcast.

READ: https://www.nccc-online.org/cervical-health-awareness-month/

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ORDER: https://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Health-Insurance-Managed-Care/dp/0826149944/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275315485&sr=1-4

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Filed under: Drugs and Pharma, Ethics, Health Insurance, LifeStyle | Tagged: American Sexual Health Association, ASHA, cervical cancer, Cervical Health Awareness Month. NCC, HPV, JANUARY: Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, National Cervical Cancer Coalition, NCCC | Leave a comment »

HEALTHCARE FRAUD: Predatory Senior Medicare Scams

Posted on January 20, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

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As you likely know, the US spends much on healthcare ($4.3 trillion in 2021, to be exact). But did you also know that healthcare fraud makes up a not-so-small piece of that pie?

The National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association (NHCAA), a national organization that works to prevent health insurance fraud, conservatively estimates that 3% of the US’s total annual healthcare spend—a hearty $129 billion—is lost to healthcare fraud. Some government agencies estimate that percentage to be as high as 10% (that’s $430 billion), according to the NHCAA.

Overall, Medicare fraud costs the US about $60 billion each year, Nicole Liebau, national resource center director for Senior Medicare Patrol, a government-funded organization designed to help prevent Medicare fraud, told Healthcare Brew, though she added that “the exact figure is impossible to measure.”

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource/Title/082610254

While Medicare fraud isn’t new, the US saw a rise in one particular tactic during the pandemic: a durable medical equipment (DME) scheme.

How the schemes work.

In a DME scheme, scammers target Medicare patients—often after a procedure or an injury—and cold-call them to offer free equipment, said Jennifer Stewart, senior associate general counsel and senior director of fraud prevention and investigation at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. The scammers offer consumers items like lidocaine, wheelchairs, walkers, or braces.

The scammers have roped in doctors—who are often unaware they’re working with scammers instead of legitimate medical companies—to sign off on prescriptions that are then used to bill Medicare for the equipment, Stewart said. Sometimes patients actually receive the products, and sometimes they don’t.

“It’s really dangerous because [a prescription like lidocaine] could have reactions with other medications. The durable medical equipment isn’t sized for them, and certainly the doctor who treated their injury didn’t prescribe it […] There is a lot of patient harm involved,” Stewart said. Keep reading here.

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Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Drugs and Pharma, Ethics, Experts Invited, Glossary Terms, Health Insurance, LifeStyle | Tagged: DME, durable medical equipment, fraud abuse, fraud and abuse, Healthcare Brew, healthcare fraud, medicare, Medicare fraud, medicare scams, NHCAA, Nicole Liebau, Predatory Senior Medicare Scam | Leave a comment »

The State of COVID-19 in the USA

Posted on January 9, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

UPDATE

By Staff Reporters

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Johns Hopkins University: https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2023/what-you-need-to-know-about-xbb15-the-latest-omicron-variant

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Filed under: Breaking News, Drugs and Pharma, Ethics, Health Insurance | Tagged: corona, Covid-19, current variant Covid, JHU, Johns Hopkins University, XBB.1.5 | 1 Comment »

DRY JANUARY [An Alcohol Free Month]

Posted on January 8, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

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Dry January is a campaign delivered by Alcohol Change UK where people sign up to abstain from alcohol for the month of January. The term “Dry January” is a registered trademark with Alcohol Change UK and was first registered in 2014^.

The campaign was first delivered in 2013 by Alcohol Concern (now called Alcohol Change UK) and 2023 marks the 10th anniversary of the campaign. Emily Robinson, founded the campaign after taking a month off alcohol in January 2011 to prepare for a half marathon. After noticing the benefits and people’s interest in her month off alcohol she decided to start the campaign when she joined Alcohol Concern in 2012. Around the same time Nicole Brodeur of The Seattle Times wrote a column on her first Dry January motivated by a friend who had done the same for several years before.

In its first year, 4,000 people signed up for Dry January and it has grown in popularity ever since with over 130,000 people signing up to take part in 2022. Dry January was endorsed by Public Health England in 2015 leading to a large uptake in numbers and steady increase in participants year on year. Research by the University of Sussex published in 2020 found that those signing up to take part in Dry January using Alcohol Change UK’s free Try Dry app and/or coaching emails were twice as likely to have a completely alcohol-free month, compared to those who try to avoid alcohol on their own in January, and have significantly improved well-being and healthier drinking six months later.

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INVITE DR. MARCINKO: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2023/01/03/invite-professor-marcinko-to-your-next-seminar-or-event/

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Filed under: Drugs and Pharma, Ethics, LifeStyle | Tagged: alcohol, alcohol change, alcohol free, alcohol free month, Dry January, DRY JANUARY [An Alcohol Free Month], January | 1 Comment »

NEW FDA DRUGS and Money

Posted on January 7, 2023 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

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New medicines launched by US drug makers reached a median price of $222,003 last year, according to Reuters. These astronomical prices were fueled by three very-expensive gene therapies approved by the FDA. In fact, one of them, from Hemgenix, costs $3.5 million, making it the most expensive drug ever.

Congress did cap annual drug price increases via the Inflation Reduction Act, but that doesn’t cover the cost of new medications. Drug-makers, meanwhile, say the cost of their drugs doesn’t reflect what patients pay out-of-pocket for them.

MORE: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/fda-approves-new-drug-lecanemab-that-appears-to-slow-early-mild-alzheimer-s/ar-AA163pDq?cvid=ee09eaf5a43f49bca0eb3a775051002e

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Filed under: "Advisors Only", "Doctors Only", Drugs and Pharma, Ethics | Tagged: drug makers, Drugs, drugs and money, FDA, FDA drugs money, Hemgenix, Inflation Reduction Act, IRA, new drugs, NEW FDA DRUGS and Money | 1 Comment »

Omicron Sub-Variant XBB Rapidly Gaining Ground in the U.S.A.

Posted on December 24, 2022 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

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he emerging Omicron subvariant XBB contributes to an increasingly high number of COVID-19 cases in the U.S., rivaling the sister strains BQ.1.1 and BQ.1, according to the latest estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Recent studies have indicated that the updated bivalent COVID-19 booster performed poorly against BQ.1.1, with even a weaker antibody response against XBB.

In late November, citing its poor neutralization effect on BQ.1 and BQ.1.1., the FDA pulled the emergency use authorization granted for bebtelovimab, a COVID-19 antibody therapy developed by Eli Lilly (LLY) and AbCellera Biologics (ABCL).

The CDC estimates for the week ending Dec. 24 show that XBB has made up ~18% of COVID cases in the U.S. compared to ~11% a week ago. Meanwhile, BQ.1.1 has led to ~36% of cases unchanged from a week ago, and BQ.1 caused ~27% of cases, a decline from ~29% last week.

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ORDER: https://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Health-Information-Technology-Security/dp/0826149952/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1254413315&sr=1-5

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Filed under: Breaking News, Drugs and Pharma, Health Economics, Health Insurance, Health Law & Policy, iMBA, Inc., Information Technology, LifeStyle | Tagged: omicron, Omicron Sub-Variant, Omicron Sub-Variant XBB, Omicron XBB, XBB | Leave a comment »

HOSPITAL FORMS: Be Aware BEFORE You Sign

Posted on December 24, 2022 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

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You don’t have to sign all the forms to be treated

Part of being a patient is signing stacks of forms, most of which you barely read much less understood. This is a mistake, Charlotte O’Leary says. Look for any “blank check” clauses on intake forms—it’s the part that reads, “I will be responsible for all costs not covered by insurance.”

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource/Title/082610254

Instead, Charlotte Hilton Andersen, MS recommends crossing it out and writing, “I will be responsible for all costs that are medically necessary, that are not the responsibility of my insurer, are competitively priced, and that I am made aware of prior to treatment if they are not part of standard operating procedures.”

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Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Drugs and Pharma, Ethics, Experts Invited, Health Economics, Health Insurance, Health Law & Policy, Healthcare Finance, Risk Management | Tagged: Charlotte Hilton Andersen, Charlotte O’Leary, forms, hospital forms, HOSPITAL FORMS: Be Aware BEFORE You Sign | Leave a comment »

PHARMACISTS: Retail Burnout Shortage?

Posted on December 21, 2022 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

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DEFINITION: Retail pharmacist work in a retail setting rather than in a hospital. They are responsible for dispensing and controlling both prescription and non-prescription medicine, advising customers on general healthcare and must work to high legal and ethical guidelines.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource/Title/082610254

Today, retail pharmacies across the board are struggling to hire and retain enough pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to keep up with the increased pandemic-related demand for vaccinations and prescriptions. On top of that, pharmacist burnout has prompted companies like Walgreens to reduce the workloads of their employees.

The stakes are high. A decline in pharmacy school enrollees and a seemingly tight job market for those graduates makes it hard to replace departing staff.

“One of the challenges in healthcare in general is that it has been a difficult couple of years for those working in this industry. And pharmacy isn’t immune to that,” said Nate Shenck, a managing director and senior partner at Boston Consulting Group.

To tackle the worker shortage, Walgreens announced it would invest $265 million in its pharmacy staff in FY 2023. Those funds are earmarked for raises, additional training and career development opportunities, and larger scholarships for pharmacy students, Erin Loverher, a spokesperson at Walgreens, said via email.

MORE: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/pharmacies-are-cutting-hours-and-closing-stores-what-it-means-for-customers/ar-AA15iBOC?cvid=bfc3491382f64937b71476a89016ae5b

PS: Some retailers, such as CVS and Kroger, are limiting the sale of children’s pain relievers. Demand for pediatric pain meds has spiked due to the “tripledemic” of respiratory illnesses spreading right now.

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ORDER: https://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Health-Insurance-Managed-Care/dp/0826149944/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275315485&sr=1-4

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Filed under: "Doctors Only", Career Development, Drugs and Pharma | Tagged: BCG, burnout shortage, pharmacists, PHARMACISTS: Retail Burnout Shortage?, PharmD, retail pharmacist, retail pharmacists | Leave a comment »

AUTO INSURANCE and the [Rising] Corona Virus Flu

Posted on December 19, 2022 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

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Here’s what Covid vaccines have to do with auto insurance

A new study of 11 million adults in Canada revealed that people who weren’t vaccinated against Covid were 72% more likely to get into car accidents where at least one person had to go to the hospital.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource/Title/082610254

Now, that doesn’t mean your jab protects against car accidents, of course, but it does suggest that folks who reject public health recommendations might also reject road rules. The difference was striking enough that the researchers said doctors should discuss road safety with unvaccinated patients, and that car insurance companies might want to factor it into their rates.

BUT ALWAYS REMEMBER :https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2021/02/05/correlation-is-not-causation/

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Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Drugs and Pharma, Ethics, Glossary Terms, Insurance Matters, LifeStyle | Tagged: auto insurance, AUTO INSURANCE and the Corona Virus, corona, flu, insurance, Jaguar | Leave a comment »

ELIXIR: Rite Aid’s New PBM [mail order pharmacy]

Posted on December 14, 2022 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

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When Rite Aid dropped roughly $2 billion in 2015 to buy its pharmacy benefit management (PBM) subsidiary now known as Elixir, the company had framed the investment as a strategic move to compete in the healthcare marketplace among rivals like CVS and Walgreens.

The deal quickly helped make Rite Aid $4.1 billion in its newly formed pharmacy services segment—including Elixir and other pharmacy services, according to the company—bolstering its financial standing the next fiscal year. Maybe it would no longer be the ugly duckling next to the cooler, sleeker swans.

It seemed to be working—for a while at least. But by 2018, analysts were recommending Rite Aid sell off Elixir to reduce the parent company’s debt. Still, Rite Aid stuck with Elixir in hopes of boosting its competitiveness in the retail pharmacy scene.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource/Title/082610254

This year, Rite Aid President and CEO Heyward Donigan was still painting a rosy picture of Elixir, saying in earnings calls that the PBM was gaining more members and Elixir’s operating margins were improving.

But a month after its latest earnings call in September, Rite Aid was hit with a class-action lawsuit accusing the company of making “false and/or misleading statements” to investors about Elixir’s status between April and September of this year.

READ: https://www.healthcare-brew.com/stories/2022/12/09/rite-aid-faces-a-class-action-lawsuit-over-its-pharmacy-benefits-subsidiary

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Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", "Doctors Only", Drugs and Pharma, Health Insurance, Health Law & Policy, Healthcare Finance | Tagged: Elixir, mail order pharmacy, order, PBM, pharmacy, Pharmacy Benefits Managers, Rite Aid, Rite Aid's PBM | Leave a comment »

PODCAST: Doctor’s Don’t Disclose Conflicts of Interest

Posted on December 13, 2022 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

C.O.I.

By Eric Bricker MD

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MORE: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2022/10/05/video-on-doctors-money-and-conflicts-of-interest/

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Product Details

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Filed under: "Doctors Only", Drugs and Pharma, Ethics, Health Economics, Health Insurance, Professional Liability | Tagged: COI, Conflicts of Interest, Don't Disclose Conflicts of Interest, Drugs, Eric Bricker MD, pharma, pharmaceuticals | Leave a comment »

AMGEN: To Buy Horizon Therapeutics?

Posted on December 12, 2022 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

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Pharma Giant Amgen Sends Its Estimated $350 Million U.S. Media Business to Hearts & Science

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(Bloomberg) — Amgen Inc. has agreed to buy Horizon Therapeutics Plc at a valuation of about $26 billion in what would be its biggest-ever acquisition, according to a person familiar with the matter. The US biotechnology giant offered around $116.5 for each Horizon share, said the person, who asked not to be identified as the information is private. The offer price is at a around 20% premium to Horizon’s closing price of $97.29 on Friday.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource/Title/082610254

Horizon rose as much as 15% to $111.70 in pre-market trading today while Amgen slipped 0.5%. But, the deal or announcement could be delayed and talks could still fall apart.

As of Friday’s close, Horizon shares had surged 24% since the company revealed on Nov. 29th that Amgen, Sanofi SA and a Johnson & Johnson unit were in preliminary talks about a possible acquisition. That pushed its market value to $22 billion, prompting Sanofi to back out Sunday, as J&J did earlier this month. Amgen has a market value of about $149 billion after rising by 24% this year.

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Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Breaking News, Drugs and Pharma, Health Economics, Information Technology, Investing | Tagged: AMGEN, AMGEN: To Buy Horizon Therapeutics?, Horizon Therapeutics | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: Stocks Down & Wholesale Price Inflation Up – Hemophilia B Dug Hope

Posted on December 10, 2022 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

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The FDA has approved a new gene therapy to treat hemophilia B, a genetic bleeding disorder. The drug maker CSL Behring set a $3.5 million price for the one-time treatment.

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The recent stock choppiness has come amid uncertainty regarding the ultimate economic impact of aggressive rate hikes, of which inflation has been a primary driver of the tightening. More key inflation data is on tap next week, courtesy of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the Import Price Index. These reports will lead up to the Federal Open Market Committee’s (FOMC) long-awaited monetary policy decision that will be released on Wednesday.

In other economic news, a preliminary look at consumer sentiment surprised to the upside. On the equity front, Lululemon Athletica beat top and bottom line estimates but lowered its guidance, RH also bested forecasts though warned of worsening demand moving forward, Broadcom posted upbeat results and increased its dividend, and Microsoft is now facing a U.S. government antitrust lawsuit in its attempt to acquire Activision Blizzard.

Treasury yields rose following the wholesale price data, and the U.S. dollar gained modest ground, while crude oil prices dipped, and gold increased.

Asian stocks finished higher with Hong Kong markets leading the way, and European stocks gained ground as the global markets absorbed inflation data out of the U.S. and China.

***

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Filed under: Alerts Sign-Up, Alternative Investments, Drugs and Pharma, Investing, LifeStyle | Tagged: hemophilia B, inflation, stocks down, Wholesale Price Inflation Up, WPI | Leave a comment »

SENATE REPORT: “Systemic Problems” Hindered US Corona Virus Pandemic Response

Posted on December 9, 2022 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

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A new examination by Senate Democrats of how the federal government bungled its early response to the coronavirus pandemic faults President Donald J. Trump and his administration for numerous missteps while also laying blame on “multiple systemic problems” that long predated his time in office.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource/Title/082610254

READ: https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/221208_HSGACMajorityReport_Covid-19.pdf

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PODCAST: Drugs AVERAGE WHOLESALE PRICE

Posted on December 7, 2022 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

AWP EXPLAINED

By Eric Bricker MD

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CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource/Title/082610254

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DAILY UPDATE: Merck, Rents, COVID and the Catapulting MARKETS!

Posted on December 1, 2022 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

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MARKETS

U.S. equities reversed course and finished with solid gains in the wake of remarks from Fed Chairman Jerome Powell at a gathering at the Brookings Institution in Washington. The Chairman reiterated the Fed’s plan to “stay the course” with its rate-hike campaign, but noted that smaller increases were likely ahead, as soon as next month’s meeting. Powell’s comments came just before the Fed’s release of its Beige Book report on business activity across the nation that showed a slight moderation. Preceding Friday’s key nonfarm payroll report, ADP’s private sector payroll data came in below estimates, and job openings remained robust.

In other economic news, mortgage applications snapped a two-week winning streak, Q3 GDP growth was revised higher, Chicago manufacturing unexpectedly fell further into contraction territory, and pending home sales continued to fall but at a slower pace. Moreover, the advance goods trade deficit widened surprisingly, and wholesale inventories rose more than projected. Treasury yields turned lower following Powell’s comments, and the U.S. dollar tumbled, while crude oil prices rose and gold was solidly higher. Earnings season has headed toward the finish line, with CrowdStrike Holdings topping profit and revenue estimates but missing its annual recurring revenue growth forecast, though Workday topped earnings expectations, raised its guidance, and announced a $500 million share buyback plan.

Asia finished mostly higher and stocks in Europe gained ground, with the markets digesting mixed economic data, while optimism remains that China may be set to ease some COVID-related restrictions.

CITE: https://www.r2library.com/Resource/Title/082610254

***

This quarter’s pharmaceutical earnings were overall better than expected. Especially Merck, thanks to its Keytruda sales. The cancer drug brought in $5.4 billion last quarter, accounting for a whopping 36% of the company’s revenue for that period. But, Keytruda’s patent is expiring in 2028, and everyone is waiting to see what Merck pulls out of its hat to replace it.

Apartment rents across the US dropped in November by the most in at least five years, a sign that a key cost tracked by the Federal Reserve could be easing up. A national index of rents fell by 1%, the third straight month-over-month decline and the steepest drop in data going back to 2017, Apartment List said in a blog post recently.

As of the week ending Nov. 19th, Americans aged 65 and older make up 92% of all deaths from the virus, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.MORE: Latest COVID vaccine will help people ‘move on’ from the pandemic, White House’s Jha says It’s the first time senior citizens have made up more than nine out of 10 deaths since the pandemic began and a drastic increase from the roughly 58% of deaths they made up in summer 2021, an ABC News analysis showed.

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Filed under: Alerts Sign-Up, Drugs and Pharma, Funding Basics, iMBA, Inc., Investing, LifeStyle | Tagged: catapulting markets, markets, Merck, rents, stock markets | Leave a comment »

PHARMACIES: Consumer Centric in the Future?

Posted on November 22, 2022 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

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Rina Shah has been working at Walgreens her entire career—close to 25 years—but this year she got a shiny new title: vice president of pharmacy of the future. The role was created as part of what CEO Rosalind Brewer said in Walgreens’ latest earnings call is the company’s top priority: creating a consumer-centric healthcare company. The retail pharmacy giant essentially wants to free up its pharmacists’ time so they can go from filling prescriptions all day to engaging more directly with patients.

Shah is heading up these efforts, and she sat down with Neal Feyman to talk about what Walgreens sees when it pictures the pharmacy of the future.

What does “the pharmacy of the future” mean? When we talk about the future of pharmacy, it’s to leverage our pharmacists in a much more data-driven, effective way to lower costs in the system.

For example, in certain states where there’s higher pollen counts and pollution, we’re seeing higher emergency room visits because of asthma. We can educate people on the difference between a rescue inhaler and a maintenance inhaler—and how they can understand triggers—and ultimately impact lower emergency room visits because of that.

What problems are you trying to solve in this role? Prior to the pandemic hitting, we had been asked by providers and payers and other organizations for our pharmacists to do more. We were being asked to provide testing services and in-depth consultations with patients.

However, our operating model didn’t really account for that. Our pharmacists were busy doing many more administrative tasks. We made the decision that we needed to transform the model, which meant really freeing up the capacity of our pharmacists so they could spend time with patients delivering care, as it’s always intended to be. Keep reading here.—NF

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Filed under: "Doctors Only", Alternative Investments, Career Development, Drugs and Pharma, Ethics, Experts Invited | Tagged: Consumer Centric, future, Neal Freyman, pharmacies, pharmacy, pharmacy future | Leave a comment »

Public Health Amidst a Smart Pandemic

Posted on November 21, 2022 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Ryan Yonk and April Liu

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READ HERE: https://www.aier.org/article/public-health-amidst-a-smart-pandemic/

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Filed under: Drugs and Pharma, Ethics, Events-Planner, Experts Invited, Health Insurance | Tagged: April Liu, covid, pandemic, public health, Public Health Amidst a Smart Pandemic, Ryan Yonk, smart pandemic | Leave a comment »

TODAY: World Pancreatic Cancer Day 2022 [November 19th]

Posted on November 19, 2022 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

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On World Pancreatic Cancer Day, loved ones, communities and organizations around the world unite to shine a light on pancreatic cancer and share our universal message that it’s about time we all know the symptoms!

Raise awareness on this special day as we share the facts about this disease, survivor stories and what you can do to make an impact.

READ: https://pancreaticcanceraction.org/take-action/raise-awareness/pancreatic-cancer-awareness-month/world-pancreatic-cancer-day/

***

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Filed under: Breaking News, Drugs and Pharma, iMBA, Inc., Quality Initiatives | Tagged: november 17th, november 17th., pancreatic cancer, pancreatic cancer day, pancreatic day, pancreatic day 2022, world pancreatic day | Leave a comment »

DAILY UPDATE: Elizabeth Holmes & Tech Stocks

Posted on November 14, 2022 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

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Elizabeth Holmes will find out how much time she’s spending in prison. The Theranos founder will be sentenced on Friday after being found guilty of fraud for lying to investors about her blood-testing startup. Prosecutors want 15 years.

MORE: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2014/10/28/about-theranos/?preview=true

Meanwhile, beaten-down tech stocks were the stars of last week’s rally, staging their biggest two-day pop since the financial crisis after inflation numbers came in cooler than expected. Investors still caution that this might be a classic case of a “bear market rally,” or a brief glimpse of the sun before the storm clouds return. Corporations haven’t exactly been lighting it up with profits right now.

***

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Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", "Doctors Only", Alerts Sign-Up, Drugs and Pharma, Ethics, Health Law & Policy, iMBA, Inc. | Tagged: DAILY UPDATE: Elizabeth Holmes & Tech Stocks, Elizabeth Holmes, tech stocks, Theranos | Leave a comment »

COVID: US Public Health Emergency Extended

Posted on November 12, 2022 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

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The US will extend its Covid public health emergency through the spring of 2023 in anticipation of another winter surge.

The emergency, first issued in January 2020, broadens eligibility for both Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the government estimates that ~15 million people will lose their benefits from those programs once it ends.

***

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Filed under: Breaking News, Drugs and Pharma, LifeStyle, Risk Management | Tagged: covid, Covid-19, COVID: US Public Health Emergency Extended, US Public Health Emergency Extended | Leave a comment »

PHARMA: Will Americans Finally See Drug Prices Decrease?

Posted on November 4, 2022 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Health Capital Consultants, LLC

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According to the White House, “Americans pay two to three times as much as people in other countries for prescription drugs, and one in four Americans who take prescription drugs struggle to afford their medications. Nearly 3 in 10 American adults who take prescription drugs say that they have skipped doses, cut pills in half, or not filled prescriptions due to cost.” In an effort to combat this growing crisis, both the federal government and private companies have taken a number of steps over the past year aiming to lower drug prices. This Health Capital Topics article will review those actions and the potential unintended consequences of these actions.

(Read more…)

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Filed under: "Doctors Only", Drugs and Pharma, Experts Invited, Glossary Terms, Health Economics, Health Insurance | Tagged: drug prices, Drugs, Health Capital Consultants LLC, PBM, pharma, pharmacy, Pharmacy Benefits Managers, Will Americans Finally See Drug Prices Decrease? | Leave a comment »

CVS, Walgreens and Walmart: Opioid Settlement

Posted on November 3, 2022 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

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CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart agree to pay $13 billion over opioids

The pharmacy chains have reached a tentative deal to settle thousands of lawsuits brought by state and local governments that accuse them of contributing to the opioid epidemic.

If the deal goes through, CVS and Walgreens will each cough up around $5 billion, and Walmart will reportedly be on the hook for $3 billion.

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Filed under: Breaking News, Drugs and Pharma, Ethics, Health Insurance, Risk Management | Tagged: CVs, Drugs, opioids, pharma, pharmaceuticals, Walgreen's, Walmart | Leave a comment »

MEDICARE: “Dis” Advantage Plan Marketing

Posted on November 2, 2022 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

CMS Cracks Down on Medicare Advantage TV Marketing

Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA

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CMS is cracking down on deceptive marketing practices and will no longer allow Medicare Advantage or Part D prescription drug plans to advertise on television without agency approval first. The new policy is effective Jan. 1st and was discussed in an Oct. 19th memo from CMS to MA and Part D providers. The agency said it issued the new policy after reviewing thousands of beneficiary complaints regarding confusing, misleading or inaccurate information from plans — plan sponsors are also responsible for all marketing activities from brokers and third-party agencies.

“CMS has conducted so-called ‘secret shopping’ by calling numbers associated with television advertisements, mailings, newspaper advertisements and internet searches to monitor the experience beneficiaries have engaging these entities,” the agency wrote.

“Our secret shopping activities have discovered that some agents were not complying with current regulation and unduly pressuring beneficiaries, as well as failing to provide accurate or enough information to assist a beneficiary in making an informed enrollment decision.”

Source: Jakob Emerson, Becker’s Payer Issues [10/27/22]

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OIG: https://oig.hhs.gov/oei/reports/OEI-09-18-00260.asp

MORE: https://medicalexecutivepost.com/2022/04/29/probe-medicare-advantage-part-c-plans-deny-needed-care-to-tens-of-thousands-of-patients/

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Filed under: "Ask-an-Advisor", Breaking News, Drugs and Pharma, Health Insurance, Health Law & Policy, iMBA, Inc., Industry Indignation Index, Managed Care, Touring with Marcinko | Tagged: medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicare C, Medicare Part C, Part C | Leave a comment »

COLONOSCOPIES: Statistical Update

Posted on October 18, 2022 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA

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DEFINITION: A Colonoscopy and/or sigmoidoscopy are procedures that let your doctor look inside your large intestine. They use instruments called scopes. Scopes have a tiny camera attached to a long, thin tube. The procedures let your doctor see things such as inflamed tissue, abnormal growths, and ulcers.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The ME-P does not normally discuss medical or clinical matters. But, this report is noteworthy to all.

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About 15 million colonoscopies are performed in the US yearly as part of standard preventive care for adults over 45, but a new study has called into question whether all the footage from those tiny cameras is really necessary.

Over a 10-year period, people who had the screenings were 18% less likely to develop colon cancer than people who didn’t, according to the study in the New England Journal of Medicine. However, the risk of death from the cancer for both the screened and un-screened was about the same, hovering around 0.3%.

***

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Filed under: "Doctors Only", Breaking News, Drugs and Pharma, Ethics, Health Economics, Health Insurance, Healthcare Finance, iMBA, Inc., Insurance Matters, LifeStyle, Professional Liability, Quality Initiatives, Touring with Marcinko | Tagged: colon, COLONOSCOPIES: Statistical Update, colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy | Leave a comment »

COVID-19: US Extends Public Health Emergency Declaration

Posted on October 14, 2022 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Kanishka Singh

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States on Thursday extended the COVID-19 pandemic’s status as a public health emergency for another 90 days, thereby preserving measures like high payments to hospitals and expanded Medicaid.

READ: https://www.politico.com/news/2022/08/17/hhs-covid-health-emergency-00052509

The extension was announced by U.S. Health Secretary Xavier Becerra on Thursday. Last month, President Joe Biden said in an interview that “the pandemic is over,” which prompted criticism from health experts.

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Drugs and County Mental Health Programs

Posted on October 7, 2022 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

On Medication and Pharmaceutical Direction

[By Carol S. Miller BSN, MBA, PMP]

Two issues related to medication have an impact on county mental health programs. The first is the new emphasis on drug therapy and the second is targeted marketing by pharmaceutical companies of newer, more costly drugs.

First

In the past, psychiatrists focused on identifying the “cause of the problem” and developing associated treatment plans to treat the cause. With the increasing number of mental health patients, especially those with chronic mental illness conditions, psychiatrists do not have the time to focus solely on the treatment plan and the underlying cause of the mental illness. Instead, their focus has had to become intake evaluations, case coordination, and medication checks. Use of medication has replaced the treatment plan, and continues to play a much larger and more primary role in the treatment of most, if not all, patients.

Second

The second major issue is advertising. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lifted restrictions against direct pharmaceutical advertising several years ago, enabling the representatives of these firms to market and advertise their drugs. Advertisers target both medical and mental-related problems, including everything from depression, anxiety, attention deficit disorder, acid reflux disease, high cholesterol, erectile dysfunction, arthritis, allergies, over-active bladder, to asthma. With the advent of marketing, many drugs are now being over-prescribed and are becoming a component of spiraling healthcare costs.

Assessment

In summary, both of these pharmaceutical issues are having an impact on county mental health centers — first, as a cost issue, second because of the change-in-direction treatment modality, and third from the perspective of potential ethical issues involved in provider/pharmaceutical company ties and relationships.

Conclusion

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Filed under: Drugs and Pharma | Tagged: County Mental Health Programs, Medication and Pharmaceutical Direction, mental health, Mental Health Equitable Treatment Act | 6 Comments »

Text or Call 988: SAMHSA – Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Posted on October 4, 2022 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Staff Reporters

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988, a New National Suicide Hotline, Launched on July 16th, 2022

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A new national suicide hotline, 988, becomes operational nationwide on July 16th. People experiencing a mental health emergency, such as suicidal thoughts, a substance-use crisis, or any other emotionally distressing event, will be able to call during times of crisis, but operators will also be available via text and online chat (at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat), according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

The 988 hotline will essentially replace the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-TALK); however, the previous hotline will not be discontinued when 988 is rolled out, and callers will be directed to the same services offered via 988. Mental health experts say the new hotline will provide necessary updates to the services currently provided by the 1-800 number, chief among them a focus on sending trained experts to respond to mental health emergencies rather than law enforcement who are unfamiliar with protocols when approaching suicidal individuals.

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READ: https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/988

MORE: https://www.kevinmd.com/2022/07/new-988-hotline-has-potential-to-transform-mental-health-care-but-challenges-loom.html

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