April 23, 2020 | All surprise billing banned?
INDUSTRY NEWS
New research adds to growing concern that the coronavirus could cause life-threatening cardiac issues. Moreover, physicians may inadvertently be treating COVID-19 patients who suffer heart attacks in ways that may not help save their lives. These findings come from a research letter published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Researchers looked at 18 patients hospitalized for COVID-19 who had elevated electrocardiogram readings (typically associated with having a heart attack). However, 10 showed no signs of arterial blockage. This means clot-busting drugs would have had little effect. (Modern Healthcare; NEJM letter)
Sometimes, the fine print benefits the consumer. Everyone already understood that hospitals taking emergency funding cannot send surprise medical bills to COVID-19 patients. But this could apply to all patients. The guidance includes the following phrase: “HHS broadly views every patient as a possible case of COVID-19.” As Jack Hoadley, former commissioner of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, explains, “If you took the broadest interpretation, any of us could be a potential [COVID-19] patient.” (NPR)
INNOVATION & TRANSFORMATION
Mathematica has released a COVID-19 primer. It is designed to help researchers, data scientists and others who analyze health care claims or administrative data quickly join the effort to better understand, track and contain COVID-19. This primer can help users assess data on health care use and costs linked to COVID-19, create models for risk identification and pinpoint complications that may follow a COVID-19 diagnosis. (Mathematica)
Over the last few weeks, the U.S. has adopted new policies to protect the health of the most vulnerable—policies that public health professionals and advocates have been pursuing for decades. We’re seeing loosened restrictions on telehealth and a move to address social determinants of health. All this bodes well for the future of health care, Julia L. Marcus, PhD, an infectious disease epidemiologist, and Joshua Barocas, MD, an infectious disease physician, write in an editorial. (STAT News)
CONSUMERS & PROVIDERS
COVID-19 interferes with cancer care
Cancer patients are having surgeries and treatments cancelled, Kaiser Health News reports. American Cancer Society Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr. Len Lichtenfeld is hearing from patients across the country. “There was someone who had a brain tumor who was told they would not be able to have surgery, which was, basically…a death sentence for that patient.” The American College of Surgeons has published guidance on how to triage surgical care for cancer patients. But any surgery is contingent on the availability of resources at the hospital and the pressures of COVID-19, Lichtenfeld says. (Kaiser Health News)
Primary care continues to suffer
Most (85%) primary care practices report dramatic decreases in patient volume; many don’t think they can hold out for more than a few weeks, according to a survey by the Larry A. Green Center and Primary Care Collaborative. Fewer than half believed they had enough patient volume (46%) or enough cash on-hand (47%) to stay open for the next four weeks. (Healthcare Dive; survey)
NEW & NOTED
COVID-19 app: The CDC plans to roll out an app next month designed to accelerate electronic case reporting of COVID-19 cases. The app, based on Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources standards, can be implemented quickly to automate COVID case reporting. (Fierce Healthcare)
Telehealth’s gains: The pandemic has forced physicians to adopt virtual care, and this will have long-term implications. Becker’s Hospital Review offers 10 observations on the future of the telehealth market. (Becker's Hospital Review)
Stark, AKS flexibility: Doctors have more flexibility to refer Medicare patients to providers with whom they have financial ties—at least while the pandemic rages. The Trump administration has relaxed enforcement of some aspects of the Stark Law and Anti-Kickback Statute. (McGuire Woods)
MULTI-MEDIA
Gary, Ind., launched a COVID-19 Assistant app that can help people determine if they need to seek testing and medical care. “We really want to arm our citizens with knowledge,” said Dr. Roland Walker, the city’s health commissioner. The app was developed by Innovaccer. (instructional video; NWI Times)
MARKETVOICES...QUOTES WORTH READING
“Many of these sweeping policy changes are meant to be temporary, with expiration dates timed for when the immediate danger from the coronavirus is anticipated to fade. But when rights are expanded, it becomes very difficult to claw them back. Our system has the potential to be forever changed—for the better.”
—Julia L. Marcus, PhD, infectious disease epidemiologist and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, and Joshua Barocas, MD, an infectious disease physician and assistant professor at Boston Medical Center and Boston University School of Medicine, writing in a STAT News opinion piece.