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New federal law that was announced in April states that in the New Year, hospitals must publish price lists online of all the services they offer. This should also make it easier for patients to access their medical records. Hospitals must publish public price lists under the Affordable Care Act, but with this new law hospitals are now supposed to make these lists available online. Every year these numbers must be updated so patients get the most accurate price. Rehabilitation centers, psychiatric hospitals, and critical access hospitals are also expected to put price lists online under this new law. Seema Verma, head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, commented when the program was confirmed: “We are just beginning on price transparency. “We know that hospitals have this information…
An oral contraceptive is a birth control pill taken by mouth, containing both estrogen and progesterone. The pill, if taken correctly (see directions of pill for more info), will prevent the ovary from releasing an egg for fertilization, or even simpler prevent pregnancy from occurring. The effectiveness of the pill is approximately 91% if taken correctly everyday. Some advantages that come along with taking the pill are that it makes a period shorter, lighter, and more regular. Another advantage is that is can decrease the risk of cancer of the ovaries and uterus. allows the guidelines to bend and change to employers and insurers discursion. Employers and insurance can now cover or refuse to cover based on religious or moral beliefs and require members to pay out of pocket. If…
Nurses are on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Along with other health care workers, they face an increased demand for their services—which puts them at greater risk of catching coronavirus. So, in honor of National Nurses Week (May 6 through May 12), we are taking a look at our work on shortages in the nursing and health care worker communities. We are also reviewing federal efforts to respond to these shortages, including through the CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act). The nursing workforce Nurses are the largest component of the health care workforce. They provide much of the care for hospital patients and deliver most of the nation’s long-term care. However, the U.S. has been facing a critical nursing shortage for years, partly due to increased…
Adults over the age of 60 may be more at risk of serious health issues as a result of the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus). These adults may isolate themselves in their homes for increased safety, and may face challenges accessing needed services. In today’s WatchBlog, we look at some of the recent federal efforts aimed at helping older adults, who are stuck at home due to the pandemic, obtain needed meals and other services. We also look at our work on the strategies developed by rural communities for delivering these services to isolated older adults—strategies that may be helpful in all areas during the pandemic. Older Americans Act programs and the COVID-19 response To stay in their homes as they age, older adults often need services such as in-home care,…
Some bacterial infections have become difficult, and sometimes impossible, to treat. That’s because the “superbugs” causing these infections have developed the ability to defeat antibiotics—the drugs designed to kill them. While antibiotics do not work on viral diseases like COVID-19, they may be useful in treating bacterial infections that sometimes develop in COVID-19 patients. A cause for concern Antibiotic resistance is a growing issue. The figure below shows the cumulative spread of one type of resistant bacteria. In 2019, CDC reported 2.8 million cases of infections and 35,000 deaths from 18 antibiotic-resistant bacteria of concern, including the one tracked in the figure. The Spread of One Type of Highly Resistant Bacteria, 2001-2017 Note: This figure tracks a type of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), which, according to CDC, is a “nightmare bacteria”…