In the early 2000s, Caroline Williams started to notice tiny white flakes of skin on the shoulders of her clothes. “Dandruff,” she thought, and tried to treat it with over-the-counter remedies. But it got worse, and in 2004, she went to a doctor, who diagnosed psoriasis. For years afterward, doctors prescribed any number of creams, lotions, … Read more
In the early 2000s, Caroline Williams started to notice tiny white flakes of skin on the shoulders of her clothes. “Dandruff,” she thought, and tried to treat it with over-the-counter remedies. But it got worse, and in 2004, she went to a doctor, who diagnosed psoriasis. For years afterward, doctors prescribed any number of creams, … Read more
WEDNESDAY, April 7, 2021 (HealthDay News) — A few years ago, Dr. Joseph Shrager, a professor of cardiothoracic surgery at Stanford University School of Medicine, noticed that lung cancer diagnoses were noticeably higher at age 65 than at slightly older or younger ages. “There was no reason rates should differ much between the ages … Read more
SOURCES: Medicare.gov: “Durable medical equipment,” “Glossary – M,” “Home health services,” “What’s home health care?” Casey Schwarz, senior counsel, education and federal policy, Medicare Rights Center, Portland, ME. Tatiana Fassieux, Education & Training Specialist, California Health Advocates (CHA), Chico, CA. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services: “Medicare & Home Healthcare.” MedicareInteractive.org: “Introduction to Medicare.” … Read more
By Robert PreidtHealthDay Reporter WEDNESDAY, March 3, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Wider use of prescription generic drugs could save Medicare nearly $2 billion a year, researchers say. The new analysis of Medicare Part D prescription drug claims for 2017 used a random 20% of beneficiaries, 224 drugs with one or more generic substitutes and at … Read more
Nov. 7, 2020 — Joe Biden’s victory sets the stage for health care to become a high-profile priority of his presidency. The former vice president has sketched out a big health agenda: ramping up the federal response to COVID-19, boosting the Affordable Care Act, creating a new “public option” to cover uninsured Americans, and … Read more
Sabrina Corlette, JD, co-director, Center on Health Insurance Reforms, Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy. Tricia Neuman, ScD, health policy analyst, Kaiser Family Foundation. Biden-Harris campaign: “Health Care.” The White House: “Healthcare.” Promises Kept: “Making America Great Again, Healthcare: President Donald J. Trump Achievements.” US News and World Report: “Fauci Disagrees With Trump’s Claim … Read more
By Robert Preidt HealthDay Reporter MONDAY, Sept. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Here’s evidence that prescription drugs don’t have to cost a fortune: New research finds Medicare saved billions as more generic cholesterol-lowering medications became available, even though the number of Americans using the drugs increased. “One of the most important contributors to … Read more
Aug. 26, 2020 — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is changing COVID-19 reporting requirements for hospitals again, drawing the ire of the two major U.S. hospital associations. The rule, issued Aug. 25 by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, goes into effect immediately, without any chance for comment or revision. CMS … Read more