American youths are increasingly struggling: Suicide-related diagnoses in children and adolescents increased 14% since before the pandemic, a new analysis shows. This age group accounts for 35% of all Americans with these diagnoses. The report was published Wednesday by Evernorth, a subsidiary of Cigna. The company relied on commercially-insured customer data to conduct the analysis. … Read more
For anyone suffering from a debilitating or life-threatening disease, the experience of procuring specialty medications is like having a second job. You are your own advocate working in a draconian system that was developed as a business, not a care service. When you’re finally successful, after what can be weeks of delays, you’re met with … Read more
Johnson & Johnson drug nipocalimab is in late-stage clinical testing in a rare neuromuscular disorder, and if it stays on track could become the third-to-market drug in its class for that indication. But the pharmaceutical giant now has encouraging preliminary data from a separate test in a rare blood disorder affecting fetuses, helping to build … Read more
Though the nursing shortage has been a problem for years, the issue is getting more and more dire. Nurses across the country are holding strikes and rallies for better staffing levels, and more than half of nurses working in direct patient care say they plan on leaving their current position over the next two years. … Read more
If there’s a silver lining to the past two years, the pandemic brought mental health to the forefront. Studies show that one in five adults will experience a behavioral health disorder yearly. The number is almost certainly higher in rural areas. Anxiety and depression rates among adults reached 42% during the pandemic, according to data … Read more
As many as 15 million people could lose Medicaid coverage when the continuous enrollment provision ends March 31, according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. That’s why Health Net, an insurance provider in California, launched its “Review to Renew” campaign Wednesday to ensure Medi-Cal members are aware of this transition. The continuous … Read more
Dr. David Shulkin (left), former U.S. secretary of Veterans Affairs, launched Override Thursday with his daughter, Jennie (Right). Jennie Shulkin, CEO and co-founder of Override, never intended to start a business. She got her degree at Harvard Law School and worked as a criminal attorney for several years. But she had another job taking up … Read more
Nurses are leaving their high-stress jobs in droves, with experts predicting the U.S. healthcare system will be short 2.1 million nurses by 2025. To help address this burnout crisis and critical workforce shortage, Nashville-based hospital company Ardent Health Services is adopting virtual nurse technology at its Albuquerque hospital. On Tuesday, Orlando-based healthcare software company Care.ai … Read more
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts has entered into value-based payment contracts focused on improving health equity with four healthcare organizations, the payer announced Thursday. The contracts are with Steward Health Care Network, Beth Israel Lahey Health, Mass General Brigham and Boston Accountable Care Organization, which is part of Boston Medical Center. In total, these … Read more
Change is in the air, and people can sense it; the recent midterm elections saw one of the biggest turnouts ever, and as always, the rising cost of health care was a major issue for voters. But unlike in the past, there is a chance that legislators may finally make some headway, with numerous proposals … Read more