Social Determinants Strongly Linked to Onset of Chronic Disease

Individuals’ social determinants of health, including education level, income, diet, and exercise, were strongly associated with the development of a chronic disease, suggesting that providers should assess these factors to identify high-risk patients, according to a study published in JAMA Network Open.

Using Medically-Tailored Meals to Boost Chronic Disease Care

Chronic diseases are both costly and prevalent, with the healthcare industry shelling out billions each year to manage and treat these conditions. Although illnesses like diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension are preventable, many individuals face barriers that hinder their ability to keep healthy.  

Home Care Industry Turnover Reaches All-Time High of 82%

The home care industry’s biggest problem — turnover — is only getting worse. Already cited as the No. 1 challenge plaguing home care agencies across the country, the median caregiver turnover rate skyrocketed to 82% in 2018, according to this year’s Home Care Benchmarking Study.

Fewer Uninsured ED Visits, Hospitalizations After ACA, JAMA Study Finds

The percentage of uninsured patients who visited hospital emergency departments or were discharged declined between 2006 and 2016, according to a new JAMA study.

CMS to Launch New Direct-Contracting Pay Models in 2020

HHS on Monday launched an ambitious, double-pronged strategy to shift primary care from fee-for-service payments to a global fee model where clinicians and hospitals could assume varying amounts of risk.

U.S. Economic Burden of Chronic Diseases Tops $3.8 Trillion

The U.S. economic burden of chronic diseases such as Alzheimer's, diabetes, heart disease, obesity and cancer has reached about $3.8 trillion in direct and indirect costs—or nearly one-fifth of GDP, according to a new report from Fitch Solutions.

How One Doctor Changed the Way Patients Experience Care

Chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension are among the most preventable conditions. Lifestyle changes, evidence-based self-care and complementary approaches to healing can help patients manage these and other chronic conditions. It is the responsibility of their primary care physician to help support these changes.

CMS Expands Ability of MA Plans to Tackle Social Determinants of Health for the Chronically Ill

The policy change builds on previous efforts by CMS to encourage better management and maintenance of health by allowing increased flexibility for plan dollars to pay for services like adult care programs and the installation of home safety devices.

CMS: Physician Uptake of Advanced Payment Models Under MACRA Outpacing Goals

QPP includes two possible tracks for doctors, the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and the Advanced Alternative Payment Model. In 2017, more than 1 million doctors enrolled in MIPS, about 95% of those eligible, while more than 99,000 qualified for APM, which is a higher risk-bearing option, according to the report .