US Congress Wants CMS to Up Telehealth Usage While Cutting Payments
The US Congress’s Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) has asked the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to ramp up telehealth utilization while, at the same time, cutting the payment rates associated with it. The request comes as the post-pandemic status of telehealth looks uncertain with policy changes following the recent end of the COVID-19 public health emergency.
EFPIA Calls for EU Digital Health Regulatory Harmonization
The European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) has released a report highlighting the need for harmonized regulatory requirements for digital health devices and apps. As it stands, only a few countries in the EU have standards for value assessment, reimbursement, and funding pathways. The EFPIA argues that this lack of harmonization constitutes a barrier to access for patients.
HIMMS Insights: Health Tech Solutions Must Account for Health Equity
Several talks and presentations at this year’s Health Information and Management Systems Society (HIMMS) meeting emphasized the need to factor health equity into health technology solutions. Speakers covered topics ranging from the need to target nutrition as preventative care to the disruptive impact of artificial intelligence (AI) models.
5 Tips for Achieving Reimbursement for Digital Health Solutions
The reimbursement landscape has shifted notably during the pandemic, opening pathways for digital health technologies and telehealth services. However, achieving reimbursement status can be challenging, especially considering the uncertainties surrounding the process. In a new Mobi Health News article, Timothy Lee and Dr. Liz Kwo give 5 takeaways to help digital health developers navigate this new environment. The first tip is to work with self-insured employers.
NIH Announces Winners for RADx Tech Maternal Health Challenge
The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced the next round of winners selected to move forward in the Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics Technology (RADx Tech) for Maternal Health Challenge, a contest to develop and assess digital health solutions to reduce post-partum maternal mortality. The winners will be awarded $75,000 for their efforts and entered into the next round of competition.
Understanding the Impact of New EU Cybersecurity Directive on Medical Device Industry
As implementation of medical devices is on the rise, cybersecurity threats have become a pressing concern. In a Med Device Online guest column by John Giantsidis, President of CyberActa, discusses a recent EU directive that is set to change the cybersecurity landscape of the medical device industry, Directive (EU) 2022/2555 (NIS2).
NICE Recommends CBT Apps for Childhood Anxiety
The UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued a new guidance recommending the use of certain cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) apps for children aged 5-18 living with anxiety. The guidance is the first for this class of app, as the decision was made through an early value assessment (EVA) pathway that accelerates the recommendation process.
American Hospital Association Asks Congress for Permanent Telehealth Expansion
With pandemic-era telehealth expansions expiring soon with the approaching end or the COVID-19 public health emergency, the American Hospital Association (AHA) is calling on lawmakers to extend them permanently. The professional organization penned two letters, one to each house of Congress, with a list of specific provisions it wants to see made permanent going forward.,
Oncology Telehealth Cuts Costs for Some Patients
A newly published paper in JAMA Network Open shows that some cancer patients saved significantly on travel costs by using telehealth oncology services. The study looked at completed telehealth visits from 11,688 adult patients up to 65 years of age and analyzed travel costs and loss of productivity due to an in-person visit.
In-Person Care and Telehealth Private Insurer Payments Similar in 2020
A new analysis by the Kaiser Health Foundation finds that reimbursements from private insurance plans were similar for in-person and telehealth appointments during 2020. The researchers analyzed data from over 90 million claims. The average cost for telehealth visits covering serious evaluation and management cases for established patients was $143, whereas in-person services were, on average, only a few dollars cheaper at $137.
State Medicaid Officials Look to Make Pandemic-Era Telehealth Expansions Permanent
A recent survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) found Medicaid officials from several US states were looking to make telehealth expansions enacted during the pandemic permanent. The survey was made available to Medicaid officials in every state, with several saying they would continue monitoring telehealth utilization for future analysis and decision-making.
New Digital Health Solution by Molecular You Uses Blood Test to Recommend Interventions that Improve Outcomes in 100 Days
Molecular You has released a new digital health solution that generates actionable interventions based on the results of a blood test. The company’s recent real-world data (RWD) pilot study found that patients acting on these interventions had risk reductions of 50% in health metrics associated with cardiovascular health, diabetes, and cognitive function after 100 days of use.
Patients Face Disparities in Access to Health Information
Although patients have the right to access their health-related information, many do not or are unable to take advantage of this resource. Health IT solutions have been developed to streamline these processes, but disparities still remain. Many patients are unaware of how to access their healthcare portal because their provider did not inform them of it, in particular, Black and Hispanic patients.
Zack Scott of Norwest Venture Partners Talks Digital Health and Real-World Evidence
In a new Digital Health Business and Technology interview, Dr. Zack Scott of Norwest Venture Partners discusses digital health technologies, [...]
Improving Health Outcomes Through Digital Health: An Interview with Senu Sam of Mykare Health
The rise of digital health technology in recent years has helped expand access to care for numerous patients. In a [...]
Achieving EU Medical Device Regulation Compliance
Medical device companies must apply a coordinated approach to achieve compliance with the EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR). In a recent Life Science Leader article, learn key strategies for planning for MDR compliance. The first such strategy is the establishment of an effective leadership team that can synchronize activities company-wide.
Making the Most of Oncology Patient Support Programs
A variety of real-world factors play into oncology outcomes that aren’t necessarily captured or accounted for in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Drugmakers, care providers, and other stakeholders are attempting to collect data and address these gaps in care using patient support programs (PSPs), which allow for daily reporting of symptoms and treatment compliance.
NHS Launches Digital Home Health Check-Up Trial
The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) is launching a trial to test its new Digital Health Check service for patients with underlying health conditions. The 2,000+ participant trial would provide patients with at-home blood test kits and have them get their blood pressure checked at a nearby pharmacy, reporting that data online to their provider. In doing so, the NHS hopes lower the pressure on clinics while expanding access to preventative care to more patients.
NICE Calls for Real-World Evidence on Parkinson’s Disease Medical Devices
The UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recently recommended that the National Health Service (NHS) collect real-world evidence (RWE) regarding a series of medical devices used in the management of Parkinson’s disease. The devices all serve to record information about the wearer’s Parkinson’s-related motor symptoms.
Improving Treatment Adherence Through Digital Health
Half of people living with chronic illnesses do not take their medications in the way they are prescribed by their care provider, imperiling health outcomes. Several digital health technology (DHT) technology tools have been developed to help, but a lack of patient education complicates efforts. In a new PM Live article, Peter Schueler and Isaac Rodriguez-Chavez of ICON discuss ways to adapt DHT to help boost adherence and improve patient outcomes.
WHO Releases Telemedicine Guide
Although telemedicine took off during the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries face issues maintaining reliable, sustained access to patients who depend [...]
Medicaid Still Not Completely Onboard with At-Home Patient Monitoring
At-home patient monitoring is garnering growing attention as a method to improve health outcomes and optimize healthcare spending. However, many states are reticent to let Medicaid reimburse the cost of home monitoring devices. This is, in part, due to a lack of standard operating procedures and mixed data regarding its efficacy and cost-effectiveness.
NICE: NHS Should Gather Real-World Evidence from Parkinson’s Disease Digital Health Tech
The UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has released a recommendation regarding wearable devices for people with Parkinson’s disease. These devices collect mountains of information that could be useful for research and patient monitoring. In a new article by NICE, learn how wearables could advance Parkinson’s care and find out about 5 promising upcoming devices.
The Bathroom is the Future of Digital Preventative Healthcare
The implementation of digital health solutions propelled during the COVID-19 pandemic. The rapid development and implementation of health technology has already generated large amounts of real-world data (RWD). In a new Forbes article, Thomas Serval, CEO of Baracoda, discusses how these technologies appear to be aligning more and more in one room of the house: the bathroom.
Pedometer-Based Web Intervention for COPD Yields Big Savings
A new article in the AJMC investigated the cost-benefits of a web-based intervention for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The intervention used a pedometer linked to a web app to track the physical activity of COPD patients and encourage them in the process. An economic evaluation of the intervention over 12 months showed substantial savings in health care costs.
