Tag: primary

Primary care plays key role in vaccinating older individuals

(HealthDay)—Primary care physicians have been the largest provider of vaccinations for older individuals, according to a study published online in the July 1 issue of the Annals of Family Medicine. Elizabeth Wilkinson, from the Robert Graham Center for Policy Studies in Family Medicine and Primary Care in Washington, D.C., and colleagues used 2017 Medicare Part

Vertical mergers could be challenging for primary care

(HealthDay)—Vertical level mergers, which incorporate not just health care providers, but also insurers, retailers, and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), could pose challenges in primary care, according to an article published in Medical Economics. In order to compete with other players in health care and new entrants in the industry, the biggest players are merging to

Good primary lowers ED use for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities

One in three adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) visit the emergency department annually but effective primary care could reduce these numbers, suggests a new study led by St. Michael’s Hospital and the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES). “For populations with IDD, the emergency department can be a frustrating and overwhelming place,” said

Primary care providers say Michigan’s Medicaid expansion helped patients’ health and work

Extending medical insurance to low-income Michigan residents meant they had better access to health care, earlier detection of serious illnesses, better care for existing health problems and improved ability to work, attend school and live independently, according to a newly published survey of primary care providers. Published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine by

Similar primary outcome for lower O2 sat in extreme preterm

(HealthDay)—Different target ranges for oxygen saturation as measured by pulse oximetry (SpO2) do not affect the composite primary outcome of death or major disability for extremely preterm infants, according to research published in the June 5 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. Lisa M. Askie, Ph.D., from the University of Sydney, and

Comprehensive primary care initiative improves care delivery

(HealthDay)—Introducing the Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative (CPC), a health care delivery model developed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), improves primary care delivery but does not reduce Medicare spending enough to cover care management fees, according to a study published online May 23 in Health Affairs. Deborah Peikes, Ph.D., from Mathematica Policy

Statins associated with reduced morbidity and mortality in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis

A large register-based study conducted in Sweden has found that statins are associated with a markedly reduced risk of all-cause mortality, liver transplantation, liver cancer, and variceal bleeding in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). The study, which reviewed the records of almost 3,000 patients diagnosed with PSC between 2005 and 2016, also reported a