Consulo Indicium - 8/29/24
Information for your Consideration…
Concerns Of “We The People” – The Kaiser Family Foundation completed a health tracking poll last February 2024 to ascertain the public’s perspective on the state of the Accountable Care Act (ACA) and health care costs. To put it mildly – health care is a BIG CONCERN! The surveyed about 1,300 adult voters across the political spectrum. And, across that spectrum, several key points of pain were identified:
- 74% were “somewhat” or “very” worried about their ability to afford unplanned medical bills (NOTE: Count me in as well!!)
- 73% were “somewhat” or “very” concerned about the overall cost of healthcare services.
- Of those with health insurance, 48% were concerned about the cost of their monthly premiums.
- And, of those who are lacking insurance – 25% have delayed or postponed accessing healthcare services but 61% of the uninsured simply skip needed medical care.
- Where the two sides differed was on the issues related to the ACA with 59% of Democrats noting a favorable view of the plan; and, 23% of Republicans wanting to limit the plan and 39% being favorable toward outright repeal.
- And, not to be forgotten, 36% of Republicans versus 71% of Democrats viewed the future of ACA as “very important”
Shuffling The Chairs At DHHS - There seems to be a fair amount of movement in the US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) of late with the recent announcement on the creation of an Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy – which in reality represents an expansion of the Office of the National Coordinator. But, it’s a noteworthy advancement because it not only includes an upper level oversight appointment but also the creation of a Chief Technology Officer, Chief Data Officer and a Chief AI Officer. Yowser!! Or, perhaps I should say – Finally!! In making the announcement, Andrea Palm, DHHS Deputy Secretary said: “These organizational changes will ensure that HHS is best suited to serve the American people during this incredibly dynamic time in the technology space.” All of this recent activity and response stems from the 2023 Biden Executive Order on AI that charged DHHS with responsibility for implementing a plan to deal with the evolving avalanche of all things AI/ML affecting health care. So, we are likely to see even more down the road…for example, like the following…
But, There’s More: Kudos To ONC – For those of us who follow the information technology space, the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) recently issued a new proposed rule for all healthcare providers and health plans receiving Health and Human Service funding of any type. It would require use of “certified” health information tech tools and adherence to ONC standards by all health care providers and plans. The implications are significant. Why? Because the new requirements related to the acquisition, implementation, and upgrading of all health information and the systems used for sharing the information. In essence, it moves the idea of “interoperability” objectives previously described in the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH Act) into reality.
In essence, the new rule is designed to ensure that all health IT systems procured by HHS or that connect to the agency in any form such as healthcare providers, health plans, or insurance issuers who contract for payments be fully compliant with the standards and implementation specifications set by regulation. The penalties are not inconsequential. For example, there are penalties for those vendors that prevent the “unreasonable” access, exchange or sharing of electronic health information (EHI) of up to $1 million. And, furthermore, “unreasonableness” is not just a technical connectivity issue. It also applies to the fees charged by IT vendors for providing the connectivity. It’s a good measure. The feds through Medicare, Medicaid, FQHCs, the VA and other funding operations are the biggest game in town when it comes to health care finance. It creates quite a strong incentive by the vendors and payors to move forward on something that should have been accomplished (my perspective) several decades ago!! In sum, the good news is that all of the major Health Info Tech (HIT) organizations have been working on the interoperability issues and while there will no doubt be some hiccups, the industry is finally moving forward in this most important area for enhancing care delivery across the board. If you have any comments on the proposed rule, they must be submitted by October 8, 2024. Shortly after that point, the rule will be finalized.’’
The Summer COVID-19 Surge Is Upon Us – Throughout early August and as we move into the Fall, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is issuing warnings that COVID-19 is once again running rampant. The coastal areas of the USA seem to be the hardest hit. Furthermore, through my information “friends survey,” it seems that travelers coming from Europe and the Far East are bringing the virus home 😊. So, taking some precautions by those travelers coming home after wonderful trips abroad should definitely be considered. The Family Physician Newsletter does a good job of tracking the pandemic and includes information on “long COVID”, treatment options, testing and testing options. Check it out for good, reliable, and readable information.
And, Don’t Forget The Other Virus – In addition to the covert COVID-19 virus that passes human-to-human, it’s now summertime. The West Nile Virus is still out there and increasingly being identified by health departments across the USA. The rate of infections is far, far less than but can be just as problematic. And, like COVID-19, the spread is a function of community. So, lather up with mosquito repellent and keep those mosquito growth areas (e.g. stagnant water pools) cleaned up.
More Dementia News – Some might wonder why I’m reporting more information on dementia these days. It’s for two reasons. First, I’ve reached an inflection point where I’m now beyond the 70 year mark when dementia seems to reach an accelerating velocity among friends and neighbors. And, second, the research on preventive and treatment options for managing the problem area is also accelerating. For example, there’s a new study recently published in JAMA Network Open on the dietary patterns of dementia patients. The report noted that eating an anti-inflammatory diet of whole grains, fruits and vegetables instead of an inflammatory diet consisting primarily of red or processed meats and ultra-processed foods (e.g. sodas, sugar-coated cereals, fries and ice cream) resulted in lowering of the risk of dementia risk by 31%! Furthermore, the researchers noted that the benefits were also present for those patients with a history of stroke, heart disease and type-2 diabetes. This speaks to my wife’s daily mantra of: “Six cups of fruits and vegetables per day”. BTW, I do miss the mark but not as frequently as I once did AND, I do like ice cream 😊.
Now – About The Caffeine – As my long-time readers will know, I’m obsessed with ongoing studies, trials and reports on caffeine consumption. Why? Because for many years now, I’m one of the top consumers (my suggestion) of caffeine – in the form of strong coffee. I love it. I rarely get the signs and symptoms of too much consumption (e.g. headaches, jitteriness, etc.) and find the flavors of the various grinds to be wonderful. But, yet another report has come out reporting that individuals who drink more than 400 milligrams of caffeine a day appear more likely to develop heart disease. In fact, the investigators discovered that individuals consuming the highest amounts of caffeine (e.g. 600 milligrams/day or more) had significantly elevated heart rate and blood pressure even after five minutes of rest following a three-minute step test. Whew!! I’ll just be safe 😊. My BP runs in the “just over the 100s over 60s” and my pulse is a solid 82 (there’s nothing like reliable pacemakers). So, perhaps I’m an outlier. Actually, several people have mentioned that but I don’t think it related to caffeine…
