The American journal of managed care
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This article gives recommendations for individual hemodialysis centers worldwide to ensure the safety and effectiveness of patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis based on the experience of such a patient with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the Sichuan province of China.
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This study analyzed annual trends in the distribution of beneficiaries entering each benefit phase and the utilization of and expenditures for prescription drugs among Medicare Part D beneficiaries from 2008 to 2015. ⋯ Although this study provides support for reductions in financial barriers to prescription drugs under the ACA, substantial increases in both total drug spending and the proportion of high-cost beneficiaries in the Part D program indicate a growing burden of Part D spending on the Medicare program, which is expected to continue to grow in the future.
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To analyze the impact of discharge before noon (DBN) on length of stay (LOS) and readmission of adult inpatients. ⋯ The finding that DBN was associated with higher LOS among medical patients suggests that some patients may have been able to be safely discharged the evening prior. In patients with surgical diagnoses, DBN was associated with a lower LOS and a lower risk of readmission. Patients with later discharges were more likely to be sent to a rehabilitation center or skilled nursing facility and were more frequently discharged during a weekday. Identification of these factors may help health systems transition patients safely and efficiently out of the hospital.
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Alzheimer disease is the most common cause of dementia and the fifth leading cause of death in adults older than 65 years. The estimated total healthcare costs for the treatment of Alzheimer disease in 2020 is estimated at $305 billion, with the cost expected to increase to more than $1 trillion as the population ages. ⋯ Managed care organizations are in a unique position to develop utilization strategies that would positively impact early diagnosis and treatment to lead to better outcomes and lower costs for patients, caregivers, and the healthcare system. Additionally, the recent inclusion of Alzheimer disease diagnoses into risk corridor calculations by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services may encourage Medicare Advantage organizations to invest in programs that aid in its early detection and diagnosis.