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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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.
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Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating, fatal neuromuscular disease. Most patients die within 2 to 5 years of diagnosis. The disease stems from death of upper and lower motor neurons leading to degeneration of motor pathways and the paralytic effects of the disease. ⋯ Two drugs, riluzole and edaravone, are currently FDA approved for the treatment of ALS, and each provides modest benefits in mortality and/or function. Recent developments in the understanding of the underlying pathophysiologic processes that contribute to ALS have led to the development of numerous investigational therapies, with several now in phase 3 trials. This article highlights the oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor masitinib; the antisense drug tofersen; the humanized monoclonal antibody C5 complement inhibitor ravulizumab-cwvz; and mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-neurotrophic factor (NTF) cells, a proprietary platform that induces autologous bone marrow-derived MSCs to secrete high levels of NTFs.
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Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a debilitating disease of progressively worsening physical function. The direct medical, direct nonmedical, and indirect costs of care for these patients is significant, and annual costs can be around $70,000 on average. Major drivers of cost can include hospitalizations, in-home care, nutrition, physical and occupational therapy, and medication interventions. ⋯ Appropriate utilization management by managed care organizations and support for the multidisciplinary care team approach can help to ensure appropriate care, with a goal of optimizing clinical outcomes and potentially delaying disease progression. Although ALS has no cure, progressive gene therapy is currently being investigated and may offer promise. Thus, gene therapy may necessitate the need for novel and creative approaches to cost-management strategies in the future.