Articles: health.
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Editorial
Decoding Homelessness: Z-Codes and the Recognition of Homelessness as a Comorbid Condition.
There are an estimated 653,100 people across the United States experiencing homelessness. Homelessness is an important social determinant of health associated with increased morbidity and mortality. ⋯ Here, we review the historical purpose and utilization of codes to identify SDOH ("Z-codes"); describe how the recent CMS policy change elevates the importance of homelessness within medical care and impacts reimbursement; analyze the potential risks and benefits of this change to patients, clinicians, and health systems; and assess barriers to implementation. We conclude by calling for health systems to move beyond simply documenting homelessness to meaningfully addressing health inequities in PEH.
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This pilot retrospective case-control study questioned whether systemic statin use causes pulp calcification using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images from the patients prescribed oral statins and comparing those of healthy individuals. ⋯ Within the limitations of the study, systemic statin use did not cause dental pulp calcification. The results suggest, oral administration of the statin drugs is not an unfavourable condition for dental practice. Further studies with larger numbers of patients are needed to support this conclusion.