Medication nonadherence kills

Medication nonadherence can lead to hospitalization and even death. One study puts the cost between $100 billion and $289 billion annually. Roughly 20 to 30 percent of prescriptions are never filled, and about half of medications for chronic disease are not taken as prescribed. In her New York Times article, Jane Brody discusses this “out of control epidemic,” looking at the causes and the impact. She also quotes former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop: “Drugs don’t work in patients who don’t take them.” ( The New York Times)

Analysts: Sick people, not essential benefits drive costs

The conservative House Freedom Caucus has been pushing for elimination of the 10 "essential health benefits" from any health care legislation, contending they drive up prices. But health analysts and economists disagree. What drove cost hikes wasn’t the broader benefits; it was that, for the first time, sicker patients were allowed to buy coverage. “The premiums would go down a lot if only very healthy people were covered and people who were higher risk were pulled out of the risk pool,” says Rebekah Bayram, a principal at Milliman. ( Kaiser Health News/HealthLeaders Media)

Patient identity confirmed? Check. Procedure confirmed? Check.

Using the World Health Organization’s Surgical Safety Checklist can reduce mortality rates, according to a five-year project between the South Carolina Hospital Association, Ariadne Labs and Harvard University’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The project found a 22 percent difference in mortality rates between the hospitals that did and did not use the checklist. “It’s a double-check… It empowers people to speak their point of view,” says June Duggan, director of anesthesia and perioperative services at Lexington Medical Center. Complete findings will be published in the August issue of the Annals of Surgery. ( The State; press release)

Netflix movie recommendations used to personalize cancer treatments?

Well, not exactly. But Elana Fertig, an assistant professor of oncology biostatistics and bio informatics at Johns Hopkins University believes Netflix’s matrix factorization algorithms could play a key role. “In this case, the measurements of gene dysregulation are analogous to movie ratings, movie genres to biological function and users to patients’ tumors. The computer searches across patient tumors to find patterns in gene dysregulation that cause the malignant biological function in each tumor,” writes Fertig. Cancer research still needs computer programs powerful enough to handle the long-term predictions of treatment outcomes and scientists who can “bridge mathematics and statistics.” (FierceHealthcare)

Report explores competition in the age of consolidation

In a new report, “ Making health care markets work: Competition policy for health care,” Martin Gaynor, Farzad Mostashari and Paul B. Ginsburg propose a new “competition policy” for health care that involves the multiple actors at the federal and the state level. The authors suggest a collection of actionable policy reforms, falling into four key areas. Among them: Make it easier for independent physician practices to be financially viable. ( Brookings)

Massive biometrics study launched

Last week, the first of 10,000 volunteers offered their bodies to science. They’ll submit everything from a blood sample for DNA sequencing to a psychological assessment. They’ll be asked to share electronic health records and insurance claims--and even records of phone, text and social media activity. The study, Baseline, is “a starting point for what healthy biometric data should look like,” according to Bloomberg. Verily Life Sciences--formerly Google Life Sciences--plans to “use the data to guide better health decisions” and consults with a product counsel to balance information with privacy concerns. ( Bloomberg)

Focus on AHRQ: Literacy Toolkit

The AHRQ Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit can help primary care practices reduce the complexity of health care, increase patient understanding of health information and enhance support for patients at all health-literacy levels. Health-literacy universal precautions are the steps practices take when they assume that all patients may have difficulty comprehending health information and accessing health services. (AHRQ)

Are some immigrants afraid to go to the doctor?

The Trump administration's more aggressive policy of detaining and deporting undocumented immigrants appears to be affecting immigrant health. While there is no definitive proof yet, leaders of community health centers and hospital emergency physicians say they see anecdotal evidence that immigrant patients are making fewer appointments and not coming in for follow-up care. ( Modern Healthcare)

Hospitalist programs incorporating NPs

Some hospitals are launching hospitalist programs that incorporate nurse practitioners to cut costs. It’s a way for smaller facilities to offer hospitalist services and, according to some health care executives, pairing NP hospitalists with physicians is an effective way to cut readmissions, lower costs and improve patient satisfaction. However, there are several important considerations, including relevant laws and regulations at the federal, state and institutional levels. ( Advisory Board Daily Briefing ; Hospitals & Health Networks )

CHIP at risk again: Several states may soon have to suspend programs that provide health care coverage for children unless Congress reauthorizes funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program, according a report by the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission. ( Modern Healthcare)

VA access: President Donald Trump has signed legislation that will continue to allow veterans to go outside the VA system for care. ( Washington Times)

Telehealth and privacy: Telehealth provider MDLive is facing allegations that the company failed to maintain patient privacy by sharing screenshots of confidential medical information with a third party. ( FierceHealthcare)