Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Report: People Close To Death Suffer Due To Over-Medicalization
Axios: Over-Reliance On Medicine Increases Suffering In Death, Study Finds
The process of dying has become over-medicalized, resulting in increased suffering, loss of dignity and inefficient use of resources at the end of life, according to a report released Monday by a new Lancet Commission. Technological and medical advances fueled the idea that science can defeat death, increasing the over-reliance on medical interventions, the authors say. Deaths during the COVID pandemic, in which individuals have had to be isolated from family members in ICUs, even in their final moments, were an example of this trend. (Reed, 2/1)
In pharmaceutical and biotech industry news —
Modern Healthcare: Magellan Health To Kick Off Prescription Medicine Drone Delivery
Magellan Health's pharmacy benefits management division plans to roll out drone delivery for some members' medications later this year, the managed-care company said Tuesday. Phoenix-based Magellan Health, which was acquired by Centene last month, has partnered with Zipline, a company that develops and operates drones to deliver medical products. Magellan Rx Management will deliver prescriptions to members at home using Zipline drones. The program will start this year with specialty drugs for members with chronic and complex conditions. (Kim Cohen, 2/1)
Boston Globe: In The Heart Of The Booming Biotech Industry, Workers Are In Short Supply
It’s almost like Massachusetts has too many biotechs. The industry is hotter than ever, with companies routinely raising millions of dollars in venture capital, startups blooming on a weekly basis, and developers planning more lab space seemingly by the day. But the pipeline of qualified workers to fill all of the added jobs can’t keep up with the burgeoning demand. The market for biotech talent in Massachusetts has long been robust, but lately the crunch has turned critical. That’s causing some in the industry to worry that it will not only inhibit growth, but also affect the quality of work as key positions become harder to fill and lower-level workers jump from company to company in search of a better compensation package. (Gardizy, 1/31)
And updates from the health care industry —
Press Association: The NHS Is ‘Riddled With Racism’, Says British Medical Association Chair
The chair of the council of the British Medical Association has said the NHS is “riddled with racism” following the findings of a survey into the experiences of doctors. The survey found at least 75% of ethnic minority doctors experienced racism more than once in the past two years and 17.4% experienced regular racism at work. Speaking to the BBC, BMA council chair Dr Chaand Nagpaul said: “This is about a moral right for anyone who works for the NHS to be treated fairly.” (2/2)
Modern Healthcare: Healthcare Companies Paid 90% Of False Claims Act Settlements In 2021
Healthcare companies paid almost 90% of the fraud settlement proceeds the U.S. Justice Department collected in fiscal 2021, the federal government said Tuesday. The DOJ's civil division secured $5.6 billion in False Claims Act settlements and judgments in the year ended September 30, 2021, the second largest annual total in the law's history. Of that, more than $5 billion related to fraud and false claims in the healthcare industry, including managed care providers, hospitals, drug and medical device manufacturers, hospice providers, labs and doctors. (Bannow, 2/1)
Modern Healthcare: 5 Things Moody's Is Watching In Healthcare This Year
High labor costs, insurance coverage changes and the continued presence of the COVID-19 pandemic will hit healthcare industry finances hard in 2022, although some segments will be impacted more than others, according to a recent report. While patient changes in insurance eligibility pose a hardship for health plans and hospital systems, the aging population will continue to boost residency senior housing facilities, according to a quarterly report from Moody's Investors Service. The pandemic will also propel mergers among medtech operators in 2022, although the value of deals will fall from previous years, the credit rating agency said. (Tepper, 2/1)
Fox News: Pennsylvania Doctor Has Leg Amputated, Sues Fellow Doctor For Malpractice
A Pennsylvania physician has filed a lawsuit against his foot doctor, alleging medical malpractice after he was forced to have his right leg amputated, a report says. Dr. Mario Adajar, 59, of Wyoming, Pennsylvania, filed legal documents Monday in Luzerne County Court accusing defendants, Dr. Michael Baloga Jr., the Foot and Ankle Center in West Pittston and the Wound Healing Center at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital, of causing "catastrophic permanent injuries" due to their alleged "negligent acts and omissions," PennLive.com reported. (Richard, 2/2)
