Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Viewpoints: Is Telemedicine Being Overused?; Autism Families Need More Support
The New York Times: Telemedicine Is A Tool. Not A Replacement For Your Doctor’s Touch.
Earlier in the pandemic it was vital to see doctors over platforms like Zoom or FaceTime when in-person appointments posed risks of coronavirus exposure. Insurers were forced — often for the first time — to reimburse for all sorts of virtual medical visits and generally at the same price as in-person consultations. By April 2020, one national study found, telemedicine visits already accounted for 13 percent of all medical claims compared with 0.15 percent a year earlier. And Covid hadn’t seriously hit much of the country yet. By May, for example, Johns Hopkins’s neurology department was conducting 95 percent of patient visits virtually. There had been just 10 such visits weekly the year before. (Elisabeth Rosenthal, 4/29)
Houston Chronicle: Families Of Children With Profound Autism Lean On One Another
As the parents of a 5-year-old son, Asa, who is diagnosed with “level 3” or “profound” autism, there are many challenges that this form of autism presents in our daily lives. Profound autism is often linked to genetic disorders, as is the case with Asa, who has Phelan-McDermid Syndrome (PMS). April is Autism Awareness Month. And with approximately 1 in 54 children in the U.S. diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder each year, we need to not only to encourage acceptance, but also to raise awareness of the variety of challenges faced by individuals on the spectrum and the types of support that they need. (Arturo and Talya Silva, 4/30)
Stat: ALS Groups 'Won't Be Played Again' By The FDA, Drug Sponsors
Working to improve the fight for therapies for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease) has been like a cruel version of 1950s game show “Beat the Clock,” in which grassroots advocates like me and many others manage to do everything that today’s version of Bud Collyer asks, even those last-minute wrinkles that seem impossible. We jump through hoops and figure out solutions and do it all according to the rules as the clock ticks down. We’ve heard applause from the audience. But we’ve never been given the prize. (Mary Catherine Collet, 4/30)
Dallas Morning News: Health Care For Seniors In Rural Texas Is In Jeopardy
Due to demographic shifts, equitable health care access in rural areas of Texas is in jeopardy. Recent census counts show the population is getting older while seniors are experiencing higher rates of depression (up 71%) and obesity (up 34%), according to the United Health Foundation. These trends are amplified in rural populations (especially along the U.S.-Mexico border and in the Panhandle), which are older and experience worse health outcomes than their urban counterparts. Many rural hospitals have closed, and people in rural areas may be distant from health care providers. Rural populations are also, on average, older than the general population and have lower household incomes, less education and lower insurance coverage. (Sallie Sherman, 4/30)
Stat: Federated Learning Can Help Improve Data Diversity For Health Care
Many companies are developing innovative artificial intelligence solutions for health care. Too often, though, these applications fail to deliver their promised improvement in health outcomes when used in real-world settings because they were developed using data from a small number of patients in one locale over a limited period of time. Federated learning offers a way forward. (Fiona Gilbert, Mona Flores and Ittai Dayan, 4/30)
