• According to a recent report from the American Hospital Association, rural hospitals are facing challenges that threaten their sustainability. One of the biggest, ongoing challenge is the ability to recruit and retain health care professionals, especially in such geographically isolated locations. Hospitals in rural areas with low population density also face high fixed operating costs that aren't able to be covered due to low patient volume. Read More
• Safe injection sites - what are they and why are they so controversial? On one hand, illicit drug users have a safe location to inject while under medical supervision. Users are also provided with clean needles, wound care, and addiction treatment referrals. On the other hand, opposers simply cannot accept the idea of medical-sanctioned use of illegal drugs, even if the objective is to save lives by preventing overdose deaths. The Justice Department is now suing to stop a group out of Philadelphia for opening a safe injection site called Safehouse. Read More
• Lyft sees Medicare Advantage plans as a key target for its health care platform. Lyft, a ride-sharing service has been making moves in the health care space by being a non-emergency transportation option for patients needing a ride for medical care. Read More
• One issue in health care that everyone can agree on is that surprise medical bills are unfair to the American public. Attention to surprise billing, which involves charging patients for care that is more expensive than expected or not covered by their insurance, has encouraged a movement among lawmakers of both parties to study the problem and begin to take legislative action. Read More
Each Friday, Signor Goat reports the latest from the week in health care. Check back next Friday for your dose of our little medical corner of health care news. Brought to you by pMD, innovators in charge capture, secure messaging, clinical communication, MIPS registry, and care navigation software.
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