October 2018 Briefing – Anesthesiology

Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Anesthesiology for October 2018. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.

AMA Announces Initiative to Reinvent Physician Training

TUESDAY, Oct. 30, 2018 — The American Medical Association (AMA) today announced a new $15 million competitive grant initiative, the “Reimagining Residency” initiative, aimed at improving residency training.

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Many Hospitals Noncompliant With Record Request Regulations

MONDAY, Oct. 29, 2018 — Among top-ranked U.S. hospitals, data reveal discrepancies in information provided to patients regarding medical records release processes as well as noncompliance with state and federal regulations, according to a study published online Oct. 5 in JAMA Network Open.

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Trump Administration Announces Plan to Cut Drug Prices

FRIDAY, Oct. 26, 2018 — In an effort to cut high drug costs, the prices paid by Medicare for certain prescription drugs would be based on those in other advanced industrial nations, according to a proposal announced Oct. 25 by the Trump administration.

HHS Study
New York Times Article

Bill to Fight U.S. Opioid Crisis Signed Into Law

THURSDAY, Oct. 25, 2018 — A bipartisan bill meant to combat the United States’ opioid abuse epidemic was signed into law Oct. 24 by President Donald Trump.

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Pace of Change Has Accelerated in Alternative Payment Models

THURSDAY, Oct. 25, 2018 — The impact of alternative payment models (APMs) on physician practices has been described in a study published by the RAND Corp. and the American Medical Association.

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White House Unveils New Insurance Option for Small Firms

TUESDAY, Oct. 23, 2018 — A plan to allow small businesses to use tax-free accounts to provide health coverage for employees was announced today by the Trump administration.

AP News Article
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Changes in Nomenclature for Perioperative Cognitive Disorders

MONDAY, Oct. 22, 2018 — Recommendations have been developed for nomenclature of cognitive changes associated with anesthesia and surgery; the recommendations were published in the November issue of Anesthesiology.

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Editorial

Procurement Requirements Drive Interoperability in Health Care IT

THURSDAY, Oct. 18, 2018 — Interoperability of health care information technology (IT) must be improved to facilitate creation of a fully integrated health care system that can improve health and health care at lower cost, according to a report published by the National Academy of Medicine.

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Without Medicaid Expansion, Poor Patients Forgo Medical Care

MONDAY, Oct. 15, 2018 — Doing without medical care is much more common among low-income residents of states that have not expanded Medicaid than among low-income people in other states, according to a Government Accountability Office report.

AP News Article

Aetna-CVS Merger Approved

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 10, 2018 — A $69 billion merger between health insurer Aetna and pharmacy manager CVS Health has been approved, according to the U.S. Justice Department.

The New York Times Article

Minority Residents Experience Burdens Linked to Race/Ethnicity

TUESDAY, Oct. 9 2018 — Minority residents describe burdens associated with race/ethnicity, including microaggressions and bias on a daily basis, according to a study published online Sept. 28 in JAMA Network Open.

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Editorial

Industry-Funded Trials Often Involve Employees in Studies

FRIDAY, Oct. 5, 2018 — Industry employees are often involved in the design, conduct, and reporting of industry-funded trials in high-impact journals, according to a study published online Oct. 3 in The BMJ.

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Editorial

Price Hikes Noted in Small Subset of Generic Drugs

THURSDAY, Oct. 4, 2018 — A small but growing subset of generic drugs experienced sudden large price increases from 2007 to 2013, according to a study published in the October issue of Health Affairs.

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Tips Provided for Budgeting in Medical Residency

THURSDAY, Oct. 4, 2018 — Medical residents should start budgeting and save for the future, according to an article published in the American Medical Association AMA Wire.

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Three-Quarters of Health Care Workers Got Flu Shot Last Year

THURSDAY, Oct. 4, 2018 — Just over three-quarters of health care personnel received a flu vaccine last season, according to research published in the Sept. 28 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

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Uninsured Rate at 8.8 Percent in First Quarter of 2018

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 3, 2018 — In the first quarter of 2018, the uninsured rate was 8.8 percent, not significantly different from a year earlier, according to a report released Aug. 29 by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).

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For Employer-Based Plans, Spending Across Services Steady

TUESDAY, Oct. 2, 2018 — Despite large health policy changes, the distribution of spending across service areas has remained fairly consistent over the past 10 years for those enrolled in employer-sponsored insurance, according to a study published in the October issue of Health Affairs.

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Number of Health-Related Data Breaches Increasing

TUESDAY, Oct. 2, 2018 — The number of health data breaches has steadily increased since 2010, according to a research letter published in the Sept. 25 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)

Interviews Can Help Ensure Physician Candidates Fit Culture

TUESDAY, Oct. 2, 2018 — In preparing to interview to hire a new physician, practices must understand their own cultures, according to an article published in Medical Economics.

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More Non-Elderly Americans Uninsured in 2017 Versus 2016

MONDAY, Oct. 1, 2018 — From 2016 to 2017, there was an increase in the number of uninsured non-elderly Americans, according to a report published by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

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Posted: November 2018