The prices various health care payers negotiate for joint replacement has no relation to the quality of care, a new study found. Total joint replacement – mainly hips and knees – are the most common reasons for hospitalization for people over 65. The number of joint replacements are expected to rise as 73 million Baby Boomers succumb to old age.
The Omnibus $1.7 Trillion Spending Bill
Although the legislation allows states to begin eligibility redeterminations for Medicaid to reduce the nearly 20 million ineligible enrollees, it also makes it easier for many enrollees to keep Medicaid, creates a Medicaid slush fund, and unjustifiably funnels more taxpayer money to U.S. territories through Medicaid.
Simple Cancer Blood Test Turns Out to Be Anything but Simple
A simple blood test that looks for samples of DNA floating in the bloodstream of pregnant women is used to screen for numerous birth defects. It can also be used to screen for cancer.
Friday Links
- Study: Up to 31.6 percent of Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payments (intended to support hospitals that serve low-income patients) have gone to hospitals that do not care for very many low-income patients.
- “Tripledemic” news stories are just hype.
- California medical school admits it experimented on prisoners in the 1960s and 1970s.
- Hospital donors get VIP treatment and jump the queue when they need medical care. (NYT) Is anyone surprised by this? Is there anything wrong with it?