CDC reports major decline in hepatitis cases

CDC officials credit vaccinations, particularly among children, with driving down the number of hepatitis cases in the U.S. Over the past decade, the incidence of hepatitis A and B dropped to their lowest-ever recorded levels, and cases of hepatitis C also declined. Reuters

Survey: Employers hold down healthcare costs with creative incentives

Employers who are doing the best job at holding down healthcare costs are not relying on employee cost-sharing as a primary means of cost reduction, according to a new survey. Instead, those companies are designing plans that involve appropriate use of financial incentives, quality-of-care initiatives and effective information delivery. Business Insurance

Providers will need identity management technology in 2007

Increased adoption of patient Web portals and remote and non-employee access to information from electronic health records will challenge healthcare providers with identity and access management issues this year. Providers will need better access to corporate assets and patient information, as well as identity management technology to automate processes. Managed Healthcare Executive

Editor’s Note: Case managers may wish to download this article for their IT departments as this will be something that will need to be implemented as organizations develop systems that allow consumers to communicate directly with managed care plans.

Study: Expert centers more cost-effective for disease care

Centers offering care from highly specialized healthcare providers in areas such as cancer may be more expensive, but they also are more cost-effective in the long run, according to a new study. Researchers looking at hypothetical patients with advanced ovarian cancer found costs for treatment at the expert center to be about $10,000 more, but the quality of life and survival as measured by quality-adjusted life years, as well as cost-effectiveness, was much better at the expert center. The Washington Post/HealthDay News

Editor’s Note: Make sure you click on the link at the end of the article to read a tip sheet for patients written by a family practice physician for patients undergoing cancer treatment. It may be something that case managers wish to adapt to their practice.

Transforming U.S. hospitals

Battered by competition and regulation, hospitals need fast, dramatic treatment: leadership that thinks strategically, builds quality, and aligns doctors with the goals of hospitals. Hospitals can take lessons from a few pioneering hospitals that emphasize excellence by competing in carefully chosen service lines rather than trying to excel in all clinical services. The McKinsey Quarterly (registration required)

Editor’s Note: This article requires you to register, but I think it may be worth your time if you work in acute care case management.

Studies: Patients often don’t pursue follow-up care

Even when they are insured, Americans often don’t pursue or receive needed follow-up medical care, according to two new studies. One study found being uninsured did reduce the chances of the person receiving needed care, but the other found that having insurance didn’t necessarily solve the problem. The Boston Globe/Bloomberg

Medicare to review anemia drugs

Medicare officials plan to review the use of three anemia drugs in light of concerns about potentially harmful side effects. The review could determine whether Medicare continues to pay for Amgen’s Aranesp and Epogen and Johnson & Johnson’s Procrit. The New York Times/Bloomberg

Editor’s Note: This is an important issue for case managers to be aware as many of their renal or oncology patients may be on these drugs. Take the time to talk to your medical directors to gain more insight into the issue as the FDA continue its research.

“Help is Here”: Service links uninsured with assistance

A service called the “Help is Here Express” brings buses out into communities to help uninsured and underinsured people to find the help they need. The service, which also includes a Web site and toll-free number, taps into information on nearly 500 different aid programs offered by the government, nonprofit organizations and the pharmaceutical industry for free or discounted drugs. The Fresno Bee