Quality of care in the nation’s hospices came under the spotlight in August when the agency that runs Medicare rated some 3,800 facilities nationally, including about two dozen in San Diego County, on seven measures. Now, the same federal agency that published the online scorecard, Hospice Compare, is getting attention because its website has flaws, and that has delayed the ... Read More »
It’s been a long goodbye for San Diego Hospice, an institution that helped people die with dignity and without pain. Read More »
Some doctors are taking their patients with diabetes off of Invokana because of black box warning about higher risk of toe, foot, ankle and leg amputations. Read More »
For the first time, Medicare officials have posted online quality scores for some 3,800 hospice providers — including about two dozen in San Diego County. The scores are on a website launched Wednesday called Hospice Compare. And most San Diego hospices did well on most measures compared with national averages. Kate Goodrich of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ... Read More »
Despite rumors of its death, the Healthy California Act, a bill that would create a massive single-payer insurance system for nearly all 39 million Golden State residents, is alive and, in the eyes of its supporters, imperative. Read More »
Lifestyle coaches will teach beneficiaries with prediabetes how to prevent diabetes by losing weight and exercising over three year program Read More »
Medicare pays $5 billion more on purchasing drugs for beneficiaries with diabetes than for patients without diabetes. Insulin drugs are increasing fastest. Read More »
Oscar and Teri Lara of Rancho Bernardo were diagnosed with prediabetes a few months ago, a condition 86 million Americans share. That means the retired couple live with a greater chance they’ll develop diabetes, which can lead to heart, nerve, kidney and eye disease, and an early death. The Laras are lucky. Nine in 10 Americans don’t know they have ... Read More »
Oncologist's model for better cancer care keeps chemotherapy patients out of hospitals, saves money. Read More »
Regions with too many hospital beds may experience competitive pressures driving health care systems out of business and increase inappropriate care. Read More »
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