William Wan, The Washington Post Published 9:33 am, Friday, June 22, 2018 Photo: Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. Image 1of/1 CaptionClose Image 1 of 1 A robotic system being used in surgery at University of Miami. A robotic system being used in surgery at University of Miami. Photo: Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. Robotic surgery is no better than traditional surgery, bladder cancer study finds 1 / 1 Back to Gallery Robotic-assisted procedures have now become ubiquitous in some kinds of surgeries. What once was seen as a technological marvel is commonplace in many hospitals. But studies in recent years have shown robotic surgery performs no better than traditional surgery - even though it comes at a steeper cost to the overall health-care system. The latest comparison study was published in the … [Read more...] about Robotic surgery is no better than traditional surgery, bladder cancer study finds
Better bladder control
CMS Proposes Modest Increases to Medicare Advantage and Part D Plan Payment Rates
Proposal is Accompanied by Significant Revisions to Risk Adjustment Methodologies and Employer/Union-Only Group Welfare Plan BidsThe Advance Notice (“Advance Notice”) of Methodological Changes for Calendar Year (“CY”) 2017 for Medicare Advantage (“MA”) Capitation Rates, Part C and Part D Payment Policies and 2017 Call Letter was released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) on February 19, 2016.[1] The Advance Notice describes proposed payment and risk adjustment methodology changes for MA and Medicare prescription drug benefit (“Part D”) plans. It also includes CMS’s preliminary estimates of factors that will affect 2017 payments for MA and Part D plans and the Part D and retiree drug program benefit parameters for 2017. The draft Call Letter outlines policy modifications and other considerations for MA and Part D plan sponsors preparing bids for the 2017 contract year.While the Advance … [Read more...] about CMS Proposes Modest Increases to Medicare Advantage and Part D Plan Payment Rates
OIG Recommends Increased CMS Enforcement of SNF Standards
Amid alleged failures of skilled nursing facilities to meet care and discharge planning requirements, OIG identifies substantial payment errors.On February 27, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a report on skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). The report, "Skilled Nursing Facilities Often Fail to Meet Care Planning and Discharge Planning Requirements" (Report),[1] focuses on evaluating compliance with requirements pertaining to quality of care, care planning, and discharge planning. The Report attempts to fiscally quantify alleged deficiencies for 190 Part A SNF stays exceeding 21 days in 2009, and it estimates payment errors of $5.1 billion.The context of the Report's conclusion is a very limited survey of SNF stays. In 2009, there were 1,104,692 SNF stays exceeding 21 days in the United States and 15,884 Medicare, Medicaid, or dually certified nursing facilities in operation.[2] For purposes of the Report, OIG … [Read more...] about OIG Recommends Increased CMS Enforcement of SNF Standards
Federal Issues, Nanotechnology, FDA, Renewable Products: Clients and Friends Memorandum
FEDERAL ISSUESTSCA/FIFRA/IRIS/NTP/TRIEPA Extends Comment Period On Chlorinated Paraffins Risk Assessments: On February 22, 2016, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) extended the comment period on the draft risk assessments it has prepared for certain medium and long chain chlorinated paraffins. 81 Fed. Reg. 8712. This is an important opportunity to comment on the risk assessments prepared by EPA following the submission of Premanufacture Notifications (PMN) on certain chlorinated paraffins long manufactured and used by many industrial sectors that EPA deemed "new" chemicals and thus the subject of several new chemical notifications required to be submitted under the terms of a Consent Agreement. EPA reluctantly made available the risk assessments supporting its determination that the chemicals pose risks. Comments are now due on March 23, 2016.Agencies Convene Second Meeting On Modernizing Regulatory System For Biotechnology Products: On March 2, 2016, EPA and other federal … [Read more...] about Federal Issues, Nanotechnology, FDA, Renewable Products: Clients and Friends Memorandum
Single mum’s brutal open letter to dad who won’t pay Child Maintenance
A SCATHING open letter written by a single mum slamming her partner as a "rubbish father" for refusing to pay child maintenance has gone viral online. The anonymous woman claims her former partner is not declaring his full income to the Child Maintenance Service — and gives him both barrels in a lengthy Facebook post. In one withering passage, she writes: "Let me spell this out for you – any money you pay to help with the raising of our children goes directly to our children. "I’ve got two jobs to fund my own lifestyle and pay for our children. It’s a simple concept you don’t seem to be able to grasp. "So you’re barking up the wrong tree when you bitterly tell me I should maybe “go out less” when I challenge you over your child maintenance payments." The woman claims that her ex "stalks" her social media accounts for photos of her having fun to try to prove she is squandering his cash on herself. But in the letter, uploaded to Single Mum … [Read more...] about Single mum’s brutal open letter to dad who won’t pay Child Maintenance