Medicare administrators served doctors and hospitals a pair of big payment cuts late Thursday.
The big picture: Doctors will see a 3.4% decrease to a key factor determining their base Medicare pay next year, officials announced in a final rule. That’s virtually unchanged from what administrators proposed this summer.
A conference for "Reducetarians" — people who want to reduce meat and dairy consumption — drew 600 people to Denver this week, but theirs is an uphill battle.
Why it matters: While there are health and environmental benefits to paring back our meat and dairy intake, getting people to switch to plant-based alternatives has been a tough sell — and meat consumption is higher than ever.
Cyber attacks on hospitals and doctors' offices are growing larger and more disruptive — and the problem is only poised to get worse without a coordinated effort from regulators to shore up health care's defenses, IT experts say.
The big picture: High-profile ransomware attacks against U.S. health systems in the last year have spotlighted the industry's persisting vulnerabilities and risks for patient safety as care is disrupted.
High school students reported less tobacco and e-cigarette usage in the past year, federal data finds.
Why it matters: Declining e-cigarette usage was the main driver in declining tobacco usage among high school students, a drop that comes amid continuing federal health initiatives to curb youth vaping.
We "fall back" and switch our clocks to standard time on Sunday, and a number of sleep experts want to stay in that time zone permanently.
Why it matters: While lawmakers have pushed to make it daylight saving time all the time, a number of scientists and researchers say standard time is more aligned with our body clocks — and "daylight saving" time is not only a misnomer but harmful.
The number of Medicare Advantage plans offering seniors help affording groceries has skyrocketed in the few years since it's become easier for insurers to offer an expanded set of benefits.
Driving the news: Next year, 1,475 plans— about a quarter of the market — will offer certain eligible enrollees financial assistance for food and produce, according to an analysis from consulting firm ATI Advisory.
As Congress takes on companies managing prescription drug benefits, newly emboldened unions are sending a message to lawmakers: Don't mess with our health plans.
Why it matters: Unions have a history of shaping the health care agenda, and their voice could be especially notable as organized labor flexes its muscle this year.
