DCMedical News: Friday, November 15, 2019
DCMedical News-DCMN
Washington, D.C.
Friday, November 15, 2019
DCMedical News is published every day both the House and the Senate are in session. Subscription information below.
THE BIG STORY IN HEALTH CARE
Controversy Envelops Medical Data Sharing
The Financial Times has discovered (here) that “Some of the UK’s most popular health websites are sharing people’s sensitive data – including medical symptoms, diagnoses, drug names and menstrual and fertility information – with dozens of companies around the world, ranging from ad-targeting giants such as Google, Amazon, Facebook and Oracle, to lesser-known data-brokers and adtech firms like Scorecard and OpenX.” The FT analyzed 100 websites and found unlawful activity (commercial distribution of sensitive data without explicit consent) under the standards of the EU’s GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation). DoubleClick, Google’s advertising arm, was the most common recipient of such data. A data scientist commissioner by the FT to track the data said, “There is a whole system that will seek to take advantage of you because you’re in a compromised state.” A researcher not involved in the study called it “quite remarkable and very concerning.” Google, Facebook, Amazon, and WebMD all issued statements proclaiming their innocence or ignorance.
The FT reported that “Separately, a row has developed over the transfer of millions of Americans’ health data to Google without their knowledge,” (see DCMN of 11/13). Companies with a history of controversial business practices, “may use ill health to profile and prey on users,” selling them treatments, services, or financial products. FT reports “There is no suggestion that Google breached federal law in transferring health care data held by Ascension, the second largest health care provider in the U.S. But the story will resonate with critics. In 2017, the U.K. regulator found that a similar transfer of Royal Free Hospital records was unlawful.”
DOCTORS, NURSES AND OTHER HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
New Requirements for Reporting of “Open Payments” in 2020 Medicare PFS
Final publication (November 15, here) of the Medicare Calendar Year Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) includes new requirements for “open payments” by vendors to physicians. The open payments program (at page 1110ff), begun in August of 2013, now expands the definition of a “covered recipient” to include PAs, NPs, CRNAs and other advanced health professionals. The new requirements also change the payment categories, consolidating those for continuing education and adding new categories (debt forgiveness, long-term medical supply or device loan, acquisitions). Standardized reporting for drugs, devices, biologicals or supplies is also required, federally-recognized device identifiers being new.
CDC Headliner on Antibiotic Resistant Infections
The Centers for Disease Control reports that more than 35,000 people die in the U.S. as a result of antibiotic resistant infections each year. The report (here) notes that the 35,000 deaths take place among 2.8 million patients with such infections annually.
HOSPITALS, NURSING HOMES AND OTHER HEALTH CARE FACILITIES
Hospital Role in Surprise Bills
A study in JAMA Internal Medicine (here) notes that hospitals had a significant role in marking up bills for emergency medicine, anesthesiology and internal medicine, in physician fees (not including the facility fees charged by the hospitals), for physicians employed by or whose practices are controlled by hospitals. Proposed legislation to end “surprise” (out-of-network, uncovered or barely covered medical bills) had support until an August (Congressional recess) onslaught of advertising, much of which appears to have been sponsored by private equity groups which have purchased physician practices. This study (by Tim Xu) is the first link of the surprise physician bills to their hospital owners.
MEDICARE, MEDICAID AND COMMERCIAL HEALTH INSURANCE
UnitedHealth Sponsors Housing, A “Social Determinant”
Bloomberg reports on UnitedHealth (here) putting “frequent flyers” into housing, rather than hospital emergency rooms. The endeavor follows on policy articles (example here, from 2018) extolling the importance of housing as a “social determinant.” Aside from stability, housing provides a “place” for the delivery of home health and telemedicine services, part of the United thrust to move outpatient services out of the hospital outpatient department.
READINGS AND REFERENCES
National Health-For-All
The Financial Times reports (here) that “Boris Johnson is facing intense pressure over his party’s record on the National Health Service after new data showed that it had suffered one of its worst ever performances in England, missing key targets for emergency care, routine operations and cancer.” The story adds that “This is the first vote to be held in December since the health service was founded in 1948, with the potential impact of a winter crisis unfolding just as Britons go to the polls.” Among other targets not met, beginning cancer treatment: only 77% received their first treatment within 62 days following an “urgent” GP referral.
U.S. House of Representatives:
Members at https://www.house.gov/representatives
Committees and Members at https://www.house.gov/committees
U. S. Senate:
Members at https://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.
Committees and Members at https://www.senate.gov/committees
House and Senate 2019 Calendar of Regularly Scheduled Sessions, here.
PUBLICATION SCHEDULE FOR DCMEDICAL NEWS
November publication dates: 18, 19, 20, 21
December 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12
Notes to: Fred Hyde, MD, JD, MBA; fredhyde@aol.com.