Disparities in Vision Testing for Adolescents
Decreased vision testing in primary care and in school settings drove an age-related overall decline in vision testing among adolescents, a review of national data showed. Data from 2018-2019 showed that three-fourths of adolescents had a vision test in some setting within the previous 12 months, though testing decreased with age (1.3% per year of […]
Masking Yields Small Reduction in COVID Risk, Review Concludes
Use of masks in both community settings and healthcare settings may slightly reduce risk of COVID-19, but the evidence base leaves much to be desired, the final installment of a living, rapid review of multiple studies found. “The strength of evidence remained low for reduced risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection with surgical masks versus no mask […]
Mail-Back Envelopes Will Be Dispensed With Outpatient Opioid Scripts
The FDA will require manufacturers of opioid drugs that are dispensed in outpatient settings to provide prepaid mail-back envelopes to outpatient pharmacies and other dispensers, the agency announced Monday. The move is part of the FDA’s comprehensive approach to addressing the overdose crisis, according to FDA Commissioner Robert Califf, MD. “We believe these efforts will […]
Be Alert For Ectopic Pregnancy After Self-Managed Abortion
Clinicians in the emergency department (ED) and primary care settings should be prepared to spot complications of self-managed abortion, according to a case report. A patient who had attempted self-managed abortion presented to the ED with a ruptured ectopic pregnancy that went undetected, reported Isabel Beshar, MD, of Stanford University in California, and colleagues. They […]
Should Medicare Pay the Same Amount Regardless of Where a Service Is Provided?
WASHINGTON — Medicare should do a better job of equalizing payment for outpatient care across all settings — physician offices, hospital outpatient departments, and ambulatory surgical centers — but there still should be some allowances for different costs between sites, according to members of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC). “I think we do need […]