By Tom Ulrich
Blog
U.S. FTC issues advertising, privacy guidelines for mobile medical app makers
By Stewart Eisenhart, Emergo Group
It’s not just the US Food and Drug Administration mulling over how to regulate mobile medical applications these days. The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has also recently come out with guidelines for medical app developers targeting advertising and privacy issues.
Our problems with codes
Oh, that clever Center for Public Integrity. Look what they’ve gone and done now! My, oh my. According to the article, doctors are much of the the problem, billing "billions" of Medicare up-charges according to the center.
SFDA to utilize surprise inspections of medical device manufacturers in China
By Stewart Eisenhart, Emergo Group
Recent regulations implemented by China’s State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) now allow unannounced inspections of medical device manufacturers.
Why the slowdown in healthcare costs?
Meghan McCarthy of the National Journal posted a good overview of the alternative explanations for the recent slowing in the increase in health care costs, which rose less than four percent in each of the past two years. Medicare costs, she points out, has slowed even more dramatically.The latest survey from the Kaiser Family Foundation shows insurance premiums rising just 4 percent this year.
Cool technology of the week
Hundreds of healthcare IT professionals have offered their support to Kathy as she begins cancer treatment.
Several non-profits have contacted us with educational materials and helpful tools.
One of the most useful is the Cancer Planner from Cancer101.org . Cancer 101 provides the tools and resources that patients and caregivers need to make sense of the overwhelming information and difficult emotions that accompany a cancer diagnosis.
The war on health care fraud needs a champion
Regular readers of this blog know how much importance I attach to the war on waste, fraud and abuse in the Medicare and Medicaid programs (see posts here and here).
Anyone who cares deeply about providing health care for all our citizens needs to make this a high priority, since taxpayers won’t long support those in need if the programs that deliver services aren’t protected from theft.
Work induced attention deficit disorder
When you’re in meetings or on phone calls, are you focused in the moment or are you distracted by emails, text messages, or social networking traffic?
When you’re reading a 20 page whitepaper, RFP, or article, can you finish it?
When you’re writing a presentation or article, can you keep your thoughts flowing or are they interrupted by the urge to check your email or mobile device?
GAO finds FDA data on pediatric devices lacking
By Stewart Eisenhart, Emergo Group
A recent report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) finds that the Food & Drug Administration has not consistently taken steps to identify and track medical devices designated for pediatric use.
The Wild, Wild West of health apps: Can the FDA restore order without stifling innovation?
The Wild, Wild West of health apps: Can the FDA restore order without stifling innovation?
“Buffalo Bill’s Wild West" show poster
(cliff1066-TM/Flickr)
Health care’s new playbook
It is tough playing man-to-man when coaches on the sideline keep insisting your team plays zone.
Such is it with health care.
For doctors, the man-to-man defense never ends. Stay with them. Glue to them. Move with them. Run with them. Defend against the bounce pass, or the dribble to avoid the admission. Hands up! Watch their waist, ignore the head fake. You shift your coverage to accommodate their needs. One on one, mana-a-mano.