Exploring Rideshare as an SDOH, Value-Based Care Solution
A the Xtelligent Healthcare Media SDOH Virtual Event, rideshare company Lyft Healthcare outlined how it can help fill expansive SDOH resources access gaps.
Source: Getty Images
By Sara Heath
- As the national healthcare industry works to address social determinants of health, rideshare companies like Lyft and its medical offshoot Lyft Healthcare assert how they can fill not just transportation gaps, but other challenges in accessing SDOH resources.
Meanwhile, the CDC is releasing some of its stockpiled monkeypox vaccines as more cases pop up around the world and researchers zoom in on factors hampering lab data interoperability.
CDC Releases Stockpiled Vaccine for Monkeypox
CDC officials are releasing doses of the JYNNEOS vaccines and pledging to boost the national stockpile after multiple cases of the rare disease, monkeypox, emerged in the United States. Currently, the US has more than 1,000 doses stockpiled, and officials plan to significantly boost production to prepare for possible spread.
"Right now, we hope to maximize vaccine distribution to those we know would benefit from it. So those are people who've had contact with known monkeypox patients, healthcare workers, very close personal contacts, and those who might be at high risk for severe disease,” said Captain Jennifer McQuiston, deputy director of the CDC's High Consequence Pathogens and Pathology Division. READ MORE.
Physician Compensation Increases as US Poised for Pandemic Recovery
Physician practices are on the road to post-pandemic recovery in 2021, as physician compensation and productivity is rising again, the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) recently reported. The report also revealed that compensation for most physician-owned practices met or exceeded pre-pandemic levels, outperforming the flat results from the year prior.
READ MORE: Feds Talk Health Equity, GE introduces Digital Health Platform at HIMSS22
“As we continue to emerge from the pandemic, I'm pleased to announce that data trends are more than stable, despite the countless challenges the industry has experienced over the past two years,” Halee Fischer-Wright, MD, MMM, FAAP, FACMPE, president and chief executive officer at MGMA said in the press release. “Providing a more holistic view of the industry, the insightful and actionable data in this report is invaluable for healthcare practices — both today and for ongoing future planning.” READ MORE.
Rideshare Makes the Case for SDOH, Value-Based Care
Transportation access is in and of itself a key social determinant of health, Buck Poropatich, the head of Lyft Healthcare, said during his keynote address at Xtelligent Healthcare Media’s SDOH Virtual Event earlier this month.
Nationwide, about 6 million people are missing or delaying medical care because they lack transportation. Meanwhile, patients who report transportation access problems are about 2.5 times more likely to have a costly emergency department visit.
“Social determinants of health are incredibly important, but they can also be very difficult to address and equally hard to actually measure the impact,” Poropatich said. “That said, the challenge I would have with that statement is that transportation specifically now can be rather easy to address, or easier certainly.” READ MORE.
Clearwater Acquires CynergisTek for $17.7M to Tackle Healthcare Cybersecurity
With a focus on healthcare cybersecurity and compliance, CynergisTek entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Clearwater for $17.7 million. CynergisTek provides cybersecurity, compliance, and IT services to help highly regulated industries tackle security and privacy issues. Clearwater Compliance is a healthcare-focused firm that helps its clients with cybersecurity, compliance, and risk management solutions.
READ MORE: Value-Based Care is Improving Chronic Disease Management
“Today’s announcement is a testament to the strength of CynergisTek’s people-centric approach to cybersecurity, privacy and audit and our important role in serving healthcare and our many other clients,” Mac McMillan, president and CEO of CynergisTek, explained in the announcement. READ MORE.
Variable LOINC Codes Get in the Way of Lab Data Interoperability
Variation in the adoption of Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) codes has hampered laboratory data interoperability, according to a study published in JAMIA. The objective of the (LOINC)-to-In Vitro Diagnostic (LIVD) specification, required by HHS for COVID-19 reporting, is to define an industry format to facilitate the publication of LOINC codes for vendor IVD tests and results.
“Even within institutions with sophisticated IT and LIS environments, there may be an incomplete understanding of LOINC,” the researchers noted. “Communication of the availability, centralized distribution, and support for LIVD files and harmonized standards is needed to support laboratory informatics infrastructure and capacity to respond to analyze data.” READ MORE.
Senators Eye Telehealth for Medicare Mental Health Access
To maintain quality mental healthcare as the COVID-19 pandemic progresses, four US Senators have released a discussion draft of telehealth policies for mental healthcare initiatives that focus on increasing access and directing insurers to support virtual care. The policies include removing the Medicare requirement for an initial in-person visit before telehealth and providing benefit transparency for Medicare beneficiaries so they are aware of how and when they can use telehealth for mental healthcare services. Other policies include solidifying necessary access to audio-only mental healthcare coverage under Medicare, urging Medicare and Medicaid to support providers using telehealth, and encouraging states to use CHIP programs to improve in-person and virtual mental healthcare services in schools. READ MORE.
