Healthcare Leaders Reveal Concerns About Generative AI, Ransomware

September 06, 2023 - Today’s top stories focus on leading cybersecurity concerns, new nursing home standards, and troubling findings about behavioral health access.

Generative AI and Ransomware Top Cybersecurity Concerns for Boards

Proofpoint's "Cybersecurity: The 2023 Board Perspective" report reveals that ransomware and supply chain attacks remain significant cybersecurity threats across industries. However, a new concern is the rise of generative AI, with 59 percent of surveyed board members considering it a security risk.

The report also shows a heightened awareness of cybersecurity risks, with 74 percent of board members believing their organizations are at risk of a major cyberattack in the next year.

While cybersecurity is a priority for boards, there's still room for improvement in board-CISO relationships and preparedness for cyberattacks, with 53 percent feeling unprepared. READ MORE

CMS Proposes Minimum Staffing Standards for Nursing Homes

CMS has proposed minimum staffing standards for nursing homes, aiming to ensure safe and high-quality care for residents.

The proposed rule includes three key staffing requirements: 0.55 hours of care per day from a registered nurse, 2.45 hours per day from a nurse aide, and a registered nurse onsite 24/7 for direct resident care. Nursing homes must also conduct enhanced facility assessments on staffing needs. The rule addresses staffing shortages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic with staggered implementation and exemption processes.

Additionally, it improves Medicaid payment transparency. Industry reactions have been mixed, with some expressing concerns about the mandate's feasibility and cost. READ MORE

One-Third of Behavioral Health Patients Don't Get Preferred Care Type

A study published in Health Affairs reveals that nearly one-third of behavioral health patients do not receive their preferred choice between telehealth and in-person visits.

The study, conducted by RAND Corporation and Harvard University, surveyed 2,071 US adults and found that 80.1% of those receiving individual therapy opted for telehealth, while 41.6% chose in-person care. For medication-related visits, 54.4% opted for telehealth, and 57.9% chose in-person visits. Notably, 30.6% of therapy patients and 33.2% of medication patients said their clinicians offered only one visit modality. Furthermore, 32% of patients reported not getting their preferred visit type most of the time, and 45% believed their clinician did not consider their preference when deciding on the visit type.

The study highlights the importance of considering patient preferences in clinical and policy decisions in behavioral healthcare. READ MORE

Produce Prescription Programs: Boosting Health and Savings

Produce prescription programs, which provide nutritious foods to individuals facing food insecurity or diet-related illnesses, have proven effective in improving health outcomes.

A study by Tufts University found that these programs increased fruit and vegetable intake, reduced food insecurity, and led to clinical improvements such as lower hbA1C and blood pressure. The study involved low-income participants at risk for cardiometabolic diseases in 12 US states.

Produce prescription programs help address financial barriers to healthy foods and show promise in improving health, with potential cost savings in healthcare spending. READ MORE

Half of Medicare Advantage Beneficiaries Leave Plans in 5 Years

A study published in JAMA Health Forum reveals that approximately half of Medicare Advantage beneficiaries disenrolled from their health plan after five years.

Disenrollment rates increased over time, with 48.3 percent of non-dual-eligible beneficiaries and 53.4 percent of dual-eligible beneficiaries leaving their plans after five years.

The study also highlights disparities in disenrollment rates among different racial groups and the impact of plan characteristics on disenrollment. This trend raises questions about beneficiary satisfaction and the need for better long-term care incentives in Medicare Advantage plans. READ MORE

Discount Cards Save Patients $4 Billion on Prescription Drugs

Visory Health, ranked as the fourth-largest prescription discount card provider in the US, has saved 3.25 million patients approximately $4.13 billion in drug costs through drug cards and pharmacy partnerships. The company’s focus is on reducing the financial burden of drug costs, particularly for women and caregivers.

Visory Health collaborates with major pharmacies like Kroger, Walmart, Stop and Shop, Publix, and Sam's Club to streamline access to affordable medication, with a mission to improve healthcare affordability and accessibility. READ MORE

American Heart Association Releases Patient Data Sharing Principles

The American Heart Association (AHA) has published new policy guidance in Circulation, outlining six principles for patient data sharing in medical research.

The statement highlights the potential of electronic health records (EHRs) and data analytics in advancing research but emphasizes the need to address privacy, equity, and regulatory concerns. The AHA's principles encourage support for underrepresented communities, high data standards, transparency, low-risk research involvement, wide data accessibility, and federal law protection for health information.

These principles aim to promote respectful, equitable, and beneficial data use while guiding the AHA's public policy and research efforts in this domain. READ MOR