by Kevin Roche on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
The Government Accountability Office issues a report on use of implantable medical devices in hospitals, finding that they pay widely varying prices, suggesting that it is often too much, some of which ends getting paid by taxpayers.
Tags: Devices, Health Care Costs, Hospital
by Kevin Roche on Wednesday, November 23, 2011
A new paper at the National Bureau of Economic Research examines the relationship between technology and spending growth in health care. While no firm conclusions are reached, a country’s willingness to spend on health may drive technology development and use rather than vice versa.
Tags: Devices, Drugs, Health Care Costs
by Kevin Roche on Friday, October 28, 2011
Another brilliant Potpourri, with scintillating health care gems, including revising the FDA’s 510(k) process, the essential benefits package for health exchanges, the future of Medicare Advantage, the lack of labor productivity in health care, variation in elective procedure rates and the OIG’s work plan.
Tags: Care Management, Devices, FDA, Government, Health Care Costs, Health Care Reform, Health Insurance, Medical Care, Medicare, Physicians
by Kevin Roche on Friday, October 21, 2011
Another Potpourri, with tidbits on the Medicare Star program results for 2012, pain management, blood pressure management, Massachusetts’ physicians’ views on work and health care, online error reporting and the FDA and CMS parallel medical device review process.
Tags: Care Management, Devices, FDA, Health Insurance, Malpractice, Medical Care, Medicare, Physicians, Telemedicine
by Kevin Roche on Tuesday, September 6, 2011
The Food & Drug Administration releases its strategic plan for regulatory science, identifying priority areas and implementation strategies for each. How the FDA carries out its strategy over the next few years will greatly affect both the medical products industry and overall health spending.
Tags: Devices, Drugs, FDA, Regulation
by Kevin Roche on Friday, July 29, 2011
Our current Potpourri contains nuggets on use of robotic surgery for prostate cancer, the effect of mandated rebates in Medicare Part D on patient costs, FDA guidance on device modifications, state Medicaid EHR incentive programs, patient understanding of trial data, and use of FQHC’s by Medicaid enrollees.
Tags: Devices, Drugs, EHRs, FDA, HIT, HITECH, Medicaid, Medical Care, Medicare
by Kevin Roche on Friday, July 22, 2011
The dog days of summer bring yet another scorching hot Potpourri with a smorgasbord of data, including metabias in randomized clinical trials, the practice of defensive medicine, the status of HIEs, retail pharmacy drug costs and pricing and spending on medical devices.
Tags: Comparative Effectiveness, Devices, Drugs, HIT, Malpractice, Meaningful Use, Medicaid, Medicare, Physicians
by Kevin Roche on Wednesday, February 9, 2011
PWC issued a report assessing the status of innovation in medical devices, finding that the United States no longer has the lead in this area and that the types of devices currently being deemed “innovative” has changed.
Tags: Devices, Health Care Costs, Health Care Quality
by Kevin Roche on Monday, February 7, 2011
The FDA’s 510(k) medical device approval process has been criticized for requiring too little data on potentially harmful devices. The FDA undertook a review of the process and has issued a description of initial steps it plans to take, which the industry seems to view as acceptable.
Tags: Devices, FDA, Regulation
by Kevin Roche on Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Although health care products like drugs and medical devices get blamed for much of the cost in our system, they also often provide better care for patients and the companies making these products are an important part of our economy. A new report summarizes the state of the medical device industry.
Tags: Devices
by Kevin Roche on Saturday, October 2, 2010
The days shorten but the potpourri stays strong, this week including information on the safety of FDA-cleared devices; medication adherence; genetic tests; the FDA and CMS working together to review products; state all-payer databases and the increasing control of physician practices by hospital systems.
Tags: Care Management, Devices, Drugs, Health Care Costs, HIT, Hospital, Medicare, Personalized Medicine, Physicians, Regulation
by Kevin Roche on Tuesday, August 17, 2010
The Food and Drug Administration has been reviewing its 510(k) process, which is used for many medical device approvals. Two preliminary reports contain a series of recommendations designed to provide greater predictability in the process, while ensuring identification of significant safety concerns.
Tags: Devices, FDA, Regulation
by Kevin Roche on Friday, August 6, 2010
Wireless or mobile communication technologies are enjoying a rapid spread in health care. Two of the primary federal agencies which might impact the development and spread of these technologies are the FCC and the FDA, which have agreed to work together in regulating them.
Tags: Devices, Regulation, Telemedicine, Wireless
by Kevin Roche on Wednesday, June 23, 2010
The Council for American Medical Innovation has released a report about the value of medical innovation to the United States’ economy. Concern is expressed about maintaining a vigorous medical product industry in the face of funding, reimbursement and regulatory challenges.
Tags: Devices, Health Care Costs, HIT
by Kevin Roche on Tuesday, March 2, 2010
The Centers for Disease Control issues a massive compendium of health facts and information called Health United States 2009. In addition to basic information regarding health care, it has some description and analysis of particular issues such as use of medical technology.
Tags: Devices, Government, Health Care Costs, Health Care Quality
by Kevin Roche on Friday, February 19, 2010
Much concern has been expressed about whether the FDA may make changes to the 510(k) and other regulations that hinder speed to market for medical device companies. A recently finalized guidance may actually help those firms.
Tags: Devices, Government
by Kevin Roche on Wednesday, October 21, 2009
The California HealthCare Foundation releases a report on Participatory Health, which provides an introduction to the potential of online and mobile technologies in management of chronic illness.
Tags: Care Management, Chronic Disease, Devices, Medical Care, Telemedicine
by Kevin Roche on Tuesday, September 22, 2009
A research group has developed a cardiac monitoring necklace.
Tags: Devices, Telemedicine
by Kevin Roche on Wednesday, August 5, 2009
A number of companies are working on use of wireless technologies to improve health care.
Tags: Care Management, Devices, HIT