Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Aaron L. Schwartz, Yujun Chen, Chris L. Jagmin, Dorothea J. Verbrugge, Troyen A. Brennan, Peter W. Groeneveld, Joseph P. Newhouse
Summary: Little is known about denial of coverage for medical services that do not meet medical necessity criteria. This study analyzed Medicare Advantage claims data from a large insurer from 2014 to 2019 to characterize the extent and key features of these denials. The findings revealed $416 million in denied spending, with an average of 0.81 denials and $60 of denied spending per beneficiary annually.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Madeleine St Peter, Athanasia Warnecke, Hinrich Staecker
Summary: In the clinical setting, the pathophysiology of sensorineural hearing loss is poorly defined and there are currently no diagnostic tests available to differentiate between subtypes. The establishment of an indirect biopsy, such as perilymph sampling, could advance inner ear diagnostics and allow for the development of novel therapeutics for inner ear disease.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Humanities, Multidisciplinary
Heta Tarkkala, Karoliina Snell
Summary: Science and science policy often communicate expectations through metaphors, such as the "closing window of opportunity," which emphasizes urgency and national unity in discussions about biomedicine policy and regulatory change. However, this metaphor often overlooks important discussions about sustainability, responsibility, and risk.
HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCES COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Lama Assi, Nicholas S. Reed, Carrie L. Nieman, Amber Willink
Summary: This study examined factors associated with hearing aid use in a nationally representative sample of Medicare beneficiaries in the United States. Results showed predisposing factors for greater odds of hearing aid use included older age, identifying as a man, identifying as White, higher education, having chronic conditions, dementia, no trouble with vision, no limitations in daily activities, and owning a personal computer, while enabling factors included higher income, living alone, and having a usual source of care. Efforts to improve access to healthcare, technology, and information on hearing aids may help increase the uptake of hearing aids.
INNOVATION IN AGING
(2021)
Article
Gerontology
Heng-Yu H. Lin, Amber Willink, Anna M. Jilla, Heather M. Weinreich, Esther S. Oh, Mariah Robertson, Hannah V. Ward, Nicholas S. Reed
Summary: The study found that Medicare beneficiaries with hearing trouble are more likely to avoid or delay seeking healthcare, without a significant association with concern for health status or sharing health status.
JOURNAL OF AGING AND HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Nicholas S. Reed, Emily F. Boss, Frank R. Lin, Esther S. Oh, Amber Willink
Summary: The study on 11,441 Medicare beneficiaries found that those with hearing difficulties were more likely to be dissatisfied with the quality of health care over the past year compared to those without such issues. This suggests the importance of addressing hearing loss in the healthcare system to improve patient satisfaction and potentially impact Medicare reimbursement mechanisms.
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Corinne Pittman, Carrie L. Nieman, Nicholas S. Reed, Bonnielin K. Swenor, Amber Willink
Summary: Vision and hearing impairments are associated with limitations in daily activities among older adults, and sensory impairment may increase the risk of adverse consequences when long-term services and supports needs are not met.
JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES B-PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Eric T. Roberts, Jennifer M. Mellor, Melissa P. McInerny, Lindsay M. Sabik
Summary: This study evaluates the impact of an abrupt drop-off in Medicaid dental coverage on access to dental care among low-income Medicare beneficiaries. The findings show that this coverage cliff exacerbates barriers to dental care access. Expanding dental coverage for Medicare beneficiaries, especially those who are ineligible for Medicaid, could alleviate this issue.
HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Lisa M. Grabert
Summary: Health insurance coverage options can be complicated, but small changes in the existing Compare Coverage Options tool can enhance public understanding. Including information on annual out-of-pocket spending, access to dental, vision, and hearing benefits, and network adequacy can improve transparency and decision making.
INQUIRY-THE JOURNAL OF HEALTH CARE ORGANIZATION PROVISION AND FINANCING
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Agnes Bhakti Pratiwi, Hermawati Setiyaningsih, Maarten Olivier Kok, Trynke Hoekstra, Ali Ghufron Mukti, Elizabeth Pisani
Summary: The study analyzed the relationship between health need, insurance coverage, health service availability, service use, insurance claims, and out-of-pocket spending across Indonesia. Results showed a discrepancy between self-reported national health insurance registration and insurer's report, with higher insurance coverage in poorer areas where service provision is lower, impacting service use and health spending.
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Dong-Hun Han, Hee-Yeon Kang, Jae-In Ryu
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between implementing the sealant program and resin fillings restoration, and found that income and frequency of dental visits might be confounding factors. Therefore, the complex relationship between socioeconomic indicators and service use should be considered when studying oral health inequality.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Minghui Li, Jing Yuan, Chelsea Dezfuli, Z. Kevin Lu
Summary: The Medicare Part D coverage expansion led to a short-term increase in the utilization of benzodiazepines among older adults, followed by a decreasing trend in the long term. Meanwhile, the alternative therapy showed a decreasing trend in utilization following the coverage expansion.
Review
Cell Biology
Sofia Fernanda Goncalves Zorzella-Pezavento, Luiza Ayumi Nishiyama Mimura, Marina Bonifacio Denadai, William Danilo Fernandes de Souza, Thais Fernanda De Campos Fraga-Silva, Alexandrina Sartori
Summary: This review summarizes the medication options for multiple sclerosis, the potential role of vitamin D, and the importance of vitamin D supplementation for multiple sclerosis patients. The article highlights that not all patients respond well to current treatments, making vitamin D a possible alternative.
NEURAL REGENERATION RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Dermatology
Lucy M. Carter, Dennis McGonagle, Edward M. Vital, Miriam Wittmann
Summary: Insights into early interventions in autoimmune diseases can improve long-term outcomes, and the optimal window of opportunity may extend into asymptomatic preclinical phases.
JOURNAL OF INVESTIGATIVE DERMATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Alan O'Dowd, Rebecca J. Hirst, Annalisa Setti, Rose Anne Kenny, Fiona N. Newell
Summary: This study examined the associations between self-reported sensory ability and factors such as age, health, and lifestyle in a cohort of older adults. The results showed that self-reported fair/poor ability in one sensory modality was likely to be associated with fair/poor ability in another sensory modality. Age and current smoker status were also associated with decreased sensory ability. These findings highlight the importance of regular testing of sensory abilities in older adults as they age.
INNOVATION IN AGING
(2022)