North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper’s administration has received approval from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for a groundbreaking proposal aimed at hospitals in the state. The proposal offers hospitals a financial incentive to eliminate patients’ medical debt and implement policies to prevent future liabilities. This initiative, described as a first-of-its-kind in the
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The FDA has recently approved the Shield blood test for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in adults aged 45 and older at average risk for the disease, making it the first blood test approved by the FDA as a primary screening option for CRC. This new test, which should be followed by a colonoscopy in case
When considering the spread of the dengue virus, it becomes evident that the world is facing a significant challenge. The most common mosquito-borne virus has become the poster child for the explosion of epidemic, vector-borne diseases in the 21st century. According to recent statistics from the CDC, the number of reported cases of dengue has
It was a groundbreaking moment in the world of psychedelics when the VA’s top doctor, Shereef Elnahal, MD, expressed support for the use of midomafetamine (MDMA) in assisting therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at a New York psychedelic conference. The potential approval of MDMA for PTSD treatment was met with enthusiasm and hope by
A recent paper has challenged some prevailing ideas about how the H5N1 bird flu behaves in cattle. Traditionally, it was believed that this virus produces only mild illness in cattle and that asymptomatic animals do not spread the disease. However, the study showed that the mortality rate among cattle during outbreaks was actually twice as
As the world becomes increasingly interconnected through social media, healthcare professionals are leveraging these platforms to advocate for important issues. Cardiothoracic ICU nurse Alexis Smith, also known as Miss Kansas 2024, went viral for her advocacy for healthy relationships. She courageously called out her alleged abuser on the pageant stage, shedding light on the importance
Anxiety is a common condition that affects people of all ages, but recent research has shown that persistent anxiety in older adults can significantly increase the risk of developing all-cause dementia. This risk is particularly higher among those who are younger than 70 years old. Studies have found that both chronic anxiety and new-onset anxiety
As the world was shaken by a software update glitch causing chaos in computer systems, the healthcare sector also felt the impact. The overreliance on technology in healthcare was put to the test as institutions had to resort to manual procedures due to system outages. This incident raised critical questions about the extent to which
With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) solutions in healthcare, there is a growing concern about whether AI will eventually replace human doctors. While AI shows promise in areas such as diagnostic accuracy and information processing, it faces significant barriers when it comes to trust, human interaction, and oversight. As a result, it is crucial
A recent analysis of a large commercial database has suggested that sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, such as empagliflozin (Jardiance) and dapagliflozin (Farxiga), may provide more protection against diabetic retinopathy compared to other hypoglycemic agents. The study indicated that SGLT2 inhibitors reduced the risk of sight-threatening retinopathy by 21-39% when compared to GLP-1 receptor