Editor's Note This study from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) found that readmission trends are consistent with the response by hospitals to incentives to reduce readmissions, including financial penalties, as mandated by the Affordable Care Act. No evidence was found that changes in observation-unit stays accounted for…

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Editor's Note A meta-analysis of 11 studies showed a significant association between patients who had a colonoscopy with nonmalignant findings and reductions in colorectal cancer and mortality rates. Cancer rate reductions were greater for screening colonoscopy than for diagnostic colonoscopy, and results were similar for men and women. One explanation…

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Editor's Note The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on February 23 updated its Safety Communication on the November 2015 recall of Custom Ultrasonics automated endoscope reprocessors. The update recommends that healthcare facilities transition to alternative methods to reprocess flexible endoscopes as soon as possible. In November, the FDA cited violations…

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Editor's Note The Joint Commission announced February 24 that it has approved two new Human Resources requirements for accredited hospitals, critical access hospitals, and ambulatory care organizations that provide diagnostic imaging services. These requirements specify minimum qualifications for technologists who perform computed tomography exams. They will be available in the…

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Editor's Note Capnographic monitoring during outpatient colonoscopy with moderate sedation increased costs significantly and did not improve patient safety or satisfaction, this study finds. The analysis included 966 patients (465 without and 501 with capnography) who underwent colonoscopy at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston. Patients and nurses reported…

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Editor's Note Though cancer rates have remained the same, the rate of women having mastectomies increased 36% between 2005 and 2013, according to new data released February 22 by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). The analysis also showed the rate of double mastectomies more than tripling, and…

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Editor's Note As part of efforts to improve care delivery, data sharing, and transparency, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on February 22 published a list of Medicare fee-for-service providers and suppliers currently approved to bill Medicare.   The Moratoria Provider Services and Utilization Data Tool includes interactive…

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Editor's Note Total joint patients benefited from preoperative one-on-one educations sessions provided by a physical therapist and access to a custom web portal, in this study presented February 20 at the annual meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association. Researchers from the Hospital for Special Surgery, New York City, followed…

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Editor's Note Bariatric surgery before total knee replacement (TKR) is cost-effective in improving outcomes in obese patients, this study finds. Researchers used a computer software program to compare the cost utility of two treatment protocols for patients who were morbidly obese and had advanced knee osteoarthritis. The model predicted that…

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Editor's Note The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on February 19 announced proposed changes to the Medicare Advantage program for CY 2017, which would increase payment rates by a net 1.35%, the February 19 Modern Healthcare reports. When factoring in the risk coding tendencies, Medicare Advantage insurers’ revenue…

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