North Carolina Health Link Weekly – March 27, 2015
The health care industry is one that begs discussion — it’s personal, it’s social, and it impacts us all. Every week we come across hundreds of articles, tweets, updates, and briefs. We thought you’d like to read some of what we’re seeing right now, and start a conversation. Tune in Fridays for your weekly dose of all things North Carolina health care news related.
Got a link to share? Tweet us at @bcbsnc with #NCHealthLinkWeekly, and we could feature your story in an upcoming Friday edition.
Innovation and Trends
Living With Cancer: Clinical Trials Looking for Patients (New York Times, 03-26-15)
President Obama’s initiative to advance personalized medicine depends on the sort of breakthroughs in cell biology that have produced cancer drugs like the one extending my life.
Healthcare Technology
Price Transparency is Part of HealthiestYou’s Telemedicine App (MedCity, 03/25/15)
Digital health entrepreneurs have cottoned onto the fact that price transparency is a hot feature
Why Health Payers Are an Enticing Hack Target (FierceHealth IT, 03-23-15)
Legal and financial fallout looms large both from the company’s perspective and a consumer perspective.
Health and Fitness
Stop Drinking Soda for Your Own Good (CNN, 03-24-15)
But the more soda you consume (regular or diet), the more hazardous your habit can become.
Big Gyms Shoot for a CrossFit Vibe, Without CrossFit (Wall Street Journal, 03-23-15)
Health clubs emulate the hard-core fitness program, whose adherents often deride health clubs
Industry News
Higher Medicare Costs Planned For Some Seniors in 2018 (USA Today, 03-26-15)
Medicare recipients with income over $85,000 would begin paying higher Part B premiums in 2018.
High Nursing Home Bills Squeeze Insurers, Driving Rates Up (New York Times, 03-24-15)
Thirty years ago, insurance companies had the answer to the soaring cost of caring for the elderly.
Errors Can Turn Affordable Care Benefits To Customer Torment (Kaiser Health News, 03-23-15)
B.J. Welborn of Charlotte is such a fan of the Affordable Care Act that she wrote President Obama a thank-you letter last fall.
Video
Emily Balcetis explains why some people find exercise harder than others. Watch now
