Coronavirus test availability is increasing following a surge in demand and other events that created shortages and longer wait times for results, a federal health official says.
Feds to reimburse providers for counseling patients to self-isolate
By
Alicia Lasek
Jul 31, 2020
Existing E/M codes can be used to bill for counseling patients about virus mitigation at the time of COVID-19 testing, according to CMS and the CDC.
Cognitive complaints may precede dementia, researchers say
By
Alicia Lasek
May 13, 2020
Memory-specific cognitive complaints may be a telltale sign of dementia risk that clinicians should not ignore, according to new findings.
Common blood pressure drug once again found to contain cancer-causing chemicals
By
Alicia Lasek
Jun 19, 2019
The Federal Drug Administration has once again been alerted to high levels of cancer-causing chemicals found in batches of valsartan, a blood pressure medication used by millions.
Older adults who lose weight may sacrifice bone mineral density
By
Alicia Lasek
Sep 05, 2019
When older adults lose weight, they may also lose bone mineral density, putting them at an increased risk of fractures, say nutrition scientists.
Wealthy people live 9 more years without disability, study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Jan 17, 2020
Wealthy people can expect to live seven to nine more years without disability than those who are poor, say investigators.
Nighttime high blood pressure may affect the brain, study finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Apr 16, 2020
Adults with high blood pressure that rises at night show more signs of cognitive loss than their peers whose blood pressure dips at night.
Docs struggle with making MCI diagnoses, 2022 Alzheimer’s report finds
By
Alicia Lasek
Mar 23, 2022
Less than half of primary care physicians surveyed report being comfortable diagnosing mild cognitive impairment that’s due to Alzheimer’s disease. Fully 90% told researchers that it is “hard...
Third COVID shots ready for LTC by Sept. 20; vaccine efficacy declines in nursing homes
By
Alicia Lasek
Aug 19, 2021
The U.S. government is prepared to offer COVID-19 booster shots to vaccinated Americans beginning on Sept. 20, including direct delivery to long-term care facility residents, officials announced Wednesday.
FDA approves fast-results antigen test for COVID-19
By
Alicia Lasek
May 11, 2020
The first federally approved test of its kind, the point-of-care diagnostic is administered using a nasal swab.