Coronavirus
U.S. reports highest number of covid-19 deaths in one day since mid-May
Brady Dennis and Jacqueline Dupree, The Washington Post
As the United States reported its highest number of deaths from the novel coronavirus in a single day since mid-May, President Trump on Wednesday continued to press for the nation’s schools to bring children into classrooms, for businesses to open and for athletes to fill stadiums.
The True Coronavirus Toll in the U.S. Has Already Surpassed 200,000
Denise Lu, The New York Times
Nationwide, 200,000 more people have died than usual since March. This number is about 60,000 higher than the number of deaths that have been directly linked to the coronavirus.
We’re doing a lot less coronavirus testing
Caitlin Owens, Axios
The U.S. is cutting back on coronavirus testing. Nationally, the number of tests performed each day is about 17% lower than it was at the end of July, and testing is also declining in hard-hit states.
With test delays across country, Kroger and CVS Health say they can help businesses, college campuses
Melissa Repko, CNBC
Kroger and CVS Health are both pitching themselves to employers as nationwide testing delays cause long waits for patients and make it harder for public health officials to track the virus and stop its spread. The slow turnaround times, which can be a week or more, have also made it harder for businesses, schools and other parts of society to figure out how to safely operate.
Turning Anger Into Action: Minority Students Analyze COVID Data on Racial Disparities
Esther Landhuis, Kaiser Health News
Data to address racial discrepancies in care and outcomes has been spotty during the pandemic, and it isn’t available for most of these students’ communities, which disproportionately bear the brunt of the virus. The participants are “asking questions from a perspective that we desperately need, because their voices aren’t really there in the scientific community,” said Alison Gammie, who directs the division of training, workforce development and diversity at the National Institute of General Medical Sciences.
The superforecasting guide to accurately predicting the coronavirus
Bryan Walsh, Axios
“Superforecasters” have shown an uncanny knack for accurately predicting major events, including the course of the coronavirus pandemic.
Payers
CMS to end national coverage determinations for artificial hearts
Michael Brady, Modern Healthcare
CMS plans to end national coverage determinations for artificial hearts, the agency said Wednesday. It also proposed changing how it decides whether to cover ventricular assist devices. Under the plan, Medicare Administrative Contractors would figure out if Medicare should pay for a beneficiary’s artificial heart.
Cigna hires Eder as new CIO
Jessica Kim Cohen, Modern Healthcare
Cigna Corp. has appointed Noelle Eder as the insurance giant’s new global chief information officer, effective Sept. 14.
Providers
Sentara, Cone Health plan merger
Tara Bannow, Modern Healthcare
Two multi-billion-dollar health systems in Virginia and North Carolina—Sentara Healthcare and Cone Health—announced Wednesday they plan to merge to create a 17-hospital system.
From one hotspot to another: Twin ER doctors on COVID-19 front lines in New York, Miami
Maria Caspani, Reuters
They speak a few times a week, whenever their schedules allow. Michael is now the one to encourage, dispense advice, and quell his brother’s frustration at people’s disregard for social distancing rules and mask mandates.
Pharma, Biotech and Devices
What it’s like to be in a coronavirus vaccine trial
Christina Farr, CNBC
When Louis, a 45-year-old Las Vegas resident, heard that Moderna was looking for volunteers to enroll in its Covid-19 vaccine trial, he eagerly accepted.
Health IT
Biometric Tracking Can Ensure Billions Have Immunity Against Covid-19
Samanth Subramanian, Bloomberg Businessweek
When a vaccine finally makes it to the market, it will be hustled into one of the widest, most complicated public-health campaigns of all time. Potentially every person on Earth will need a shot, and even in more moderate scenarios the number to be administered will run into the billions.
Opinions, Editorials and Perspectives
Why Quality, Regulated Medical Device Repair Is in Patients’ Best Interest
Julianne Malveaux, Morning Consult
While it is crucial – especially for those who are vulnerable and dealing with long-term or chronic conditions – to ensure they catch up with non-emergent care appointments and disease screenings, it must be done in a way that maximizes safety and minimizes any potential risks. Patients deserve peace-of-mind that hospitals and physician clinics are ready for their safe return.
Research Reports
Causal Genetic Variants in Stillbirth
Kate E. Stanley et al., The New England Journal of Medicine
In the majority of cases, the cause of stillbirth remains unknown despite detailed clinical and laboratory evaluation. Approximately 10 to 20% of stillbirths are attributed to chromosomal abnormalities. However, the causal nature of single-nucleotide variants and small insertions and deletions in exomes has been understudied.
General
Fighting Anti-Vaccine Pseudoscience, One Viral Video at a Time
Thomas Buckley, Bloomberg Businessweek
Damania is something of a health-care avenger. His YouTube videos, in which he raps in costume or rants about the anti-vaccine movement and wider problems with the medical system, have been viewed tens of millions of times.
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