Healthcare

Unintended Consequences

Posted On: May 13, 2022 by Mike Mallaro in: Healthcare, Opinions

A frightening nationwide shortage of baby formula (and enteral nutrition supplies) is creating disruption and anxiety among the many people who rely on these products. On the surface it is another in a series of supply chain issues that seem to be everywhere these days. I see a parallel between baby formula and CPAPs and therein perhaps a different prism through which to view such issues. The baby formula shortage originated after the FDA closed an Abbott formula production...

Tags: CPAP, fda, formula, philips, supply chain, vgm

Recharge Your Battery & Renew Your Soul @ Heartland

Posted On: March 9, 2022 by Mike Mallaro in: Community & Loneliness, Healthcare, VGM

You belong at VGM’s Heartland Conference this summer (June 13-15, 2022) if you are involved in the HME industry. Get there. Let’s face it, after two years of a pandemic, isolation, workforce disruptions, supply chain constraints and recalls, we are all a bit dazed. We’re tired, anxious, frustrated, and languishing. Sure, we’ve gotten through it. We adjusted. We zigged where we used to zag. We persevered. And most of us have been fortunate...

Healthcare consumption trends during the pandemic

Posted On: March 12, 2021 by Mike Mallaro in: Healthcare, VGM

The pandemic had a significant impact on healthcare businesses and healthcare consumption. With full 2020 data now reported, we can assess the trends and what they may indicate going forward: For the full year of 2020, health insurers experienced a reduction in healthcare consumption of about 2-3% compared to 2019. I think it is reasonable to assume healthcare consumption other than COVID declined by about 5-6% for the year, offset in part by the increased healthcare...

Healthcare Activity in Pandemic - Q3 Update

Posted On: November 17, 2020 by Mike Mallaro in: Healthcare, Opinions, Social commentary, VGM

I continue to watch the pandemic’s meaningful impact on the healthcare business and consumption of healthcare. With third quarter data now reported, we can assess the trends and what the next few months may hold: The initial heat of the pandemic was mid-March through mid-May. In the second quarter of 2020 (April-June) there was a reduction in non-emergent and elective healthcare services. Largely this was considered a deferral of services but in reality a portion of...

Cyber-attacks by enemy governments.

Posted On: November 13, 2020 by Mike Mallaro in: Healthcare, Opinions, Social commentary

Last week in my blog I discussed the widespread cyber attacks on US businesses and healthcare institutions being perpetrated by hostile foreign governments. I believe this is a failure of the US government to meet its obligation to protect and defend Americans from foreign adversaries. Why is our federal government failing? I have a few theories. Our federal government faces a myriad of complex challenges. Their job...

A foreign assault right before our eyes

Posted On: November 3, 2020 by Mike Mallaro in: Healthcare, Opinions, Social commentary

Imagine a scenario where Russian warships approach America’s coast and launch an invasion of Louisiana. Imagine further the Russian soldiers break into buildings and seize valuables – keeping some of the spoils of the invasion and offering others back to the Louisianans, but only upon payment of ransom. Finally, imagine the USA, with its vast military, intelligence and economic powers, doing nothing, except to encourage the good folks of Louisiana to resist the invasion...

Tags: cyber attacks, cybercrimes

Failure by Medicare Bureaucrats

Posted On: September 30, 2020 by Mike Mallaro in: Healthcare, VGM

pros-the-sis (noun): a device, either external or implanted, that substitutes for or supplements a missing or defective part of the body. Medicare provides health coverage for prosthetics (artificial limbs and body parts) when need is indicated by the patient’s physician. Makes perfect sense. Further, Medicare coverage provides for a custom-fit prosthetic - arms, legs, ears, hands, eyes...

More updates on Healthcare during the Pandemic

Posted On: September 8, 2020 by Mike Mallaro in: Healthcare, VGM

The business of healthcare continues to face serious headwinds as a result of the pandemic. A few newsworthy developments: A recent Kaufman Hall analysis found hospital and health system operating margins were down 96% in 2020 (through July) as compared to same period of 2019. A meaningful amount of that decline was offset by government intervention and financial support. But even after all stimulus and support aid from the government, hospitals and...

Update on healthcare trends during pandemic

Posted On: August 25, 2020 by Mike Mallaro in: Healthcare, VGM

Healthcare activity continues to be muted due to impact of the pandemic. Elective medical procedures are still tracking nearly 20% below “normal” levels. The pipeline for new candidates for procedures in not re-filling as fast as historically. Hip and knee replacement volume was actually slightly lower in recent weeks than in June, speaking to the pipeline issue. This same rationale will impact HME patient pipelines. Prescription volumes were 8-10% below...

Healthcare Trends during the Pandemic

Posted On: July 30, 2020 by Mike Mallaro in: Healthcare, VGM

We know the pandemic has had a huge impact on the healthcare business and consumption of healthcare, and with second quarter data being reported over these past couple weeks, we can quantify some of the impacts: In reviewing second quarter financial results of the three largest health insurers reporting (UnitedHealth, Cigna and Anthem), it is clear that the pandemic is resulting in lower numbers of visits, procedures and healthcare incidents, which results in healthcare spend being meaningfully...